By Linda Cohen

Last month, we found out from a blood test that my son tested highly reactive to multiple food categories including wheat, dairy, eggs and citrus to name just the worst. When we received this news, I felt completely overwhelmed. Overnight, I had to reconsider everything he was eating and all the meals I normally prepare for our family. I was saddened that many of our ritual foods like challah on Friday night and waffles on Sunday morning would be difficult.

Amazingly though this discovery has actually been a blessing in disguise. In less than a month, we can  see a visible difference in my son – he seems so much happier, isn’t as congested and best of all feels so much better. Plus,  it hasn’t been as bad or as hard as I first expected it would be.

We have discovered many new foods that we are all enjoying and my kids are actually trying things they previously wouldn’t have tried.  I have also been blessed by people everywhere helping me. Friends wrote back to me after I made an initial plea for help. School parents have offered guidance and first hand knowledge, colleagues referred me to friends who could offer support and most surprising of all, several complete strangers have answered questions at the grocery store when they saw me pondering what choices to make with recipes and ingredients. One of those strangers recommended Bob’s Red Mill gluten free brownie mix which has quickly become a family favorite. They are wonderful.

Additionally, if someone had to become a gluten free vegan Portland, Oregon is probably one of the best places for that to happen. We visited The Cascadia Traditional bakery the first weekend, a completely gluten free bakery and my son was thrilled to have a carrot cupcake with all acceptable ingredients. We have also been to two restaurants since this discovery and both were a thumbs up with the kids. Vita Cafe is in Northeast Portland and the Laughing Planet in Southwest Portland both had many items to fit his dietary needs.

I have learned that almost every grocery store in town, including Fred Meyers, Winco, Whole Foods and  Trader Joes, has gluten free products. I am somewhat partial to New Seasons though because the day after we found out, I got personal attention for almost an hour from a customer service representative who walked me through the store and answered all my initial questions. The following week, I attended New Seasons Gluten Free class/tour and spent an other hour and a half with a nutritionist learning many more things about food sensitivities and the products they carry that can work for us. These two opportunities were incredibly valuable.

Finally, my son has really looked at this discovery with a great sense of humor. Tonight, he told me this funny story.  He said, “My teacher always walks around at lunch and jokes with us. She asks us, ‘What food do you have that has my name on it?’ Today, I answered her, ‘Well Ms. E if you want a gluten free, egg free, dairy free, citrus free and taste free breakfast bar I am happy to share!’ ” His good sense of humor combined with a desire to try and feel better has made the whole experience better than I could have imagined. Happy eating!