My earliest childhood memories revolve around food. Prior to becoming a personal chef, I often felt sorry for people who avoided certain foods because of allergies or sensitivities. Then in my mid twenties, by some ironic twist of fate, I found out I was allergic to a handful of foods myself (eggs, spelt, sesame and asparagus). Consequently, I have spent years experimenting with food so I could still enjoy my meals without compromising on taste!

I have come to embrace my food allergies. I use them as a tool to challenge myself and diversify my cooking. In my Alternative Kitchen section, I will share a variety of delicious recipes covering gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, fruitarian, pescatarian and lacto-ovo vegetarian diets.

Whatever your lifestyle may be, have fun cooking and baking. Food is an adventure and should be savored.

Gluten-Free

Gluten -- which can be found in most bread products, such as wheat, rye, oats and barley -- can make us feel bloated and heavy. Gluten is a glue-like substance which gives elasticity to certain grain products. Intolerance or even sensitivity to gluten may manifest symptoms such as gas, bloating, constant fatigue, cramping, chronic diahhrea and a failure to thrive. Having a gluten sensitivity or intolerance means you are unable to digest and absorb nutrients properly. Progression of this intolerance or sensitivity may lead to Celiac disease. For more information on Gluten click here.

Roasted Delicata Squash Rings

Ginger Crème Brulee

Kalamata Olive, Goat Cheese, Artichoke and Red Pepper Pizza

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease occurs when gluten causes a deterioration of the lining in the intestinal wall. This cell wall in the intestine is lined with hair-like follicles called villi, which collect nutrients from our digested foods and transport them to their corresponding locations. People with gluten intolerance can, over time, diminish their villi from eating gluten. This is problematic to our health since nutrients cannot be fully absorbed and digested.

Foods containing gluten include wheat, barley, bulgur, couscous, durum, kamut, rye, spelt and oats, among others. Grains that gluten-free include: amaranth, dal, flax, millet, buckwheat, arrowroot flour, potato flour, cornmeal, rice and quinoa. For more information on Celiac Disease click here.

Vegan

A strict diet that excludes all meat, fish, mollusks, shellfish, crustaceans, slaughter by-products, all dairy (butter cheese, yogurt, milk, buttermilk cream sour cream), eggs, wool, leather, silk, bird feathers for pillows, wine and sometimes honey. The use of honey is controversial because the rest of the vegan diet contains no animal products at all. Though some feel that since there is no correlation between the consumption of honey and the death of an animal, it is acceptable to eat. Regarding the restriction of wine, some wines are treated with the addition of egg whites during the clarification process. Of course, the egg white is filtered out but the fact that an animal by product was used, a vegan would deem the wine undrinkable.

Fig Jam

Roasted Green Beans with Truffle Salt

Fruitarian

A stricter diet of veganism that is very limited. A fruitarian diet excludes all meat, fish, mollusks, shellfish, crustaceans, slaughter by-products, all dairy (butter cheese, yogurt, milk, buttermilk, cream, sour cream), eggs, wool, leather, silk, bird feathers for pillows, wine, honey, all plants and vegetables. Fruitarians only eat the ripe fruits of plants and trees. However, in extreme cases, the fruit must fall off the plant and onto the ground so the fruit is not “killed” Fruitarians who choose to include other foods other than fruit but fruit being their largest source of food, follow a strict vegan diet.

Vegetarian

A diet that completely excludes all meat, fish, shellfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and any slaughter by-products, such as leather, liver, sweetbreads and foie gras, to name a few.

Curried Squash Soup With Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian

A diet that completely excludes all meat, and any slaughter by-products, such as liver, sweetbreads, foie gras etc… However, this diet includes dairy and eggs.

Cauliflower Soup

Pescatarian

A diet that completely excludes all meat and any slaughter by-products, such as leather, liver, sweetbreads, foie gras etc. This is the most relaxed of diets relating to Vegetarianism because the consumption of fish, shellfish, mollusks, and crustaceans are acceptable. Typically, the diet also includes eggs and dairy.

Selective Diets or Food Allergies

This category will remain open for diets or food allergies that do not fit into any of the diet types above.

Have a question for me? email me at: Lisao@NaturallySavvy.com. Now let's get cooking...

Lisa Odegard