What’s the best way to cook for someone with food allergies? Why to cook with them, of course! We enjoyed one of the best holidays ever and what helped make the day memorable, was cooking with Go Dairy Free Founder, Alisa Fleming and my friend Carolyn! They arrived early and we simply cooked together. It was Alisa’s idea to come over to cook since she felt her kitchen was not safe based on my children’s allergens (nuts and seeds). I was raised in an ethnic home and missed cooking with others during the holidays. Specifically, I missed squeezing by someone to get to the fridge and asking others to reach for something. That darn cute Alisa was too skinny for any squeezing around the kitchen, but we did have a wonderful time!
Three TOP reasons to cook with food allergic people
- Safety. Label reading is very hard and truly, only the person or care giver of a food allergic should be responsible for label reading and calling the manufacturers to inquire about cross contact risks. See Gina Minnette Lee’s Label Reading poster–it’s a free download!
- Enlightenment. Cooking with someone managing a food allergy or special diet is a perfect demonstration of what it takes to label read, call manufacturers, order ingredients online, avoid kitchen cross contact, etc. Nothing speaks louder than actions and watching this process we go through can be enlightening and educational. I use more spoons than any other human since I never cross contact any item ever. I use a new spoon, knife or utensil for every ingredient I touch.
- Fun. Technology has brought us of all together but in the same breathe, it has stolen the opportunities to meet up face to face. It’s easy to catch up with Alisa and Carolyn on facebook but takes more effort to actually get together (read-I need to shower first). The time we spent cooking together was priceless, fun and included a glass of wine!
I hope you consider inviting a few folks over to join you in preparing a meal or dish too! It was so much fun. Next on my list is baking with Connie Green, co-founder of the California Advocates for Food Allergies!
EpiPen Smart Phone Solution Found?
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
You are too sweet! We had such an amazing time – but you’re stuck now, we’ll have to come back next year 🙂