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My name is Tessa. For years I have had a passion for everything around the home. I am a self-professed foodie who loves to tinker and experiment in the kitchen to make meals healthier and more tasty. I love to hike, listen to music obsessively, and adore Zumba and dancing. I am known as the neighborhood hippy (for all my green leanings), and my tiny garden is my second home. I started this blog as a way to help others who are overwhelmed when they find out their bodies, or someone in their family can’t tolerate certain foods. It is a scary time. Hopefully this blog will help others find out that delicious, wholesome food is still a possibility, and a reality!
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| This is my family…being the picture taker in this house means I don’t get into as many pics as I should! |
So why did we eliminate gluten, corn, and dairy from our diets? All of my three kids had issues with dairy when they were first born. I remember trying to console my first born and every ounce of mommy instinct within me reeling: THIS IS NOT NORMAL!!! I knew babies didn’t just scream for no reason. But when I called my pediatrician’s office for advice, I got, “Oh your baby has colic, and there is not much you can do about it.” That advice felt wrong! I was not willing to sit idly by while my baby was so obviously trying to tell me something. I ended up calling several lactation consultants, and they all suggested I try cutting dairy out of my diet. This was complete news to me.. no one in my world had ever dealt with anything like this, so food elimination was foreign to me. I diligently cut out all dairy products, and my first baby became a sweet and comfortable newborn. Oh a mommy’s bliss! I was able to help my baby feel better just by cutting out a food! When my second born started in with the same….I knew what to do!! With her too, no dairy = perfect baby. With dairy = baby who cries all the time.
Then my third child was born. I was foolishly hopeful that this baby would be ridiculously easy on me…after all…he was my third…it was bound to be so! I was an experienced mom, I could handle whatever kinks were thrown my way, I was confident! Then he came down with an infection 12 hours post birth. Instead of checking out and being home, we spent the next week in the hospital doing spinal taps, blood cultures, and 2 hardcore IV antibiotics to counter the undiagnosed infection raging within my son’s body. It was an awful week. But bottom line, he went home healthy and alive. I was grateful. I am still am.
Within a week, the uncontrollable crying started. I immediately cut out dairy. It seemed to help…but he was still inconsolable. First curve ball…I’d never cut out anything besides dairy…what else could there be?! For weeks I stumbled through exhaustion trying to find triggers for my poor son. Anyone who has ever had a colicky baby can tell you: it is a living hell. It is hard on the WHOLE family. I’ve never been prone to depression, but here I was sobbing throughout the day, desperate to help my baby, but nothing seemed to be working. I don’t remember the exact time I finally figured out corn, but when I did, some of his worst reactions fell into place: ‘Oh yes..we had Mexican that night with loads of corn tortillas!’ ‘A-ha! It wasn’t just the dairy in the pot pie my friend made for me, it was the cornbread topping too!’
With two triggers out of the way, I thought maybe we were home free….but no. For the better part of this last year, I cut out everything. We have done IgG and IgE blood tests. We have done muscle resistance tests. We have done gut repairs regimes. Here we are today. I am no longer breastfeeding my son, but he still continues to react to things. It seems maybe his little gut was damaged by those antibiotics and thus over-reacts to many things. But I do not know for sure. I am not a medical expert. My pediatrician (who means well) looks at me like I have two heads when I try to talk to him about leaky-gut. Trying to find support in a regular Md can be difficult. I still haven’t figured everything out. Recent IgE blood testing says my son has allergies to dog, peanuts, flax seeds, and wheat. We now carry an Epi Pen. My gut tells me that this still doesn’t make any sense. How does a baby with no family history get all these allergies? And beyond allergies, what about all his intolerances? What about the rampant increase in allergies of ALL KIDS? Something isn’t make sense here for me! While I pour over literature and try to help my son heal, I try to keep an open mind and loving heart. One day, this will all make sense, I am so hopeful.
Along the way, the no-gluten diet seemed to help my eldest child focus a bit more and react more appropriately to life’s bumps. The tantrums have been less frequent. And as I adjust to life after breastfeeding, I am trying to learn the effect all these things have on my body too. It is an evolving process. In this long year, being able to share my food ideas with people who have struggled with food allergies has been a positive source of encouragement and support for me. It feels good not to be the only one. It feels good to share yummy food. It feels good to help even one other in their journey.
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Good Evening!
Thank you for commenting on my Teeny ‘ini’s (http://delishdishbyliz.blogspot.com/2012/03/teeny-inis-zucchini-tots.html) I would love for you to feature them and I have been tinkering with my page this afternoon so I am hoping it is working now. Please let me know if it is working and what I can do to fix it! Here is my email: delishdishbyliz@gmail.com and thank you for thinking of us at Delish Dish!
