Living With Severe Food Allergies

Welcome to my Allergy-Free Blog

Hey, I’m Sarah, and I show my life living with severe food allergies. I was born and raised in New York City but moved to Los Angeles for college and have never looked back. I love hiking in the California sunshine and visiting the many beautiful beaches here. However, my true passions are cooking and baking! My friends and family joke that I am in the kitchen testing allergy-free recipes no matter what time they call me. But they are always happy to volunteer as recipe testers. A fan favorite is my recipe for the best gluten-free vanilla cake.

How It Started

I had my first anaphylactic allergic reaction (a severe allergic reaction where one’s body goes into shock, causing the airways to close) when I was three, just the beginning of a long journey of figuring out what was safe for me to eat. And a long journey of finding allergy-free recipes that are to make and taste good! Throughout my childhood, I often felt like I was missing out. I longed to have a slice of cake at birthday parties and not have to bring my own “safe snacks” when out. However, the biggest struggle was the emotional toll of my allergies.

The Emotional Toll of Food Allergies

 I was bullied because of what I couldn’t eat for most of my childhood. It made me feel like I never fit in. But once I embraced my allergies and realized they weren’t a flaw, my life changed. I started creating and sharing delicious, allergy-free recipes online, fostering a community of open-minded people. Refocusing my energy from feeling embarrassed about my allergies to embracing them made a huge difference in my wellbeing. I hope to empower those with food allergies and share my delicious recipes that those with food allergies and those without can enjoy alike.

The Social Effects of my Food Allergies

Beyond food, my allergies used to stop me from socializing. I often felt like a burden ensuring restaurants and destinations were safe for me. But after moving to California and finding a supportive friend group, I recognized the importance of the social area of health. My food allergies do not define my worth, and true friends will recognize it. As I let go of these barriers, I discovered the extroverted side of my personality. And how much I enjoy traveling and trying new restaurants in my city. I am so excited to share with you all the ways I live a full life, even with food allergies.

Watch My Allergy Story

In one of my first video production classes in college, I was faced with the task to create a short interview film. It took me nearly a week to decide on a topic for my final project. Although I was excited to share the story of my childhood with severe food allergies in hope of inspiring others, I was scared. My food allergies have always been a sensitive topic for me, and talking about them in a classroom setting (a place where I was bullied for most of my life) was triggering. But the temporary discomfort of being vulnerable was worth the possibility of inspiring and empowering others. I want to be the support I always wished I had growing up. To anyone experiencing bullying, you are not alone, and I promise it will get better Sarah xx

To watch more of my day-to-day life living with food allergies, watch my Instagram reels.