Candice

I am a 12-year-old girl. I stand 5'3" and weigh 104 pounds. Last January, nine months ago, my mom took sugars, flours, and wheat out of my family's diet. A lot has changed since then, things like, I lost weight, my headaches stopped, my nose is clear, I don't wheeze, and I'm not so sad. Also, my mom is nicer and she's around more.

I can't get all sugars and flours out of my diet. Like today, I ate cake at a birthday party. About 80% of the time, I eat the cake and pizza at parties so I won't go hungry. I'm getting better about having my mom get me something special that I can take with me to parties. If a friend's family is having something I can't eat, I eat the side dish. But this morning, I spent the night at a friend's house. All they had for breakfast was bagels. So I had one. Next time, I will bring oatmeal with me.

Now, my reaction to an allergic food usually starts the same day I eat it. A hammer starts pounding in my head and a faucet starts running out of my nose. Seven or eight hours later, it gets really bad. It takes several days after that for the effects to go away.

It would be impossible for me to eat this way if my family didn't. I couldn't watch my parents eat something different. Anyone who wants to stop eating reactive foods should get them out of the house. Parents would make a mistake by yelling or forcing their kids. They should just make sure that the stuff is not available. They shouldn't force their kids. This worked in my family and I think it's a good way to help kids. I'm glad we're off reactive foods. Although there are hassles, I like feeling and looking good.