My journey with food allergies began at a young age. Back in the early 90s, when I first received my diagnosis, food allergies weren't as prevalent in our culture as they are today. The absence of the internet, limited availability of cookbooks, and a scarcity of allergy-friendly products in stores presented significant challenges. Over the years, I've witnessed our community evolve into the vibrant and resource-rich entity it is today, offering a plethora of options and support. Nevertheless, navigating my dietary restrictions still presents occasional challenges, especially with some of my more niche and less common allergies.

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To cope with this unique lifestyle, I turned to my website as a source of comfort—a platform to express myself and chronicle my experiences. Throughout my life, I've grappled with allergies to most of the Top 8 major food allergens and beyond. In my childhood, I contended with allergies to dairy, meat, bananas, grapes, and shellfish. As a teenager, corn, coconut, lettuce, nutmeg, and even lettuce (yes, lettuce!) joined the list. By my mid-20s, my restrictions had expanded to include my current allergens, along with a selection of nuts and seeds that thankfully ceased by 2019.