Hi, I’m Sandi Heeringa!

I’m Sandi Heeringa, Culinary Nutrition Expert graduating with honours, founder of Sandi’s Allergy Free Recipes. I empower people to make healthy food choices.

I inspire people who want to make healthy lifestyle choices but aren’t sure where to start. I help people improve general health and improve symptoms of specific ailments through natural means focusing on whole foods and lifestyle choices.

I can help you by providing: Guidance and information, recipes and meal plans for well balanced nutrition for general health, food allergies and intolerances or specific ailments.

I am your reliable source for nutritional information.

Starting Out:

I am married with two great kids, both of whom are married, and I have seven grandchildren.  I have had environmental allergies all my life. Everyone kept thinking that I had a cold. Doctors even removed my tonsils at the age of five to try to help my health. I went through all the lovely scratch tests and, yes indeed, I had many allergies!  Off and on for years, I received allergy shots.

At the age of 15, I was hospitalized for two weeks due to “stomach issues”. Because I had also always had migraines (and they ran in my family) for some reason they said I had stomach migraines. I was told to stay away from or limit certain foods, but surprisingly none of them that I have to avoid today. Never were food allergies talked about or suggested.

Many years ago my uncle became very sick. They had a hard time figuring out what was attacking him. He was eventually diagnosed with celiac disease. Again, I had a sign but chose not to look into it.

In the spring of 2010, I ended up with a severe asthma attack with the effects lasting more than three weeks. The doctors said that I was three days away from needing a breathing tube. After being put on far too many medications and inhalers to try to control the symptoms, I was beyond exhausted.  A friend sent me to see a wonderful allergy analyst/homeopath in the summer of 2010. The homeopath started testing me for various foods. How can you be allergic to foods and yet eat them your whole life, I wondered? Lo and behold, she told me that I also have food allergies, some being worse than others.

I avoid wheat/gluten, dairy, refined sugars, and yeast. The yeast allergy also includes vinegars (other than raw organic apple cider vinegar), as well as I reduce my sugars considerably. After a few more years I also realized (after paying more attention to my body) that I need to avoid mushrooms, peanuts, grapes, dried fruits (although I do put a small amount in some recipes), eggs, green and yellow beans, kidney beans, as well as quite a few alcohols.

At the beginning I had panic attacks wondering what I would be able to eat! Since then I keep studying allergy websites for information and recipes. I have created many great recipes over the years (and some not so great!); the best of them appear on this site.

The more people I talk to, the more I realize that many people have issues with food. You don’t have to have hives or have your throat swelling to know you can’t eat a food. Whether it’s called an allergy or intolerance, if eating a certain trigger food gives you a negative reaction you may want to avoid it.

Listen To Your Body

Since avoiding my trigger foods I have felt considerably better. My asthma is much better; I have far more energy; my environmental allergy symptoms are not as severe. no more taking antacids; my blood work that was keeping me close to needing medication is now completely normal; and the migraines I had constantly are gone.

I love to cook and love to eat and many people keep asking me for my recipes. That is why I decided to post them. I have gone on many, many wonderful websites for recipes. Sometimes I get inspiration from these sites and use them as a starting point. Other times, I will see a picture of a food, hear of a dish, or get asked by people to make up a specific recipe. Wherever my inspiration comes from I’ll continue to post and give everyone the information I have found.

I hope that you enjoy my recipes! Just know that there are many more people these days that cannot eat certain foods. You are not alone!

If you have any questions or comments you can email me at: sandisallergyfree@hotmail.com

Have a great day!!

Sandi

Related article:

What To Do When You Find Out Have Food Allergies   (sandisallergyfreerecipes.net)

NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER:  Information contained on this blog is not intended to and shall not convey or recommend any medical or nutritional advice or course of action.  Any diet, health, or nutritional program you undertake should be discussed with your doctor or other licensed medical professional.  All opinions expressed on this blog are based solely on personal experiences and research.  I am NOT a licensed doctor, dietitian, or nutritionist. I am a person with food allergies and/or intolerances sharing my experiences and recipes.