When you first find out that you or someone in your family has food allergies or intolerances, it can feel like an insurmountable obstacle. Will you have to give up favorite meals, comfort foods and family traditions? How will your life have to change to accommodate this new challenge?
I understand completely, because I’ve been there.
My fascination with really good food began about 15 years ago, when I was a food editor at a regional magazine in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa. It was an exciting time in the local food scene, and I had the opportunity to interview chefs, attend restaurant openings and sample new, fresh dishes to my heart’s content.
Soon after that, however, I realized that the persistent stomachaches I had been experiencing were due to a severe dairy intolerance, and that my husband’s debilitating eczema was the result of soy and gluten allergies. We promptly had to say goodbye to frequent meals out in favor of safe, from-scratch home cooking. Unwilling to compromise flavor or the pleasure of a delicious meal, I filled our pantry with high-quality spices and oils and organic produce and proteins, rolled up my sleeves and got to work on quick recipes that pack a flavorful punch.
Since then, I’ve met so many families with similar stories – after all, there are millions of us in the U.S. alone – and I’ve learned a thing or two: That food allergies love to travel in packs. That I’m not the only one who has been left standing in the middle of the grocery store wondering, “OK, so what CAN we eat?” That the quality and quantity of Octofree ingredients, like flour, bread, pasta and sauces, has come a long way since I started this journey. And most importantly, that you can still live life to the fullest, even with many limitations. It’s taken lots of trial and error to get it right, but here’s the good news: I’ve already done that part for you.
Oh! And more good news: Since every single one of us is busy, these recipes are all easy, quick and delicious. From meals you can toss in the crockpot, to one-pan wonders that are a breeze to clean up, you’ll have a healthy, tasty, Octofree dinner on the table in no time.
Cheers to you, and to loving life with food allergies!
xox
Here, you'll find:
Recipes: I’ve honed reliable family favorites, modified existing recipes, recreated comfort foods, studied every gluten-and dairy-free cookbook out there and cooked countless everyday meals to nourish and satisfy my family. You’ll find the best of the bunch here.
Love Letters: Allergy-conscious products and cooking tools have come a long way since a loaf of gluten-free bread weighed as much as a newborn. Along the way, I’ve probably tried every single one. You’ll find the products and tools that I reach for again and again here.
How-Tos: There are so many of us with food allergies and intolerances (more than 32 million in the U.S. alone), but it can still be difficult to navigate everyday tasks and events without awkward interactions and an empty stomach. These are the strategies I’ve learned over the years to sail through your Octofree life with ease.
By the Numbers
According to Food Allergy Research & Education’s recent report, more than 32 million people in the U.S. have food allergies – that’s one in 10 adults.
5.6 million children in the U.S. have food allergies, which equates to one in 13 kids, or two in every school classroom. The rate of food allergies among kids has doubled in the last two decades.
