The idea behind foodamentally is to be the go-to resource for families who experience food allergies and intolerances. Knowing only too well how lost and isolated life can appear when the foods you eat suddenly hurt and harm, I feel compelled to share my family’s lessons and experiences, showing you that allergy-friendly recipes are not the end, but a beginning.
I want this blog, along with our recipes, comprehensive insights, and actionable knowledge, to empower you to feel confident and make informed decisions on this journey. While food allergies and intolerances challenge what and how we have learned to eat (and they certainly disrupt family traditions and habits), they also present an opportunity to improve our health. I know this to be true!
So, welcome to where it all begins… đ
How to enjoy meals together in spite of dietary restrictions
For me, sharing meals is an essential part of a healthy and peaceful human experience. However, as the list of dietary requirements expands, our ability to share and enjoy food together often decreases. Yet it does not need to be this way.
All of our allergy-friendly recipes can be adjusted to allow the family to share the same delicious, nutritious meal with no one having to miss out. Imagine cooking just one meal instead of two or three, how awesome is that?! đ
To jump into the driver’s seat and avoid overwhelm and helplessness, I also believe it is essential knowing and understanding the WHATs and HOWs of food allergies and intolerances: what is harming me, how does it affect my body, what can I do, and how do I heal? This is why we also share health and nutrition-related knowledge and insights that are as comprehensive and actionable as possible.
“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”
Ann Wigmore
What recipes will you find on foodamentally?
Feel-good food! Think tasty classics, scrumptious comfort food, sweet and savoury treats… As mentioned, it’s not about missing out; it’s about embracing this experience as an opportunity to heal while enjoying your family’s mealtime.
There are bulk and freezer meals, as well as substitution and cheat recipes, rendering expensive and often less than healthy store-bought options obsolete. Let’s make it easier, faster, and more nutritious, not more complicated.
For an allergy-friendly recipe to make it onto our website, it has to tick three boxes:
- Taste absolutely delicious!
- Be 100% adaptable to at least the nine main dietary restrictions (gluten-free, nut/peanut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, sesame-free, soy-free, fish-/shellfish-free).
- Use exclusively wholefoods (=minimally processed foods that are free of any potentially harmful additives).
This allows you to
- cook wholesome family meals with lots of flavour (check out our Butter Chicken Recipe That works for Everyone),
- reach for allergy-friendly snacks that donât rely on highly processed, factory-produced foods (like our Amazingly Versatile Salted Caramel Bliss Balls),
- make meals your kids actually want to eat (who would have thought Mac ‘n’ Cheese could be made with hidden veggies and even dairy-free?), and
- understand why and how certain foods cause issues and what to do about it (start with What’s gluten and why does it cause issues in some?).
What makes foodamentally different to other allergy-friendly food blogs?
“The shared meal elevates eating from a mechanical process of nourishment to a ceremony of community, identity, and culture.”
Michael Pollan
When food allergies and intolerances are first detected, it can be challenging. With so many pseudo-experts, opinions and contradictory advice out there, it is difficult to distinguish whether information is friend or foe.
I’ve tried SO much! Followed one diet and adhered to another, I excluded X and binged on Y just to find out that neither harmed nor healed my gut. I even acquired a diploma in nutrition and yet, all I can tell you for sure is that there is no single food or way of eating that is 100% right for EVERYONE.
But what we do know is that we are quite literally what we eat. The food we consume builds our bodies, affects our moods, and impacts our long-term health. Thatâs why foodamentally shares, besides nutrient-dense, allergy-friendly recipes made from wholesome ingredients, in-depth, research-backed articles about gut health, allergies, health claims and food choices.
When we learn to understand and listen to our body, discerning what nourishes it and fosters our individual health, food transforms from being pure fuel into a source of joy, connection, and strength. And really, whatâs better than a healthy body, a delicious meal, and sharing both with the people we love?
To learn more about my background and our family’s unique food and healing journey, click here.