Who can relate to the cute little guy above? I know I can! Most of us who live with food allergies can or have been able to relate at some [ or all ] point of our food journey!! Writing these blog posts help me as much as I hope some of them help you, and lately I've been in the same boat as that cute lil' pug! :()
Food is fundamental, or it should be and our brains are wired from our beginnings to seek out what it needs while our modern brains seek out what it WANTS! :() Life with food allergies forces us to Rewire our brains... but it 'ain't' easy!!
I don't know about you but I've been through a LOT of allergy friendly products only to end up disappointed. However, I've been in this allergic game a long time and there have been some improvements with these kind of foods - some...
[ Well, maybe a little! ]
Nothing brings home this food furor than the holidays! Yep, being gluten free and family recipes don't go hand and hand...But it's ok, sort of. Throughout the years I've realized that I can't deny my feelings, but go through them and then get real with my reality that is I live with multiple food allergies! Here's how I've learned to deal with my attitude adjustment, I refocus.
I know all of us [ allergics ] have done that Whitney eye roll, that look of I'm NOT changing! I'm gonna eat that I want! That look of disgust of what your future meals may consist of! :() That DENIAL folks!! Oh I've been down this road more times than I can count!
I mean, I've tried so many gluten free breads [ just the tip of the gluten free ice berg! ] that are touted to be delicious - a stretch to say the least - and well...not so much, hopes dashed! Left me running back to my hubby's 'real' bread for decent - NON (ricey) tasting - toast, bread that doesn't fall apart or crumble or NEED to be toasted! Yeah, that's been me above so many times...
I wanted to talk about the ugly side of food allergies that I don't hear about too much. It can be rough out here for an allergic! My asthma too, can make my rebellious behavior complicated and NO good for my breath management!
Yep, Inflammation! I'm already very inflammatory and when I eat the Wrong foods, it makes inflammation run wild along with my asthma - which is a Beast - [ let me tell you! ] I'm thankful my allergist has been fighting ( my insurance company - insert eye roll! ] for Dupixent one of the new Biologics for treating asthma and other allergic issues. [ See our blog post Hitting a Wall With Asthma - Under Asthma health & Care ] I've been able to get some of the office sample shots and it has been fantastic! But that's for another upcoming blog post!
[ Ariah's food allergy struggles are compounded by the occasional or more than occasional Food Police squad, well meaning but annoying loved ones who take it upon themselves to help by monitoring her food intake! LOL!! Been there!! ]
[ Tiffany isn't exactly helping matters ha ha! But it's really NOT her responsibility or her problem...But she could have had a little more tact! :() ]
So, my food fight leads me right back in the bull pin to waddle in my misery until I straighten myself out, which happens pretty quickly because - Asthma! [ oh, and of course my overall health and other complications that my food allergies can bring! ] LOL
Here is where I shift my focus and instead of constantly focusing on what everyone else is eating that I can't - I get into my kitchen and start with what I like and try creating from there. Sometimes, I hit on a home run and keep that recipe on the regular - often it ends with a trash can full of ingredients or the finished product...but that's life, there are no guarantees... Sticking with whole real foods have been my best success, and building from there.
{example: Stuffed Madjool Dates Take softened dates slice open and fill with any nut or seed butter of choice, add in a few nuts or seeds for crunch and roll in dark chocolate- or chocolate of choice, an instant and tasty chewy 'candy' made from real foods. ( :
Either, I keep my focus on MY issue and keep going or face health consequences. I'm always saying that our health is a gift, and believe me; It Is - so when I get into a state of mind where I'm taking my health for granted, [ a Food Funk! ] I remember...All the times when I struggled with health issues and how that felt...believe me it's humbling. God gave us one temple and it's up to us how we take care of it, but no one said it would be easy! Right??
Smoothies! Yep, they've been with me helping to fortify and nourish me throughout my health and healing journey for years - before they were cool and trendy. Smoothies are my best food buddy because they're so simple, ( and I'm so much more effective with
simplicity ), easy to toss together and a good way to pack in the nutrients that I may not always consume in a meal otherwise. Smoothies seem to reset my taste buds, and my behavior so that my brain can allow me to make better decisions for myself. Smoothies deflect from my rebellion, they are my food humility.
[ When Ariah and myself are feeling the squeeze of food allergy rebellion - an Almond Butter Chocolate Smoothie fits the bill! We added in Beetroot Powder for a red velvet touch! ]
Once I bump up my smoothie intake, I don't want to add in foods that don't serve me as much as I normally do. I FEEL better so I want to DO better. I remember the foods that I CAN eat, and work within those foods to create a tasty raw foods snack or simple fruit based dessert like an apple crisp with my homemade granola ( oat free - allergic LOL ), buttery ghee, and coconut flour. In my mind, a fruit crisp topped with a little So Delicious coconut whip is nirvana!
[ Red Velvet chocolate smoothie - drink away those Food Allergy blahs! ]
You see I take small steps, building on top of those to create a bridge of healing health boosting foods that won't sabotage my health or my joy... I wanted to write this to keep the allergic eating struggle real. I also wanted to provide some laughs, relatability and comfort that so many of us on this food journey desire. Your bridge back to smart eating will be different from mine, and even if you don't know what your bridge(s) are, don't fret... It takes time and effort to know and understand yourself and your mind body connections.
[ Throughout our lives, our 'bridge' will be peppered with the fog of confusion, dismay, even rebellion. It's our human-ness, but we are also God's children and are overcomers through the foggy parts of our journeys...Amen! ]
For some of you that bridge may be getting back to working out, which sends those endorphins to work revitalizing the brain and moods! For others it may be your faith, family, your children, whatever you discover that bridge to be cling to it because it can be your lifesaver on your food journey.
I'm most grateful for God, the one who consistently teaches me about humility, about discipline, and reminds me that not only my health but my Life is a gift, not to be taken lightly. Yes my relationship with my Lord is my Ultimate bridge, and to Him goes all the credit. He is the one who gave me this gift, this platform to share with all of you, who created my interest in health and wellness, who gives me the creativity, and the fortitude to press on and take all of you with me on not only my health journey, but our journey's in our lives here on earth. Amen!
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
~ 1Corinthians 10:31
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything.
~ 1 Corinthians 6:12
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
~ 1 Corinthians 10:13