Consider Breaking Out of “The Safe-Food Trap”

If you live with a severe food allergy, the school cafeteria can be a scary place. So, instead of sitting down for a meal, I pack my bag with easy, safe snacks like chips and crackers, and I usually eat as I walk between classes. My lunch may not be the most nutritious, but it’s kept me alive so far.

The problem is that my routine leaves me feeling bad in my body and with bad acne. Frustrated, I decided to investigate what might be causing me to feel so off. That’s when I discovered something called the Safe Food Trap. By relying on packaged snacks to keep us safe, we unintentionally fill our bodies with processed sugars and oils. These often cause the unpleasant chain reaction I felt like I was experiencing.

To start, processed carbohydrates cause our blood sugar to spike. Our bodies then pump out insulin to manage it. This triggers inflammation that makes our skin produce excess oil. Soon we have a face full of blocked pores, which probably explains my embarrassing pimples. Next, the oils and processed carbs can mess up our gut and leave our bodies out of balance. Finally, sodium in packaged foods make our bodies hold onto water weight, and that never feels good. In the end, our stomachs feel uncomfortable, and our skin looks like it's protesting in anger.

It might take extra work, but it turns out that switching out packaged foods for “real” foods like fruits, vegetables, or a protein-filled meals in thermoses, can make a world of difference. A conversation with my doctor helped me realize that having allergies means we must be careful, but it doesn't mean we have to live in a body that feels like an enemy. So, I’ve decided I’m worth the investment of time it will take to prepare better lunches. I’m ready to escape the trap.