Living in a World of Too Much Food

The trials and triumphs of an allergy family

by Susan Weissman, M.Ed.

The Blame Game

There isn’t one part of my son Eden’s food allergies that I haven’t questioned, even when it was obvious there was no answer to be had. In the seven years since Eden’s diagnosis - anaphylactic to peanuts, tree nuts, soy, dairy, seeds, legumes and salmon - I’ve rounded up all the usual suspects for his allergic condition, including myself. Read More

Swallowing Our Emotions Won’t Make Them Easier to Accept

Within a year of discovering that my one-year-old son, Eden, had a shocking amount of life threatening food allergies, my teeth became so sensitive that biting down on anything harder than a slice of toast brought on painful tingles. Read More

How to Take a Spring Break Vacation and “Staycation” With Food Allergies

When my son Eden was first diagnosed with multiple and life threatening food allergies I was overwhelmed and assumed I wouldn't be leaving my Tri-State New York habitat for years to come. How to fly with a peanut allergy? How to eat in restaurants with if Eden can't eat butter or eggs? Read More

Feed My Child at Your Own Risk

When you have a child with food allergies there are two types of food accidents: you let your child eat the wrong food, or someone else gives your child the wrong food without your knowledge. Sometimes I find myself playing a masochistic game in which I try to decide which scenario would be worse. Read More

Help! I Don't Know What Kind of Parent I Am

In the years since my son Eden was born and diagnosed with life threatening food allergies there has been a counter trend towards laid back parenting, often called "slow" or "free range" parenting. Read More

Raise an Allergic Child and You May Be Haunted by Food

When I tell a new acquaintance about my son Eden and his multiple and life threatening food allergies, this is one of the first questions I'm asked: "Have you ever had to give him an Epipen?" Read More

Children! Our Organic, Free-range, Clean, Local, Grass-fed Dinner Is Ready!

I know a lot about food. I had to learn fast when my son Eden was diagnosed with multiple anaphylactic food allergies. For example, I know why soy lecithin is in most baked goods and I know that Honey Nut Cheerios are made on a separate factory belt than regular Cheerios. Read More

Eating Their Way To Adulthood

Ever since my second child Eden had his initial life threatening allergic (anaphylactic) reaction to the otherwise wholesome lunch I prepared for him (organic ground meat, rice, and a sliced banana set aside for a dessert that never materialized since we were in the ER by then) I've prioritized "Food Safety" in uppercase lettering. Read More