Choosing Voluntary Simplicity » Living with a Soy Allergy

Allergic Reactions, Cross Contamination, and Bulk Food Bins

Shirley — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:28:58 +0000

I think the most discouraging allergic reactions are the ones that seem to come out of nowhere... those times when you KNOW you haven't ingested the allergen and yet the seriousness of your reaction proves you have. For me, the explanation is usually allergen cross contamination I didn't know about. Recently I have noticed that many natural foods... including many previously "safe" foods that I have been buying for years... are now including a possible cross contamination warning on their label. As the customer service representative at one major manufacturer told me, the "possible" part of the warning is somewhat misleading... if an allergen is listed as a possible contaminant on the label, it is almost certainly in the product, albeit in small amounts. Anyone with a severe or life-threatening allergy will undoubtedly choose to avoid the product rather than test out the accuracy of the statement! I'm grateful when manufacturers give me that choice.

Is It Possible To Have a Soy-Free Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner?

Shirley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:42:46 +0000

Reader question... "Is it possible to have a Thanksgiving dinner that isn't full of soy? I was diagnosed with a severe (life threatening) soy allergy a few months ago and everything we normally would have for our Thanksgiving dinner seems to have soy on the label. Ideally we would have turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, pies, stuffing, but all the labels say soy. What can I do?" --Diana S.

Tips for Using & Storing Herbs

Shirley — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:02:46 +0000

Reader question... "I'm just starting to use herbs more in my cooking and I'm realizing that I don't know very much about this subject. Are herbs something I should buy in bulk, how should I store them, how do I know how much to use? Any hints or information you could share would be very appreciated. Thank you." --Sheryl

Probably the most important thing to remember is that dried herbs are much stronger than fresh herbs because the chemicals responsible for the flavor have been concentrated by the drying process. As a rough estimate, one teaspoon of dried, crushed herbs... or 1/4 teaspoon of an herb that has been dried and powdered... are about equivalent to two to three teaspoons of fresh herbs.

Book Review: The Whole Soy Story

Shirley — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:26:58 +0000

Kaayla T. Daniel is a clinical nutritionist with a PhD in Nutritional Sciences and Anti-Aging Therapies. She is a popular speaker on the subjects of nutrition and longevity and she advises clients on a wide range of nutritional health issues. The subtitle of this book, The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food, describes its purpose perfectly... to counter the exaggerated health claims about soy and soy products and to provide a more balanced view based on facts and science.

How To Make Your Own Italian Seasoning Mix

Shirley — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:07:27 +0000

"I used your instructions and made garlic powder over the weekend. It turned out great and it tastes much more garlicky than my jar of store bought. I'm wondering do you make your own Italian seasoning mix and if you do if you would share your recipe. I am trying to make as many things from scratch as I can and I'm finding your blog wonderfully helpful." --Patti

How I Make Garlic Powder

Shirley — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:29:42 +0000

My family loves garlic, and I put it in everything... well, almost! I buy bulbs of garlic in little mesh bags, four pounds at a time (this is the least expensive way I have found to buy garlic)... but I also like to have powdered garlic on hand. I still have a large, almost-full bottle of McCormick's garlic powder that I do not dare to use again because every time I have used it, it has caused me to have a violent soy reaction. Soy is not listed in the ingredients, but a company service representative finally admitted to me that any of their herbs or spices MIGHT contain a binder, and that the binder MIGHT contain soy... and that this fact MIGHT not be listed on the label.

Book Review: The Hidden Dangers of Soy

Shirley — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:59:14 +0000

Four years ago Dianne Gregg, the author of The Hidden Dangers of Soy, went into anaphylactic shock in an emergency room. Doctors stabilized her condition but could not find the reason it had happened, even after many examinations and tests. Their tentative diagnosis was food poisoning. The author felt that food poisoning was not the answer, but she could not figure out what had gone wrong either.

My Thoughts On Grocery Shopping And Frugality

Shirley — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:36:00 +0000

Grocery shopping is one area where big savings are possible, but I don't think that frugality should ever be the only consideration. I definitely try to keep our grocery bill as low as possible, but I also want the foods I serve my family to be nutritious and healthy, and I want our meals to be appealing and taste good... with portions large enough to satisfy everyone's hunger. That's not as easy as it used to be, but here are a few ideas I use that help keep our grocery bills under control.

Learning How To Eat Again When You Have A Soy Allergy

Shirley — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:15:17 +0000

Almost every day I receive a message from someone who has just been diagnosed with a soy allergy... or from someone whose child has just been diagnosed with a soy allergy. These messages usually have a common theme... for these people, eating almost anything has become a scary unknown... and especially so if their allergic reaction is severe. Unfortunately, because soy is in so much of our food and masquerades under so many different names, it is extremely difficult to avoid. However, it CAN be done. Here are some ideas that I hope will help.

Making Homemade Ketchup

Shirley — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:11:52 +0000

Recently the same brand of ketchup we have been using for years has started causing me to have a soy reaction each time I eat even the tiniest amount. Although the label hasn't changed and soy is not listed, it's obvious that this ketchup does now contain soy. So ketchup has been added to that ever-growing list of foods that I have to make from scratch.