The folks needing to bone up on this subject are parents and the children affected by a food allergy. I know. I was the only kid I knew with a severe allergy to wheat. And I heard a lot of advice growing up. Mostly it was a lot of nonsense that goes with the turf.

So, parents, this is advice to a kid, from someone who learned how to read by examining the ingredients listed on packages and cans and boxes of food. I learned early not to trust anyone but Mom to know my special food requirements by heart. It then became my job. After all, it was me who could hardly breathe, and broke out into very real hives after a teacher in kindergarten assured me, during the milk and cracker period, that the crackers didn't have wheat, but were instead made from 'graham'. Her assurances caused me to eat a graham cracker that truly made me seriously ill.

Others insisted I would grow out of the allergy. Even I knew this would never happen, though sometimes it does. In my case, I still have the allergy my doctor called the worst case of a wheat allergy he had ever seen. He was an allergy specialist, who retired the year I turned 18. I am now a very healthy 57.

People still react to hearing of my allergy by imagining what life would be like if this food was taken away from them. I have never had it, except by accident, which caused a severe reaction. I do not miss it. You can't miss something you never had.

I must say my Mother learned a lot of new baking skills, and through trial and error became very good at baking with rice and corn flour. While success did not come overnight, and evolved as more of a treat than a staple, she 'invented' versions of cakes, breads, pancakes, and cookies that were indescribably delicious and now a memory of the past.

On rare occasion I will bake or cook something similar, but being very content to enjoy fruits, vegetables, and poultry and fish, I somewhat avoid red meat, but savor an occasional burger without a bun. If 'wheat' or 'flour' is not listed as an ingredient, I can consider it.

I decided I make a lousy surprise dinner guest and I prefer not to cause anyone else any bother. I do notice when pasta is boiling in someone's kitchen, the steam alone can cause some tightness in breathing. It is my choice to leave the affected air, even if it is best to go outside. Hey, I don't need to suffer the physical discomfort and no one really needs an explanation.

As for the obvious opportunity some kids will take as a chance to tease someone like me, it made a great opportunity to find some really great friends who 'looked out' for my concerns. Adjusting to reality came with the territory.

Finally, it became obvious many other kids had a lot worse problems. I declined to tease them about their differences. All and all, while I must have been 'hating life' every once in a while, it brought out some confidence and independence. And I learned to read very well.

Learn more about this author, Michael Aubrey.
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