10 Silver Linings of Living with Food Allergies

By Kelley Lindberg

Many of my friends and I are relieved to see 2014 pack up its bags and hit the road. While it wasn’t all bad, there were some pretty rough challenges last year that we’re ready to put behind us. Of course, that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the good things that happened. We just hope there are a few more of those in 2015.

But as they say, it’s not what life throws at you that matters. It’s how you handle it.

Attitude really is everything. I believe that. I try to live by it. (I get points for trying, right?) And with each new year, I remind myself that when I’m faced with challenges, I need to stop whining and start acting to change it, find ways to turn it into a positive experience, or at the very least, learn from it so that it doesn’t happen again (or isn’t as difficult if it does).

In that spirit, I decided that with the new year still fresh and shiny, today would be a good day to consider the silver linings of living with food allergies. Sure, there are a myriad of challenges that come with food allergies, and every one of us can rattle off a list of those challenges as long as your arm at a moment’s notice. But focusing on the challenges makes every day darker, every relationship a little more strained, every moment a little poorer. It’s harder to see those silver linings, and that’s exactly why I think we should take a minute (or a year) to think about them. So here are some of my silver linings, in no particular order. What are yours?

With food allergies:

1. You learn to cook from scratch, and it turns out it’s not as hard as you thought. And it usually tastes better. Who knew?
2. By cooking from scratch, you eliminate many/most of the chemical preservatives, petroleum-based food colorings, sugar substitutes, overly processed ingredients, and other less-desirable elements from your family’s diet, which is a long-term health gain for every family member.
3. You have a supportive online community that totally understands you.
4. You always have an antihistamine and an epinephrine auto-injector with you, which can come in handy if a stranger needs help. (During a parade a couple of years ago in Salt Lake City, someone riding a horse in the parade began experiencing an anaphylactic reaction. Luckily for them, they were right behind a group of Utah Food Allergy Network members who were also marching in the parade, and who immediately provided an Epi-Pen. If you’re going to have an allergic reaction, it’s excellent planning to have it near a group of food allergy mamas.)
5. Your child’s teachers get to know you really, really well. And that bond/partnership can be a very good thing when your child needs a little extra help in the classroom or on the playground.
6. You learn to celebrate tiny victories. (“Woohoo! Kroger’s envelope of Ranch Dressing Mix is free from dairy, egg, nuts, and seafood! It’s HAPPY DANCE time!”)
7. By talking about food allergies with other people, even just casually, whether it’s online, on the train, or on the sidelines of your kid’s soccer game, you spread awareness, which makes the world a little bit safer for all food-allergic people everywhere. (And that mom you met whose kid has horrible eczema and is miserable all the time? When you mentioned that most eczema is an allergic reaction, and common culprits are egg and milk, and many pediatricians don’t seem to know it, that mom may have gone home and made an appointment with a board-certified allergist, meaning you may have just given that child their first chance at relief in years.)
8. You learn who your real friends are, and you learn that most people are, in fact, genuinely kind and good and helpful. They more than make up for the occasional jerk.
9. In a country where obesity is epidemic, childhood diabetes is rising, and chemical additives appear to be altering our immune systems, you can instill in your kids a healthier perspective on food’s role in our lives. Instead of focusing on food as a reward, as the main feature of every activity, and as a cure for boredom, your kids will grow up with lifelong healthy-eating habits, because you showed them that food is a fuel, to be used carefully, safely, and responsibly, and that fun doesn’t always have to equal pizza.
10. That dinner you made the other night that your family loved? When you post that recipe online, you make a dozen (or more) other families super happy. You’re spreading happiness, baby!

And spreading happiness, good health, and safety is an excellent way to welcome in the new year, don’t you think?

If you have more silver linings you’d like to share, post them in the Comments or email me, and I’ll add them to our list.

Have a happy, safe 2015, everyone!

It’s Not New Year’s Without Black-Eyed Peas (Allergy-Free!)

By Kelley Lindberg

My grandmother always said, “Be careful what you do on New Year’s Day, because that’s what you’ll be doing all year long.”

I don’t know if she was right or not, but I always try to do things on New Year’s Day that I wouldn’t be ashamed/annoyed/mad/tired of doing all year. So I generally avoid cleaning house, and I try to avoid arguing with my son. On the positive side, I always try to do some writing (even if it’s just a sentence or two), and have a nice day with my family.

The other thing I have to do every New Year’s Day is eat black-eyed peas. My family is all originally from Texas, so eating black-eyed peas for good luck on New Year’s Day is mandatory. No questions. No resistance. You WILL eat black-eyed peas. You WILL have good luck whether you want it or not. Fortunately, I happen to love black-eyed peas!

I know other parts of the South also like collard greens (for money), but in my house, it was always about the black-eyed peas. Sometimes called Hoppin’ John when they’re served with rice, black-eyed peas are easy to make, and they’re delicious topped with chopped onions and jalapenos, and served over rice or cornbread. (The non-sweet kind – here’s my favorite recipe for Albers® Corn Bread. Just use soy or rice milk and your favorite egg substitute like Ener-G, and leave out the sugar). Black-eyed peas go great with ham, a beef brisket, chicken, seafood, or just about any main dish, really. And if you like the idea of greens representing money, saute some collard greens, Swiss chard, spinach, or kale in a little olive oil and safe margarine, along with some chopped garlic and salt and a bit of water to steam them.

So if you’re in the mood to have a really lucky year, be sure you put some black-eyed peas on the table. Just please don’t used the mushy, flavorless canned ones. Yuck. They’re so easy to make from scratch, so try my grandmother’s recipe instead (below)! (Of course, they’re even better if you use fresh peas, but frozen works fine this time of year.)

My son hates peas and beans of all types, but he learned early on that he wasn’t allowed to leave the table on New Year’s Day until he’d eaten at least one—count ‘em, one—black-eyed pea. That’s all I ask. Now he eats it without complaining (mostly), so I know he’s going to be okay for another year. Somewhere up there, my grandmother is looking down on him and smiling.

Have a Happy and Lucky New Year!

Black-Eyed Peas

3 slices bacon, diced (or you can use diced smoked pork or ham)

1 bag frozen black-eyed peas

Water

1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)

Chopped onion and/or jalapenos (optional)

Fry bacon in pan. Pour off grease. Add black-eyed peas and enough water to cover about 1 inch above peas. Add salt. Bring to boil, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Serve over rice or cornbread, and top with chopped onion and/or jalapenos.