Food allergies and sensitivities offer hidden blessings

I can still remember watching my then-2-year-old son scratching his legs incessantly. He would scratch until he was bleeding. There were little scabs all over. It’s not an easy thing for a parent to see.

I tried different lotions, laundry detergents, and soaps. No change.

At the same time, he started having frequent stomach aches.

After a bit of research, I decided to try allergy testing. I thought he might be allergic to dairy since he had been sensitive to it as an infant struggling with reflux. We arrived at the allergist feeling hopeful for answers. We left with my son’s back full of red welts and a laundry list of foods to avoid. At a retest appointment a couple years later, we not only walked out with another list of allergies but also an EPIPEN for his nut allergy.

Thus started our journey of making multiple versions of dinner, scouting new environments for nuts, and religiously reading food labels.

My third and fourth children also ended up having latent food allergies. While not true immunoglobulin E (IgE) allergies, the symptoms were severe.

Sometimes I had to make three versions of almost every meal. I rotated through our food to avoid new allergies, and it was hard to eat away from home. It wasn’t anything I would choose. Nor would I wish it on anyone.

But I also found some hidden blessings on this journey that have shaped my family’s life in a profound way. If you have children with food allergies, I hope this list encourages you to see the condition in a new light.

1. It’s easier to decline junk food.

If you’ve ever tried to make positive dietary changes for your family, you know it can be hard to explain your decision to others. Maybe you’re eating gluten-free and dye-free because you’ve seen a positive impact on your child’s neurological function. Or maybe you’re simply trying to scale back on processed sugar to make room for more nutrient-dense food.

Whatever your reason, not everyone may accept your choices. Still, more people understand when you avoid certain foods due to allergies. Plus, because having allergies limits your processed food options, it’s easier to decline.

2. It encourages more research and knowledge about food quality and ingredients.

Having food allergies forces you to become a master label reader. Along with that comes understanding about what basic—and even obscure—ingredients are. For example, my youngest daughter reacted to certain types of sugar, so I had to learn all the different names of sweeteners and from what they are derived. This, in turn, makes you more aware of food quality and what you choose to feed your kids and yourself.

3. You are more likely to prioritize home-cooked, real food.

Food allergies limit the amount of packaged food available in addition to making it harder to go to a restaurant. This often equates with more food cooked at home. That’s a good thing! Home-cooked food using whole ingredients will nourish your child and lead to better health outcomes overall. It also might cost less!

4. Creativity in the kitchen.

If you’ve ever tried to cook without gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs, or an assortment of other foods, you know it’s not easy! This requires some great creativity. We made macaroni and cheese with squash or pumpkin in place of cheese, delicious blueberry muffins with collagen as an egg replacement, and thick, creamy smoothies using avocado or frozen banana in place of milk or yogurt. I was always trying new ways to make our family favorites without allergens. It really helped us expand our dietary repertoire!

5. Empower your kids to understand how to feed and nourish themselves.

Most kids have no clue what is in their food. It’s simply something to eat. Kids with food allergies, however, must be aware from an early age. While this may not seem fair, it’s very empowering. Kids are smarter than we think. They can understand how to read food labels, the importance of vitamins and minerals, and how to eat in a way that will help them grow well and stay strong. It’s one of my favorite things to teach kids! No need to wait until your child is heading off to college. Food allergies help them understand how to feed themselves early on.

6. Compassion for others.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from having kids with food allergies is how to have compassion for others. I never want others to feel left out because of an allergy or dietary restriction. When cooking for others, I do whatever I can to make sure everyone is included. When I teach a high school health and nutrition class, everything we cook is free of gluten, dairy, and nuts. I’ve even gone as far as to create recipes for sugar-free baked goods for one of my students who could not eat any type of sweetener. I understand what it feels like to be the one left out or the one not wanting to bother asking what’s in the food. I go out of my way to help others feel included and safe to enjoy eating in community.

No longer an obstacle

While I wish food allergies didn’t exist, it is possible to focus on the hidden blessings they bring. My son is now 14. Itchy legs and constant stomach aches are outdated. He is still allergic to dairy and nuts, but he is also healthy and thriving and doesn’t view his allergies as an obstacle. My other children have overcome their latent food allergies.

We do have to take my son’s restrictions into account, but they are not the driving force of our dietary choices. Because of all that we have learned and all the experimenting we did in the kitchen, we joyfully focus on whole, nutrient-dense food.

And what teenage boy doesn’t love having his own portion of food or his own treats that nobody else gets to eat? Sometimes his siblings are jealous of him!