Living with Food Allergies: My Struggle to Fit In

I completely understand your situation! Since I was an infant I have been allergic to dairy, eggs, all nuts, and shellfish. Then when I was 5, I tacked on Celiac Disease to my whole dietary list. As a teenager, it’s so hard explaining to people what it’s truly like because they don’t understand the social and mental toll food allergies have on every situation in your life. Food is such a social part of our culture and it sucks feeling so isolated and left out. I found that it really helps to find people who want to try the foods and meals that you can eat. It’s such a weird feeling sharing my favorite dairy free cheese with people who don’t shame me or think I’m disgusting for liking my typical foods. If you ever need someone to hear you out and talk reach out! It’s so hard finding this type of support.

yea, that really kicked my ass when I was a teenager too. I hated being the only one not eating or eating something different. every once in a while it still trips me out that there are things I will literally never taste, but at this point it doesn't upset me anymore, it's just one of those weird things, like saying a word a million times until it's not a word anymore. that gets easier to deal with as you get older, and what I started doing was bringing food I can eat for everyone to have, so at least I wasn't the only one eating the thing I made. I bring at least one dessert and one not dessert to every holiday dinner so I know I have something to eat, and I get to show off my skills a little lol