Food allergies can go f*ck themselves

[telecom_goddess]

Meat pies, meatloaf, baked casseroles ... that sort of thing.

OH that kind of stuff ok thanks

[Seshat]

Meat pies, meatloaf, baked casseroles ... that sort of thing.

[telecom_goddess]

Do you like roasting and savoury baking? Noone ever said all your meals had to be cooktop meals... oven meals can be perfectly healthy!

I have to know what is savory baking? Baking is typically sweet and savory is typically not sweet. Are you talking like zucchini bread and stuff like that?

[Cooper]

I second that, but for gluten. I've been mysteriously getting gluten'd (doesn't put me in the hospital, but leaves me in a zombie-esque state for a few days) for several days now, which happened to coincide with when I was taking a specific vitamin (doctor-encouraged.) I got it at a health store, and it explicitly says gluten-free, but far as I can tell, it isn't.

Thankfully, gluten-free is being more and more recognized, and we try to just be nice about it. And since I don't die from it, I can take some risks. Notable times dealing with it, however:

* A waitress at a place we usually go to told us x fries were gluten-free, which technically yes, but they were cross-contaminated during cooking. My mom got sick from them--and she gets migraines, so she's worse off than I am.

Next time I went there she tried to get me to have those fries, insisting they were gluten free. After I informed her they got my mother sick, she just kinda went "I guess I should stop saying they're gluten free, then."

The other was when I was at Wendys--which is the only fast food chain where we feel relatively safe getting food from, even if it's a baconator or a grilled chicken sans bun. The wait staff has started to recognize me, as I come in, order both of them (one for me and one for mom) eat one there, then head out.

Cashier: You want no-bun, right?
Me: well, I kinda need it, but yes.

I was pretty impressed with a Wendys I saw in Ohio though. When we ordered a no-bun meal, they asked if it was for an allergy. When we said yes, they ripped off their gloves and put on new ones to do our order.

[jedimaster91]

Crockpots are one of the greatest kitchen inventions ever. Dump ingredients, turn on, come back in a few hours and have delicious food. Crockpot chicken pot pie is to die for.

[roguesqd]

Crockpot cooking is awesome, also if you do it right one batch can last 2-3 days

[Shangri-laschild]

Not sure if it would help or not but maybe having some sort of medical alert bracelet for when you go to restaurants that you could point at might help them take the allergy seriously? Or calling ahead of time to double check to see if they think it would be a problem.

[mathnerd]

Try using a crockpot also. I don't really like cooking myself and a crock pot is a nice easy method for me. Prepare the stuff, toss it in, turn it on for however long and serve. very little actual work, but good foods. I make all kinds of stuff in a crock pot including breakfast (layer meat <ham or sausage is my pref> taters <I like the frozen hash browns>, veggies like bell peppers if you like and pour your egg mixture over it with whatever spices you like in the egg mixture. Cook on low for about 6-8 hrs <experiment first time>. nice hot breakfast when you get up. and roasts and stews and chili and spaghettis and ....

I keep promising myself that I'll get organized enough to use my crock pot more often. I really need to keep that promise to myself. I just never seems to happen.

If you're really curious, check YouTube for something happening at the bar you went to: it's possible someone had a cellphone and recorded it once they realized an ambulance was being called. At the very least you might find a recording of someone else having a similar reaction. People can be sick voyeurs when stuff like that is happening.

Now there's a thought. Though I think I'd want to see a video of it happening to somebody else. I don't like videos of me on a good day, and this was definitely not a good day.

Actually, the whole day was kind of rough. I'd started out the day with my regular morning run, but since I wasn't near home I was running on unfamiliar sidewalks (as opposed to the regular asphalt roads I run on at home), and I found a crack in the sidewalk the hard way. I went down pretty hard, but only hard enough to give myself smallish road rash spot on one knee and some bruising on both knees, shins and hands. There was also an embarrassing moment involving (new, unworn) panties on a bar floor. Maybe I should have just stayed home that day.

[EvilEmpryss]

I've been told that it's pretty scary to watch. I actually don't know what it looks like, since I'm normally too focused on trying to breathe.

If you're really curious, check YouTube for something happening at the bar you went to: it's possible someone had a cellphone and recorded it once they realized an ambulance was being called. At the very least you might find a recording of someone else having a similar reaction. People can be sick voyeurs when stuff like that is happening.

