The Chef Who Can’t Eat What She Cooks

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  • Опубліковано 30 жов 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 848

  • @GreatBigStory
    @GreatBigStory  Рік тому +575

    Show Kathlena some love in the comments ❤🙌 Find out more about her incredible platform RAISE: raise.theallergychef.com/

    • @BarnabyTheEpicDoggo
      @BarnabyTheEpicDoggo Рік тому +2

      Can you fix the subtitles? The entire text fills up the screen for one second

    • @ujjwalpratapsingh5623
      @ujjwalpratapsingh5623 Рік тому

      Welcome back GBS❤

    • @kristadavis2825
      @kristadavis2825 Рік тому +1

      Thanks for the link!
      My boys and I have dairy, wheat, soy, gluten, rice, chocolate, and citrus allergies to varying degrees and I need all the inspiration and help I can get cooking 3 meals a day.

  • @burningbluejay2868
    @burningbluejay2868 Рік тому +4284

    I love the bit where she brought up how vegan food is commonly added with literally every allergen in it. It is so difficult to find any vegan recipes that aren't loaded with soy or nuts

    • @seitanbeatsyourmeat666
      @seitanbeatsyourmeat666 Рік тому +38

      Weird. I’m vegan and cook without soy and nuts all the time 🤷‍♀️

    • @adaharrisonn
      @adaharrisonn Рік тому +111

      I mean yeah, you kind of need them to replace a lot of the stuff in a vegan diet.

    • @Prezzix
      @Prezzix Рік тому +88

      Yeah, it is the main reason why I have never tried to go vegan, it is too stressful to find anything without it, and I do not have the energy to cook everything from scratch

    • @karateman302
      @karateman302 Рік тому +136

      @@seitanbeatsyourmeat666 I think the point is that it can be a lot harder to find recipes if you're allergic to soy or nuts because those are commonly used in things like faux meats as well as to fill in nutritional deficits. It's not impossible to do so and there are some people making recipes with those things in mind but the barrier for entry can be high enough to deter people.

    • @vaizluca
      @vaizluca Рік тому +42

      Try recipes from cultures from around the world and you will find them. There are so many cultures out there whose diets consists mostly of non-meat, non-animal and non-nut protiens and they are extremely delicious and nutritious. So much out there, especially if usually working with anglo-american/western euro diets, look past them and you'll find a world of delights 🤤🥰

  • @sharonkaczorowski8690
    @sharonkaczorowski8690 Рік тому +5936

    My sister has a catering business. She has Celiac disease…lacks the ability to digest gluten. She has to be extremely careful..mask and gloves…as the last time she was exposed to what was less than an eighth of a teaspoon of flour she ended up in the ICU. She loves to cook and people love her food. I’m very proud of her.

    • @RegstarRogstar
      @RegstarRogstar Рік тому +65

      howd she end up starting the business w her condition? woah

    • @sharonkaczorowski8690
      @sharonkaczorowski8690 Рік тому +196

      @@RegstarRogstar very carefully!!!

    • @moonhunter9993
      @moonhunter9993 Рік тому +134

      I also have celiac disease and I know what your sister goes through. So sorry. She's very brave. I bake/cook EVERYTHING for my family from scratch for this reason. Send your sister lots of love

    • @sharonkaczorowski8690
      @sharonkaczorowski8690 Рік тому +33

      @@moonhunter9993 back at you…

    • @themachine9000
      @themachine9000 Рік тому +5

      So she can’t go to restaurants or grocery stores or anywhere with gluten?

  • @jam8337
    @jam8337 Рік тому +4723

    “It’s about reinventing the world for people who cannot engage in it” YES MA’AM!!!!!!

    • @snowmanedenzity
      @snowmanedenzity Рік тому +26

      that was so eye opening really

    • @Flow-Fi-
      @Flow-Fi- Рік тому +12

      I teared up when she said that and started clapping while shouting “PREACH SISTER”

    • @taravelarde9728
      @taravelarde9728 Рік тому +3

      THIS.

    • @tarstarkusz
      @tarstarkusz Рік тому

      0:38 Look at that physique! She ain't eating 1 meal a day.

    • @melissamartinez5551
      @melissamartinez5551 Рік тому +9

      ⁠@@tarstarkuszyou really can’t tell her physique because she is wearing baggy clothing but a meal can still be big you know? Also eating once a day usually means that your body is probably collecting calories in for when she doesn’t eat by fat. You know basic biology.

  • @tabbywolf801
    @tabbywolf801 Рік тому +2329

    It's people like this who make life worth living

    • @mr_hobbit
      @mr_hobbit Рік тому +16

      ikr, made my day alot better

    • @im.meghan
      @im.meghan Рік тому +10

      Idk fam, not being able to enjoy many a small pleasures through taste can produce a lot of self-deletion thoughts. That's the reason I was mainly scared of COVID.

