| Just about everyone knows how difficult it can be to | | | | safe products that you may require are available only |
| stay on a diet whether it is to avoid allergens or to lose | | | | in health food stores or specialty outlets, and cannot |
| weight. Those great intentions, which seem so easy | | | | always be obtained in a quick dash to the shops. |
| before we start, filling us with determination, can easily | | | | Organisation |
| waver after a few days of deprivation. Staying on a | | | | It is important to keep an eye on your menu plan a |
| diet can seem like a life sentence and if allergens are | | | | day ahead. Many dishes require advanced preparation, |
| your problem, can seem very unfair. | | | | such as soaking lentils, and the whole weeks planning |
| There is no escaping the fact that if you, or a family | | | | can be thrown out if you plan a lentil shepherd's pie for |
| member are suffering from food allergies then you are | | | | dinner but have overlooked cooking the lentils in |
| going to spend a great deal of time in the kitchen | | | | advance, or some other such essential stage. Looking |
| preparing food. Although the range of prepared | | | | ahead is important for maintaining allergy diets. |
| substitute food that is readily available at health food | | | | Hang in there |
| shops and supermarkets is increasing, it is still | | | | Knowing that avoiding the foods that disagree with |
| economically and in the interests of your overall health, | | | | you is doing great things for your body is an enormous |
| better to prepare the food that you eat yourself. Not | | | | incentive to continue. Having the recipes, foods and |
| that the range of substitute cookies, breads etc is not | | | | menu plans organised is a key to maintaining this good |
| useful, but making food yourself is the preferable and | | | | health and vitality. However, it is not always easy |
| often the only way of having them under strict dietary | | | | when diets mean that we have to give up some of |
| constraints. | | | | our favourite foods; especially when we are eating |
| Below are some hints to assist you in keeping to your | | | | away from home. So, don't beat yourself up if you slip |
| diet, so that you don't find yourself with nothing | | | | up on occasion, enjoy the moment and forget about it. |
| acceptable to eat and reverting to consuming food | | | | Then make the decision to go back to foods that |
| that is not good for your body and/ or your dietary | | | | work for you and keep on with them. |
| goals. | | | | You will find that if you plan ahead and have a well |
| Incentive | | | | stocked pantry of food that is allergy safe and healthy, |
| Motivation is the basis of all endeavours. In following | | | | apart from unavoidable slip-ups and moments of sheer |
| your allergy diet it is important to remember how you | | | | indulgence, your allergy diet will continue smoothly. |
| felt before you removed or reduced the foods that | | | | Always remember that you are doing much to |
| disagree with you. Recall headaches, weight problems, | | | | promote optimum health and vitality for you and your |
| stomach disorders, arthritis and eczema, and remind | | | | family, so persevere regardless! |
| yourself that you want to avoid these conditions. You | | | | Finally, once you have embarked on all of this planning, |
| are building your body and mind toward better health | | | | organising, motivating, and cooking, don't expect |
| and, with that preventing the onset of more serious | | | | everyone to jump around thanking you! Whilst |
| disease and discomfort. So, keep motivated! | | | | managing an allergy free diet is a major achievement |
| Planning | | | | and a commitment to health and well being, and you |
| Organising the family menu ahead of time will enable | | | | should feel justifiably proud of your efforts, there is |
| you to get through the period more easily. It means | | | | every chance that the family will not greet your |
| that you can make the most of the food that is good | | | | labours with enthusiasm. |
| for your body. It will also mean that during the hours of | | | | You may receive looks of disbelief and complaints |
| 5 and 7pm you will not arrive home and wonder how | | | | about new menu items, but do not give up! Ensure that |
| you can possibly create a sensible, nutritionally | | | | you are not in a halfway situation; IF the unhealthy |
| balanced, allergy safe and delicious meal within an hour! | | | | choices are available, children will typically take them, |
| So, plan ahead! | | | | and they will complain if they do not get them! It can be |
| Groundwork | | | | hard work to get children to eat whole grains or honey |
| Once your menu is planned, taking into account the | | | | when they know that there is are white flour cookies |
| foods that are in season and those which can be | | | | and potato chips in the pantry. It is best to simply |
| made ahead of time and frozen or stored, then you | | | | remove these items altogether if you are going to |
| need to stock your pantry. Regular checks to ensure | | | | succeed in your allergy free diet. |
| that your shelves are stocked with essential items | | | | Maintain your composure and do not insist that |
| such as rice flour, dairy free margarine, and special milk | | | | unpopular food is eaten, but continue to reintroduce it |
| to suit your diet, are important to maintaining success | | | | after an interval of time. You will find that initially |
| with your healthy lifestyle. This is no different than with | | | | rejected menu items become family favourites! |
| any family shopping, except that some of the allergy | | | | |