Written by: Ava Garrido
Date: November 2020
Quarantine has changed everyone’s schedule at least a little bit. What has it done to yours? Because of quarantine, I have been voluntarily cooking around the house. With a large family, I often have to account for everyone’s likes and dislikes when it comes to making food. More importantly, their allergies.
The majority of my family is fine with all foods. Our allergies only consist of inedible things; for example, I have an allergy to latex. However, one of my brothers has eczema.
Eczema is a term for skin swelling and irritation. Although it is common around the United States, the condition is not contagious, as well as it’s treatable. Treatments for the disease itself include medicines, skin creams, light therapy, good skincare, limiting stress, and staying away from things that trigger eczema.
There is a multitude of things that trigger this disease. In fact, there are non-edible and edible triggers: detergents, soaps, shampoos, cigarette smoke, metals, and various types of clothing materials. These substances can make someone with eczema itch and cause inflammation, both of which would be irritating for them. But that’s not where the list ends.
Foods can also weigh in on the itching and inflammation mentioned earlier. Things to steer away from consist of peanuts, milk, soy, wheat, fish, and eggs, as these are triggers of eczema. Even so, just because it is listed does not mean that you cannot eat it, for these are generalized triggers.
If you do have eczema, it is highly advised that you go see a doctor and get tested to know exactly what you are allergic to. My brother is a good example of having an allergy to only a few of the foods mentioned. He can eat soy, fish, peanuts, and wheat without breaking out in a rash or having itchy skin. On the other hand, milk and eggs can cause inflammation in the areas of his body where he gets eczema.
If you love eating meals that unfortunately triggers your eczema, no worries! There are great substitutes for those comfort foods out there! For example, you can drink almond milk to replace regular milk. However, if you are allergic to nuts, try oat milk instead! When baking, applesauce, ground flaxseed, and ripe bananas are great substitutes for eggs. If you bake using one of these replacements, make sure to convert the right amount so that your creation turns out right!
I find myself using vegan recipes to avoid searching upconverters from egg to applesauce, or egg to ground flaxseed. The reason being is that vegan recipes automatically ensure that there are no eggs or milk in the recipe. If you are allergic to wheat or peanuts, make sure that the recipe doesn’t have those ingredients either!
These substitutes aren’t too bad, coming from a person who uses them all the time. Experimenting can actually lead to things that you would end up loving! Vegan cinnamon rolls, oatmeal pancakes, and banana brownies are a few of the things my family has learned to like. They may not taste exactly like the original, but they are appetizing for having extremely different ingredients. One of my favorite eczema-friendly things I had made when experimenting was blueberry milk. The recipe will be down below!
Blueberry Milk Recipe
Ingredients for 1 Serving:
¼ cup of blueberries
1 tsp of brown sugar
¾ cup of plant-based milk
Ice (optional)
Instructions:
In a microwavable bowl, mash the ¼ cup of blueberries.
Add in 1 tsp of brown sugar, mix until combined.
Cover bowl with a paper towel and microwave for 15 seconds.
Mix blueberry mixture while it’s hot, then let cool for 2 minutes.
When cooled, pour the blueberry mixture into a cup.
Add ice, (optional), then add the ¾ cup of plant-based milk.
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