The good, the bad, the COVID

 

It’s been a crazy 15 months- toilet paper shortages, getting used to wearing masks all the time, attempting zoom with two toddlers (it’s not fun, guys, not fun). These are not things I thought my year 2020 would hold. You know what else I didn’t see coming? Food allergies. And just like everything else, COVID19 has made dealing with food allergies a lot more interesting. As we maybe, slowly, hopefully start to approach life pre pandemic, I can’t stop thinking about how the quarantine has made learning to live with food allergies easier and harder.

THE GOOD

Well, we stopped eating out. Not that we were eating out every day, but it was definitely something for our family to do. Because we haven’t been out to eat as a family, we haven’t yet had to deal with trying to discuss actual, life threatening food allergies with waitstaff. I am definitely not looking forward to that conversation. COVID19 forcing us to eat at home? Definitely a plus for dealing with food allergies.

THE BAD

You know when they had all those signs to shop as quickly as possible? Well, you know what really slows down your shopping? Checking ingredient labels. The looks that I got when I picked a box off the shelf, checked to see if it was safe for my kid, saw that it wasn’t, and PUT IT BACK ON THE SHELF. Guys. It is good people had half their faces covered so I only got half of the look of disdain they were giving me. Cyclops laser eyes have nothing on pandemic judgmental shoppers.

THE GOOD

Being stuck at home over the holidays had one great side effect: I was in charge of all of the cooking. And everything I made- from vegan stuffing to garlic free gravy to sun butter cookie bites with milk free chocolate chips- were safe for my kid. No family potlucks trying to keep food separate. No dessert spreads with deadly peanut butter balls. No explaining why my kid can’t try the food. Not eating with relatives led to a whole lot less holiday stress for me.

THE BAD

Food shortages are a much bigger problem when there’s only certain foods your kid can eat. Out of that one brand name almond butter? Previously, no problem. Now, when all the other brands are processed with peanuts, a big deal. I’m definitely not a coupon bargain hunter, shopping around for the best deal. I have one grocery store that I know where everything is, I go to that one grocery store, and I get everything I need for the week. So when my grocery store was out of vegan cream cheese for a few weeks? I was forced to slap the mask on and go hunting. Boo, COVID, boo.

THE GOOD

Hand washing was the thing to do in 2020. When we had to start washing our hands after handling allergens or eating allergens, it was easy to add to our routine. We were already washing them to clean the germs, why not add in a few good washes before feeding the baby? We probably went through more soap this past year than for the first 30 years of my life. But at least it’s back in stock!

 

COVID, I’m ready for you to be over. I’m just not ready to deal with my kid eating in a back to normal world!