If you have been newly diagnosed with a food allergy, it may be a lot to take in all at once. Food is a big part of our lives. Not only does it give us sustenance; it is the centerpiece to many of our social gatherings. It brings us together as a common bond. When an allergy comes into play, that bond may feel slightly jarred. But it doesn’t have to be as tough as you might think.
Sometimes when it comes to food allergies people think of all the foods they are missing and look for replacements that taste similar and have a similar texture. That is an OK practice if those foods brought joy to your palate. For example, there are many different types of non-dairy cheese substitutes that mimic the real thing quite beautifully. However, some of the substitutes can be no match for the real thing. They could leave you missing your favorites even more.
Another approach that seems to work quite well is to stop looking for substitutes altogether. Open your mind to new flavor possibilities. Instead of missing the things you can no longer eat, try something new instead. If you know there are foods out there that could cause your body harm, just put them aside and don’t look back. There are so many different foods available that are just waiting for you to try them.
Explore your local grocery store to see what new foods you can try. You may find some very interesting things out there if you look hard enough. You can probably find 10-12 things in the produce aisle alone that you never tried: pomegranates, star fruit, papaya… how about a tomatillo?
Instead of thinking of your allergy as a crutch, use it to expand your palate. You may be happy with the results. If you are looking for more info about your food allergy, contact your health insurance provider.
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