Live Courageously with Food Allergies: Online Summit Nov. 3-6

Avoid eating those foods.

That’s the only direction the doctor gave me when I was diagnosed with multiple food allergies and celiac disease as an adult. Little did I know then that eliminating dairy, gluten, soy, corn, and many more foods from my diet would be as challenging as climbing Pikes Peak with a backpack full of rocks.

The first thing I did after leaving the doctor’s office was go grocery shopping. Big mistake. Reading the back of packages, looking for processed foods that didn’t contain dairy, soy, or gluten, tears streaked my face. Even the organic health foods in the special freezer section contained soy! What was I going to eat? How would I feed my family?

Then came my first meal out. By the time I eliminated all my allergens, I was left with steamed broccoli and applesauce.  I’ll never forget my first plane trip after diagnosis when I didn’t pack any safe food.  All I could find to eat in the airport was a bag of potato chips.

I was alone with my food restrictions and stressed and maybe even a bit depressed. In my circle of family and friends, I was the only one with “food issues.” I felt like an outsider at social events and family gatherings and became somewhat reclusive. These weren’t my best years.

That’s why I’m so excited about the Food Allergy Wellness Summit, Nov. 3-6, that Crystal Sabalaske of Cluttershrink started. A busy mom with a house full of food allergies, Crystal dreamed up this Summit as a way to help families like hers. The Summit is online and free, so you can listen to the topics that interest you at your convenience.

You’ll learn how to:

• travel and navigate social situations while staying healthy
•  save money while buying gluten-free and allergen-friendly foods
• send your kids to school and college with the know-how to keep them safe
• apply updated medical expertise to help you manage your food allergies
• reduce food allergy-related stress in family, friendship, and romantic relationships
• enhance your well-being through nutrition
• cook and bake sans allergens
• organize your kitchen into a giant “safe zone”

I’m humbled to be speaking about college life with food restrictions with such a prestigious group of food-allergy experts, including:

• Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH, author of The Food Allergy Experience (Understanding Your Diagnosis)
• Lisa Musician, RD, LDN, of  Food Allergy Dietitian, Inc. (Nutrition)
• Rachel Lee Coppola, of Saving and More (Budgeting and Saving Money)
• Crystal Sabalaske, of Cluttershrink (Kitchen Organization)
• Chef Keith Norman (Cooking and Dining Out)
• Debbie Adler, of Sweet Debbie’s (Baking)
• Lara Holland, of Food Allergy Gal (Managing Stress)
• Daniella Knell, of Smart Allergy (School Safety and Education)
• Maya Trimneramy, of Maya’s Happy Place (Dating and Romantic Relationships)
• Donna DeCosta, MD, of Food Allergy Mom Doc (Social Events and Family)
• Amy Tracy, of Adventures of an Allergic Foodie (College life)
• Kim Koeller, of Gluten Free Passport and Allergy Free Passport (Travel)

This Summit is the guidance I wish I’d have after hearing the doctor say, “Avoid eating those foods.”

Sign up TODAY.