By Mia Hanuska
I am no stranger to the allergy-friendly world. As a 14-year gluten- and artificial-food coloring-free eater, some may even call me a seasoned professional. But of course, the one question that will haunt all people with allergies is: “How do you even live? I could never cut out my favorite foods.” So I’m spilling the beans, exposing the allergy-friendly world, and giving the people what they want—an answer.
Step 1: Educate yourself
This means you need to learn every ingredient the allergen(s) are in. For some allergens, this is easy. Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame are all part of the top 9 allergens, meaning they’re recognized by the F.D.A. as the most common allergens among the U.S. population. For these allergens, ingredients containing or derived from them must either be bolded in the ingredients list or have a disclaimer at the end of the list saying “CONTAINS: [allergens].” For others, multiple ingredients can contain it and do not need to be marked. Gluten, for example, is found in barley, maltodextrin (when derived from wheat), wheat, rye, spelt, durum, and can even be present in some natural flavorings. Be sure to know exactly what ingredients to look for on the label to ensure a product is safe.
Step 2: Suck it up, buttercup
As much as it sucks, most allergens must be cut out. And that’s just a part of life. The symptoms and side effects of consuming foods with your allergy is not worth the reward of getting to taste your favorite foods again, trust me. Eventually, it just becomes a regular routine, and you forget what “normal” food tastes like. I mean, I have no recollection of what any Halloween candy is supposed to taste like—whether that be M&Ms, Skittles, Nerds, KitKats, or Twix. I don’t know how a Big Mac, “real” pizza, Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme, nor Krispy Creme donut should taste. I likely never will. But some things in life are worth sacrificing for your ultimate wellbeing.
Step 3: Discover pure joy again
A canon event for all allergy suffers: the discovering of a new bakery, restaurant, or product that has the best texture and flavor you’ve ever had. For me, this was trying my first ever beignet from Oy! Bakery in downtown Los Gatos, getting the crunchiest gluten-free schnitzel aboard a cruise, and eating a gyro on gluten-free house-made pitas for the first time in Idaho. You’ll discover an allergy-friendly food from one of your favorite stores and buying foods adapted for your allergies becomes part of your everyday life (thank you, Trader Joes). You’ll find you can eat your favorite food again, in a safe way, and find more and more favorites. It’ll become second nature to bring a bar with you wherever you go, just in case there’s no allergy-friendly option. This, my friends, is joy.