1. Please Don’t Exclude Me

Here’s the deal: I want to attend all the things—birthdays, holidays, dinners out, cookouts. If the restaurant you choose doesn’t have safe gluten- and dairy-free options, no big deal. I can eat before, or I’ll sneak in a protein bar. Please don’t leave me out because you’re worried I can’t eat there, and please don’t change your plans just for me. I’d rather be included with my protein bar than excluded with an empty calendar.

2. I’m Not That High Maintenance

Okay, maybe I’m a little high maintenance—but that’s thanks to my mom and my husband, not my allergies 😂. When I ask waitstaff a million questions, it’s not to be “that customer”—it’s because I really, really don’t want to get sick. Been there, done that, it’s terrible. So yes, I’m going to ask. Yes, it might make our food take longer. And yes, sometimes I’m embarrassed too. But hey—we can just be embarrassed together while waiting on safe food and catching up. Win-win.

3. Labels Still Scare Me

That box that says “gluten-free and dairy-free” on the front? Awesome! …until I flip it over and see made on shared equipment with wheat. Cue panic. For me, shared equipment = no go. Shared facility = maybe. Certified gluten-free = my happy place. Do I only eat certified products? Nope (hello, strawberries and steak). But when it comes to packaged goods or eating out, I’ve learned to be extra cautious. Cross-contact is real, and a crumb or a drop is enough to take me down.

4. Yep, It’s Expensive

Living gluten and dairy free isn’t cheap. A $3.86 bag of store-brand chocolate chips becomes $9.99 when they’re allergy-friendly. That’s 158% more for the exact same joy of eating cookies. I get why—it costs companies more to certify and produce safely. But it still hurts the wallet, and I think often about how hard this is for families with smaller budgets. One of my hopes is that by raising awareness, maybe someday we can make safe foods more affordable for everyone who needs them.

5. I’m Not Eating Because I Don’t Feel Comfortable

Sometimes people go above and beyond to cook for me, and I love that they care. But unless I can read the packaging or I completely trust the kitchen, I usually pass. That’s not me being rude—it’s me trying not to spend the night sick in bed. I once ate a dessert made “gluten-free” with—you guessed it—white flour. Spoiler: white flour is still wheat flour 😬. Lesson learned. These days, I’ll always be grateful for the effort, but I’ll also always double-check.

 🌟 The Heart of It All
Living with food allergies isn’t about being picky or difficult—it’s about staying healthy while still living fully. I don’t want special treatment. I don’t want the menu to revolve around me. I just want a seat at the table, a safe plate, and to celebrate life with the people I love.I want to join the party too! Birthdays, holidays, or just hanging out—don’t leave me out because I can’t eat everything. If pizza’s off-limits, no biggie! I’ll pack a snack and still bring my best dance moves.