Liz :0)
Hi Tessa,
I read your story @ Real Food Allergy-Free, and then I hopped over and read your about me.
Three of my children drink goat milk and are not allowed cows milk products. My oldest is allowed cows milk on her cereal and occasionally has ice cream (she just gets too spacey otherwise). We have random symptoms that MD’s can’t explain. Then one day my mom sent me an article about cultured veggies. Now they are not for everyone as they have such a strong flavor, but 2 of my kids and I love them. They have both a probiotic effect and are loaded with enzymes because they are a live food. They have made a tremendous difference in how I feel (how much more energy I have) when I have them regularly.
I have yet to give up corn (I’m really more worried about GMO stuff which isn’t labeled) and my husband does NOT want me kicking wheat out of the house (so I just limit it as I haven’t been able to prove to him that causes any of us problems). My little ones are so much nicer and able to behave themselves when we limit wheat.
We have given up using lotions. I just give them a bath with baking soda in the water to sooth their skin, and put coconut oil on their skin to moisturize.
Sorry I’m kind of rambley; I’m rushing off to be with the little ones waking from their naps. So anyways, thank you for your blog here. The recipes look so yummy! I’ll surely leave a comment when I try some.
Blessings,
April
Hi April! I know how hard it can be when symptoms are less black and white…behavior can be a hard a one to ‘prove’ when a certain amount of it is always based on personality and age. Our brains accept physical symptoms much easier! My husband very grudgingly let wheat and dairy go in the house…and even discovered a definite dairy intolerance in the process. Thanks for stopping by and sharing some of your story, I am here to help if you ever need anything!
Hey lady! Just thought I’d let you know I nominated you for a “Very Inspiring Blogger” Award. You can check it out here if you want
. Thanks for being so wonderful!
http://veggienook.com/2012/04/15/very-inspiring-versatile-and-liebster/
Thank you Gabbie, how very thoughtful!
Hi there!
I stumbled on your blog and am so glad I did! I have a 5 month old son (our 1st baby) who is reacting to so much of what I eat (very painful gas and acid reflux & we’ve had thrush 3x )! I had the igG blood test on me at the encouragement of my awesome lactation consultant and came back as sensitive to dairy, chicken eggs, cane sugar and wheat. Also some random things like cranberries, pineapple, bananas, sesame seeds and spelt. I’ve cut out all of these things and then tried re-introducing some of them one at a time but he is just super sensitive. And the crazy part is my husband and I have no known food allergy history in either of our families!
It’s been a crazy process (& very challenging), yet I’m learning so much about nutrition & healthy eating. Thanks for having this blog & being a resource & source of encouragement for me!
Oh Julia, I know too well what you are going through!! I have been there!! We didn’t think we had issue either, then when we started introducing things again when i was done breast feeding…we found out different! If I can help you ANYTIME, please just let me know, I know first hand how challenging it can be trying to figure everything out!! Thanks for stopping by and introducing yourself, I look fwd to hearing from you again1
Your last paragraph really resonates with me; I have also wondered many times why a family with no history of allergies would have kids with all these allergies. And why so many kids with this problem nowadays? Like yours, our son had a terrible time of it at birth and was on heavy antibiotics for the first two weeks of life, so I thought that was somehow connected to his allergies. But then my second child–natural childbirth, not touched by any antibiotics–has many food allergies as well. I just try to make lemonade out of lemons now and enjoy the ride!
My son, Sawyer, was a super-picky eater, like you mentioned your son is. He basically ate rice Chex and plain pasta for a year before he finally started to expand his horizons when he was a little over two, and I could start reasoning and bargaining with him. He is now 4 and eats whatever is put on his plate–with some complaining sometimes, but at least it gets eaten. There is hope, but it is a long haul, I know.
Thanks for sharing Allison. This whole food allergy thing can be a lot to wrap your brain around. I am glad your son turned it around…gives me hope!! He ate pancakes today…an exciting moment (how crazy, no?!).
I was recently nominated by Kristy over at http://www.keepinitkind.com for Kreativ Blogger and the Sunshine Blogger Awards. I wanted to pass it on to you. You can check it out at http://cheerfullyvegan.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/blog-awards/
So neat to read about your experience! My 2 oldest have food intollerances as well.. We have no Soy,no corn, no beef, no chicken, and no turkey in our home!.. So we eat alot of Pork!…. It certainly seems crazy.. but when they eat these things they get sick.. have bathroom issues.. and just feel miserable!… So we go with it!… Certainly can be a challenge!.. and seems to be ever changing for my oldest with more and more things added to his list of sensitivity…now dogs and trees etc…. Looking forward to checking out your page more!