[Seshat]

For somebody like me, that's not possible, but restaurant staffs don't actually see that kind of reaction very often. I guarantee that the staff that was on duty that night will NEVER make that mistake again. I've been told that it's pretty scary to watch.

I've seen my husband de-oxygenate with cardiac shock; it's an awful, awful sight, and he has an awful smell about him when it happens, as well. I have no idea if anaphylaxis produces the same effect or a different one, but if it's equally horrible - yeah, noone present will EVER forget it.


I think you'll be safe to eat at that place until the staff changes; and even then, as long as you make sure one of the staff who was present that night knows the meal is for you, you'll be safe.

[Teskeria]

Try using a crockpot also. I don't really like cooking myself and a crock pot is a nice easy method for me. Prepare the stuff, toss it in, turn it on for however long and serve. very little actual work, but good foods. I make all kinds of stuff in a crock pot including breakfast (layer meat <ham or sausage is my pref> taters <I like the frozen hash browns>, veggies like bell peppers if you like and pour your egg mixture over it with whatever spices you like in the egg mixture. Cook on low for about 6-8 hrs <experiment first time>. nice hot breakfast when you get up. and roasts and stews and chili and spaghettis and ....

[mathnerd]

Most of the cooking I do actually meets that description. I'm still not a fan. Obviously, I do cook, as I have kids and can't afford to eat out for every meal, but I simply don't enjoy working with meats and veggies and such. I like baking desserts and breads. I'm not sure what the difference is, but it is what it is.

For the most part, I'm just whining. As a friend pointed out, I don't have to swear off eating out entirely. Most Asian places wouldn't even have tomatoes on the premises, though some would have eggplant. Also, I could have been more assertive Thursday night. I did tell the bartender that it was an allergy, but I didn't go through my normal (and obnoxious) speal about it. The other times I've been in that bar I've had a different bartender serving me, and he normally goes back into the kitchen himself to advise the kitchen.

Honestly, I kinda get why wait staff and kitchen staff don't always take allergy alerts seriously. Far to many SC's use "allergy" as an excuse when it's just something they don't like. Then, if a mistake happens, they just pull the offending food off their plate and eat it anyway. For somebody like me, that's not possible, but restaurant staffs don't actually see that kind of reaction very often. I guarantee that the staff that was on duty that night will NEVER make that mistake again. I've been told that it's pretty scary to watch. I actually don't know what it looks like, since I'm normally too focused on trying to breathe. Though I have to give kudos to my dining companion. He stayed calm enough that the paramedics even commented on how together he was. I don't exactly recall what the guy said, but I do remember him saying something to that effect.

[Seshat]

As much as I hate cooking, I love to bake.

Do you like roasting and savoury baking? Noone ever said all your meals had to be cooktop meals... oven meals can be perfectly healthy!

[mathnerd]

Perhaps you and your friends could plan to have group dinner parties, with those of you who hate cooking agreeing to do other things - bring drinks, do the washing up, whatever will help.

I have this vague idea that you're a friend of Jester's and live near him. Jester's a caring sort, at least of friends and family, and loves to cook. I'm sure he can come up with tomato-free jambalaya and other tasty treats.

Find out if any of your friends have allergen-catering certifications, and are willing to help your other friends to learn how to cook safely for you.

And figure out what you can do for them in return.

Jester and I are friends. And he's already come up with a tomato free spaghetti sauce that's freaking fantastic! It's red pepper based, and it honestly tastes like real spaghetti. He's cooked for me several times, and it's always very good. Though we don't live terribly close. It's a three hour drive between his place and mine, though recently I've had reason to be in Key West every couple weeks, which is a little more frequent than is usual for me. I have a job offer down there, and depending on finding housing, I'll be moving.

As for the dinner party idea: That's fantastic! I hadn't thought of doing something like that. Maybe I can convince Jester to join my friends and I in Miami for a dinner/cooking party. I can do the desserts. As much as I hate cooking, I love to bake.

[Seshat]

Perhaps you and your friends could plan to have group dinner parties, with those of you who hate cooking agreeing to do other things - bring drinks, do the washing up, whatever will help.

I have this vague idea that you're a friend of Jester's and live near him. Jester's a caring sort, at least of friends and family, and loves to cook. I'm sure he can come up with tomato-free jambalaya and other tasty treats.

Find out if any of your friends have allergen-catering certifications, and are willing to help your other friends to learn how to cook safely for you.

And figure out what you can do for them in return.