Why hello there…

Hi guys im Kate; I am registered mental health nurse with a hunger for all things tasty!

I have many passions in life but all with start or finish with a good meal….or two!

I want to share my experiences and hopefully help you to enjoy food, travelling and living your life whilst embracing your restrictive food choices, food allergies and intolerance’s.

I qualified as a mental health nurse in 2010 and since then have continued to build my skills and knowledge as a nurse; gaining qualifications in management and qualifying as a trainer.

I love to teach and share my experiences with others helping to reduce misunderstanding around food restrictions and helping others to embrace their food journeys.

My food allergy journey so far….. 

My restricted food journey started when I was about 12, when I told my mum I wanted to be vegetarian. I never really enjoyed meat as a child so I suppose it was my destiny.

Unfortunately not long after I started noticing I wasn’t feeling my usual self, I went to my GP for help and was diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia. I was told by many doctors it was due to my diet and because I was a girl. Medication was tried but I suffered unwanted side effects so was unable to continue on with them. I was told by my GP to be anaemia free I must eat meat or drink Guinness, lots of Guinness. I didn’t want to eat meat or drink lots of Guinness so for many years I ate a high iron diet to help boost my iron levels with little to no success.

For anyone who is anaemic or has had anaemia, they will understand the effect it has on your body; it can be horrible.

So whilst in my 20’s studying in college, I started to develop issues with dairy I knew my food journey was about to get a little more difficult.

Shortly after the issues started I was diagnosed with Lactose intolerance, and that limited my diet further.

Vegetarian + anemia + lactose intolerance = one unhappy girl.

By my 30’s my iron levels had become so low that my doctors told me I required a iron transfusion, as I could not tolerate oral medication. I was also having issues with my haemaglobin levels as these were reduced and causing some worrying concerns for my doctors and me.

Whilst sat in the hospital, drip in my arm, pumping iron into a tired body a lady asked me if I had been tested for a gluten allergy.

Many doctors refused to accept my suggestions about a gluten allergy and I was told again its diet related. At this point I was so tired of seeing doctor after doctor with no outcomes, spending hours of the day asleep lacking in energy, energy I was having to save for work, slowly withdrawing from my social world.

And then one doctor finally listen.

After several tests, I started my gluten free lactose free vegetarian diet in May of 2016.

I am now no longer anaemic, making haemoglobin, medication free and have more energy than a bouncing bunny rabbit!!

Closer to home in 2019 again I was having physical issues, this time in my stomach. Initally I was sent for investigation regards my overies but these showed no issues thankfully. At this point during another very painful procedure I decided to strip all diary out of my diet, including lactose free foods.

To my happiness the pain subsided.

So now I’m a happy gluten free vegan learning new things every day about food restricive life and enjoing the journey.

And my journey has lead me to this, Allergic Foodie.

Allergic Foodie is my way of communicating to the world the fight those of us who have food allergies, autoimmune conditions, intolerance and food restrictions have.

The fight for a diagnosis

The fight for understanding and to be treated equally

The fight just to find a blinking sandwich at the local shop!

This is a platform for all, not just for me.

I’m here to share with you how you can go out or stay in, buy or make delicious food and travel where ever you want accompanied as always with your friendly food restrictions!

Learning to love that what you hate, makes you a happier you!