What a bummer!! At least we have figured out SOME of the things their bodies don’t like!! Thank you for stopping by and saying hello Kelly!
I’m SO glad to have found your blog – via pinterest. I too recently cut out dairy, corn, and most gluten due to many of the issues you cite. Working with a naturopath has been more successful than my PCP and the best care I’ve gotten in years. She helped me discover these intolerances. I’m glad to see your recipes as corn is a hard one to cut out, especially when cutting out gluten too.
Cheers!
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth! You’re right, gluten and corn simultaneously can be a challenge with commercially made things. If I can help you at all, please let me know, I am so happy you found a caregiver who is working with you and LISTENING! PCP often just don’t have the background and knowledge to delve into this world of WHAT we put into in our body having such a huge a impact, it was never a part of their training!
Hi! My husband told me about your blog (he was the computer guy that helped you). I’ve got three kids with various allergies/intolerances and went down a gluten & casein free road 8 years ago.
We’ve been various “frees” over the years, some discovered after tests, some just trying to find something that works.
Currently my 10 year old is mostly gluten & casein free, but after nearly 8 years on this diet his gut has healed dramatically! He can enjoy real pizza now and then, or his favorite real grilled cheese!
My 19 month old has tested high in egg, peanut and soy. Moderate in oats and casein. Egg and peanut trials got us hives that scared us enough to carrying an epi pen for him now.
I’m nursing my 5 month old and when I tried egg a few times she projectile vomits, and gets stuffy and gassy upon dairy consumption.
I always love finding new sites with more recipes. Also great to find local people for more local resources!
Hi Stacy…what a small world! Thank for ‘introducing’ yourself! our kiddos are lucky to have a mom who is so savvy and smart! (;
Hi Tessa! Gosh, your story is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing with us. I just wanted to let you know that I just nominated you for the Liebster Blog award! http://glutenfreehappytummy.com/2012/08/10/nectarine-pancakes-w-blackberry-syrup-gf-sf-v-scd/
Don’t feel obligated to participate:) It’s just for fun! Have a great weekend! -Caralyn
Thank you Caralyn!!
Hi Tessa!
I read your story and I have a very strong desire to encourage you to find a chiropractor who does Nutrition Response Testing – for both you and your little boy. I am a patient of one and have been helped SO much. They have REAL answers that MDs would brush off. They can tell you exactly what is affecting you, what your body doesn’t like/can’t tolerate, they can tell you exactly what you need to do to get better!
Please update if you get a chance to check into it!
Prayers,
Tiffany
I’ll look int it Tiffany, thank you for letting me know about it…I had never heard of that method!
Hi Tessa, I am new to all of this nutritional cures for diseases but I am really interested in it. I have a friend whose daughter adopted a child and a Dr. diagnosed leaky gut. They put him on the GAP diet and things have straightened out. I haven’t read all the above comments so maybe someone else mentioned it. I love your website and really thank you for all your hard work to make such wonderful recipes. I am going to continue to read your blog and pass your site on to some other crossfitters (healthy recipe bloodhounds). Loved the Hail Mary Tarts. Yummy! Be blessed, Patti
Thanks Patti, yes i am very aware of GAPS, and have been considering that for m son for some time, I just haven’t taken the leap yet!! i appreciate your comment.
Hi Tessa! I love learning about people adventures in food allergies. I started my own adventures about 2 years ago. Since then I decided to put my psychology/therapy skills to use and specialize in working with families impacted by food allergies/restricted diets. Please let me know if I can be of any help!
With much respect,
Elika Kormeili, MFT
“The food allergy therapist” at Center for Healthy and Happy Living
http://www.centerforhealthyandhappyliving.com
What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing, Tessa.
Hi, Tessa,
I’m hoping to find a recipe for hazelnut meal short bread.
I lost mine that I’d found via a recipe round up like yours. Made it twice a couple of months ago, and now have no idea what happened to i.
Is there a way to do a search on your past round ups.
Thanks,
Debbie Manahan
Do you mean an allergy free Wednesday party where everyone shares recipes? I usually use google to search, it is a much better search engine than the one blogs are given to use. Google tessa domestic hazelnut shortbread see if any of those look familiar…I saw two possibilities.
Hi Tessa, I wanted to send you an email to feature one of your recipes but I don’t see an email address for you. If you’re interested, send me an email at beyondthepeel@gmail.com. I’ll then be able to send you a full email with the details. Cheers!