Nutritious, delicious, intolerance-friendly recipes and advice
finding the diet that is RIGHT FOR YOU is the key to managing food intolerance
I’d be surprised if you said yes! There aren’t many people who do. Some say chemical sensitivity is the only type of food intolerance, others say it’s all about IgG. When in truth, both exist and are very real for the people suffering from them. The key to the riddle is knowing how to test for each type.
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a platter of salad is great to share – everyone can choose what they can eat. just add some complex carbs and protein for a balanced meal.
Finally, it’s nearing the end! We can almost say, so long elimination diet, but not yet. Not yet.
It’s a slow process getting back to health and finding the perfect diet to accommodate food intolerances with the right nutrients for you to thrive. Don’t forget that a few well chosen (prescribed) supplements can bridge the gap while your diet or health is lacking.
When we retested salicylates for Sofia, we discovered a clear connection with her eczema, especially the itchiness. So for the time being, we need to be really careful with those. We need to swap berries, onion and hidden spinach for lettuce, carrot, peeled cucumber and zucchini, pear, red delicious apples, bananas and the occasional piece of mango. Avocado is already the hardest thing to give up, but hopefully it’s just for a short time. We have salads or veggies at least twice, usually three times a day, to make sure everyone gets enough.
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So, to recap, an elimination diet is designed to help you discover food intolerances in a systematic and structured way. It allows you to determine exactly what foods are a problem, how much of that food triggers a reaction and what reactions occur. You can test gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, salicylates, amines or glutamates – basically whatever you like. It’s deliciously simple, but not all that easy, because it means being on a strict diet. The best thing is, once you’ve done it, life becomes a whole lot easier! Suddenly, you’re not guessing anymore. You can avoid the triggers or cut them down, depending what works. You can improve your gut, get healthier and enjoy all the delicious foods that don’t make you sick. Now, if it’s your kids, don’t you think they’d want that too?
Sofia’s elimination diet discovery mission is nearing its end. We’ve discovered soy and gluten (along with cow’s dairy) are the worst triggers of her eczema. Next we tested salicylates and amines, and I was a little surprised with the result….
kiddie fish cakes – simple elimination diet
Happy New Year everyone! Hope you have all had a peaceful break and some wonderful family time. I’ve had a lot more time to play with my kids, and I’ve really enjoyed it. Less time to make up new recipes and write blogs, but that’s ok, it’s a good time of year just to be.
In light of my new, more relaxed attitude, I’ve kind of just winged the food challenges for Sofia, letting natural occurrences (like a sandwich at Grandma’s) become the challenge. Here’s what I’ve discovered.
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Here are my top 10 everyday products that contain toxic chemicals for sensitive people, especially kids. They are around us everywhere, but with a little knowledge, many can be avoided or swapped for a better, cleaner alternative. Reducing your toxic load is better for the whole family’s health and better for the environment too.
ordinary soaps can be damaging for sensitive skin
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Are you or the kids on a limited diet, but want to keep it healthy? Don’t know where to start with substitutions? I’ve been doing this for years, and have the whole range of intolerances in my house… let me help you!
If you can find the time, homemade bread can be so nutritious and delicious
Like most wheat-based breads, gluten-free breads are often full of preservatives (watch out for 280 – 283, as these cause nasty reactions in sensitive kids). The Burgen gluten-free loaves are free from those preservatives, and the bread sticks together nicely for sandwiches (thanks to the sugar, no doubt!). Find that one in Woolies. Check labels and look for wholegrains and seeded varieties for a little more nutrition, like sorghum, buckwheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa. Dovedale is a good natural brand, which makes nice toast (bit dry for sandwiches though). That one is in Coles.
I make my own these days, using a gluten-free bread recipe from The Holistic Ingredient, that’s quick and easy.
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Food is about family, sharing and getting together
So, has anyone else got a bit too caught up in this food intolerance journey? Been super vigilant and strict with food, to the point of compulsion? I understand, there is so much to digest (pun intended) and so many foods that could be a culprit! But seriously, maybe it’s time not to take it too seriously. We all know shit can happen in life, kids can get sick and they can misbehave – for many reasons. So, it’s probably not the end of the world if we’re a little flexible and let them try something yummy as an experiment – and if it backfires miserably, and they have a really bad reaction, we just don’t do it again!
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Have you ever felt powerless to change a situation? Overwhelmed? In over your head? Too much else to worry about without cracking open a brand new problem? Hell, yes!
What if it was about your kids, though? Would that make you act? Because we all want what’s best for our little people, don’t we. They’re our world. So if they’re sick or unhappy, we’d do anything to help them, right?
Some kids struggle more than others… they find it harder to sit still, concentrate, stay calm and in control of their emotions. That’s just how they are, right? Well, sort of. Sensitive personalities are the most likely to be sensitive to foods. These ‘personality traits’ come and go, meaning something has to be triggering their hyperactivity and their hostility.
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So, everyone loves chocolate, right? If only it loved all of us back! Chocolate, unfortunately, tops my list of common foods that may very well be causing a food intolerance reaction. Read on to hear what else could be doing you more harm than good…
if chocolate is a problem, small quantities may still be ok… or try my delicious carob cake!
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Itchy skin can be a sign of allergy or intolerance
Allergy and intolerance are different, but they’re also very similar. Both are caused by an immune reaction, but the difference is in the timing. Allergy is immediate and intolerance is delayed, making it harder to pinpoint the offending food. Allergic reactions release histamine, which is why they show up on skin-prick tests, while intolerances don’t. But the cause is similar – a food protein (allergy) or a food chemical (intolerance) and so are the symptoms – a rash, stomach complaints, breathing difficulties etc. However, allergy can be life-threatening, so I’m sure we all agree it cannot be ignored. Intolerance, on the other hand, may lead to life-long illness, so maybe it’s about time we paid it some more attention!
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