About

Hello there! My name is Danielle Pilarinos. I am a twenty-something year old living in the Baltimore, Maryland area and I recently discovered that I have food allergies. I had gone years thinking it was normal for me to feel awful. As a teenager I never needed a curfew, I was too tired to stay out late. Tums and Pepto-Bismol became like candy to me. I had accepted that I would catch any bug going around. So what, you may be wondering, is my kryptonite?

Gluten
Dairy
White Potatoes
Avocado

I know what you’re thinking, “you’re allergic to potatoes and avocado! How can you possibly find anything to eat?”. No worries I love food too much not to find something to eat and since August 18, 2011, the day I gave up gluten (and dairy and potatoes and avocados), I can truly say I can’t remember feeling better…ever! No more IBS issues. No more nausea for hours a day. I actually have energy and I’m not constantly getting sick. It truly amazes me the impact the food we eat has on our bodies. To quote, the father of Western medicine, Hippocrates –
Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.

Needless to say its a major adjustment learning to live with food allergies. My first reaction was what can I eat? Then after inspecting my kitchen my heart sank and I felt there was nothing I could eat. I started grieving over my lost food options and regretted not eating more maccaroni and cheese, pizza and apple fritters. But as one door closes another one opens and I’m running through it. So please join me as I discover the delicious, healthy and exciting world of living with food allergies.