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Therapist's Words of Wisdom

As promised in my last post, I contacted my NY therapist via Skype (definitely recommended if you don't have good therapy options nearby). After explaining that I felt as though I'd been acting like a miserable, pathetic victim, she told me that that was OK. I was a victim of a complicated food situation. However, the way to not feel victimized anymore would be to take control over the situation. So, starting now, I will be testing pretty much every food on the high histamine list--there are many--to find which foods do/do not make me itchy. This will be a very long-term project, pretty much a part-time job. On top of my full-time job and soccer coaching, this should be interesting. I have decided to start food testing with snack foods because, while I feel confident that I can make myself acceptable meals for the time being, I don't feel that way about snacks. And with school starting back up in four days, I need to get my snacks figured out. I will be creating another p...
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Limiting holiday plans

I was talking to one of my former co-workers the other day about trying to doing a joint holiday at some point this year. The first one that seems to align between us is Christmas/New Years. My idea was that we try to find a location approximately halfway between us to make travel easier on both sides. However, she was more than willing to come almost all the way to me and suggested Italy, specifically Rome. She loves Italy and speaks some Italian, which would certainly make life easier. However, all I could think about was food. She is not the most adventurous eater and all I could picture was her wanting pizza, pasta, and gelato and me saying "I can't eat anything here" at every meal. I know I'm letting my new food restrictions take control but I can't seem to get a handle on any other way. I guess a call to the psychologist is in my future.
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German Renaissance Faire Excursion

Sometimes I'm a really good planner/packer. Other times, most times, in fact, I'm not. Today was definitely the latter. For the past few days, I've been very excited to attend Ritterturnier Kaltenberg, a German Renaissance Faire that has music, a two hour knight jousting tournament/play, booths, costumes, etc. Having attended the New York Renaissance Faire in 1992, I felt somewhat confident that I knew what to expect for entertainment and food. I have fond memories of turkey legs and humongous pickles on that 5th grade field trip. Though it wasn't too pleasant when my father dropped my half of the pickle in the dirt. I got over it...or did I? Anyway, I figured that eating wouldn't be that much of a challenge considering how many large chunks of meat were consumed during that period of history. And what food item is safe for someone who is gluten free, lactose free, and histamine intolerant? A large chunk of meat. Due to this assumption, I didn't pack myself any ...
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My search for lactose free ice cream in Munich

Being told to go lactose free a week before gelato season started in Munich was quite a blow. It has been a real struggle to walk around Munich this summer seeing so many people enjoy the delicious gelato that is just beyond my body's reach. I know what you're thinking, sorbet is lactose free! But you know what? I don't like sorbet very much. It's fine when there's nothing else but it's not even close to the unparalleled mint chocolate chip. All I crave is sweet, creamy, delicious, non-fruit ice cream! Is it possible that there are high histamine ingredients in lactose free ice cream? Yes! But I'm tackling one thing at a time. With my ice cream desires beyond my control, I have begun an epic hunt to quench my thirst. Today's post is inspired by the truly delicious vegan chocolate ice cream "schoko nero" at Eismeer in the Glockenbach neighborhood of Munich. Vegan you say? Yes, vegan! That is the guaranteed lactose free path to ice cream. Scho...
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Foods that make me itch

In figuring out which high histamine foods irritate my system, a list is crucial. I will update the list as I notice reactions. Be sure to click "read more" if you want to see the whole list. So far, I've noticed an issue with the following foods: fresh strawberries tomato soup either cashews or dried cranberries (eaten together, must eat separately to confirm) dried mango
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My Food Story

Five summers ago, I went on a work trip to Singapore where I ate my way through some of the best food in the world. Chicken rice, roti pratha, mi goreng, chicken satay mmmmmm. My mouth waters just thinking about it. However, when I returned to NY, I suffered from morning bloat on a daily basis for the next three months. After complaining to my mother, she suggested that I try cutting out gluten to see how I'd feel. As a native New Yorker, this was no easy feat. No more hot, crispy bagels, no more cheesy pizza, no more chicken parmigiana. After a few initial stumbles--I ate a burger with bun one night, completely forgetting I wasn't supposed to eat the bun--the experiment seemed to be paying off. I was no longer suffering from morning bloat and pretty much all stomach struggles had disappeared. I couldn't believe how well the gluten free thing had work out. For the following four years, my digestive system seemed to be running relatively smoothly. My two years in South Kor...
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Why a blog?

Just five short years ago, I was a somewhat content New Yorker happily eating cheese pizza, bagels with butter, mint chocolate chip ice cream, chocolate covered almonds, and tons of fruit. Today my life looks very different. Living in Germany, gluten, dairy and high histamine foods have been eliminated from my safe food list. All my favorite foods--gone. I have been left feeling disappointed, frustrated, sad, lonely, and a variety of other emotions. I had no idea how emotional I would feel when this all began and, I guess, I'm looking for others to commiserate with as I navigate this battle. I keep thinking that I should call this a journey, but I feel like a warrior battling for my food happiness, so "battle" it is.
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