    • @tabbywolf801
      @tabbywolf801 Рік тому +24

      @@im.meghan the Fact that She makes a Cake for someone who didn't have a Cake in Her Life alone was Noteworthy Enough for me

    • @hallooos7585
      @hallooos7585 Рік тому +9

      @@im.meghan Same i wasn't really afraid of getting sick but i was scared that after i contracted covid i would lose the luxury of smelling and tasting food, that would ruin me

  • @CookieBear187
    @CookieBear187 Рік тому +768

    I had a friend like this growing up. Was allergic to new things each year. By the end of high school, she was allergic to over 60 foods. But she was the best pastry chef and cook! She said her condition made her have to get creative and learn how to provide for herself. What an inspiration!

    • @Nyx773
      @Nyx773 Рік тому

      @@blackqweenmars Probably the most ignorant comment that I have read this week. That is not how desensitization works, you would be committing suicide.

    • @christinemonte3477
      @christinemonte3477 11 місяців тому +2

      But the problem is it's not an allergy it's poison and although we all react differently its affecting all of us 🙏

    • @pigeon1923
      @pigeon1923 11 місяців тому

      ​@@christinemonte3477no allergies are real.

    • @ElectricRose9001
      @ElectricRose9001 3 місяці тому

      @@christinemonte3477 Lady, as someone with a ton of allergies...Kindly stfu, nobody asked for your crackhead theories.

    • @ElectricRose9001
      @ElectricRose9001 3 місяці тому

      I'm one of those people with new allergies every year, but I learned something new just last year. you can become allergic to histamines which are everywhere already, and those sensitivities to histamines can cause "false" reactions to farious foods. So technically it's not the food you're allergic too, it's the markers in that food that are what make other people allergic to them. There's an enzyme you can take to counteract this, but it's soooo expensive.

  • @SilkieSqueaks
    @SilkieSqueaks Рік тому +419

    The callous of the world will tell you "Life isn't fair".
    People like her are the ones who stand up and say "well then let's make it as fair as it can possibly be".

    • @Arkylie
      @Arkylie Рік тому +17

      That's what a creator I enjoy said, when I discussed a recurring thing in my childhood where my dad would only respond "Life's not fair": "Anyone who says that should follow it up with 'so that's why it's up to us.'"
      (What my dad used to do is, my mom would bring home enough treats (e.g. popsicles) for the whole family, but I wouldn't want one right then, so I'd leave it in the freezer or whatever. But the next day, when I went to get it, I'd find out that my dad had eaten a second one. I got trained that I couldn't rely on my treat being there if I didn't eat it immediately when offered, and that was one of the key formative elements in training my brain to react to food scarcity mechanics: "Eat the delicious thing now, even if you don't want to, eat more of it, you don't know when it might be gone." It's taken decades before I was able to start working on dismantling this mindset, and it's still a big struggle.)

    • @muffinconsumer4431
      @muffinconsumer4431 Рік тому +1

      Shutting down problems with “ha but what about the woman who cooks with allergies?!?!” is infantile at best

    • @pearlwhiteist
      @pearlwhiteist Рік тому +20

      ​@@muffinconsumer4431Your take on this comment is incredibly reductive and ignorant. Anyone with at least elementary reading skills could interpret that it isn't about shutting down problems with a woman who cooks with allergies, it's about how people like her are part of the solution of problems, as opposed to people who just say "sucks to sucks".

    • @muffinconsumer4431
      @muffinconsumer4431 Рік тому +1

      @@pearlwhiteist Shutting down my comment by commenting on my reading skills is infantile at best

    • @cameronschyuder9034
      @cameronschyuder9034 Рік тому +8

      @@muffinconsumer4431 Have you just heard the phrase "infantile at best"?

  • @10Caramella
    @10Caramella Рік тому +222

    When she talked about corn and how its in everywhere you wouldn't even expect, I felt that. I am allergic to carrots and let me tell you, carrots are everywhere! Even in cookies, ice cream and candy. Carrot and black carrot extract is used as a natural food coloring. Some things you never notice unless you have to.

    • @hannahk1306
      @hannahk1306 Рік тому +22

      This is why I think it's important for kids with dietary restrictions to know what they can and can't eat and how to decipher food labels. I've had 12 year-olds who when I've said to them "I think you can eat this, but can you check please" have literally no idea. One girl in particular would only eat brands and products that her parents said were safe, but didn't know *why* a particular product was safe/unsafe. She's now a adult and I really hope she eventually learnt how to check her own food!

    • @Arkylie
      @Arkylie Рік тому +12

      My biggest eye-opener was going on an Allergen-Reduction Diet for a few months one year. I was just trying to figure out if I was actually reacting to something in my diet or if it was something else (or just in my head). I decided to just drop a combo of all the allergens I could find, starting with what I considered the big four (Gluten, Dairy, Corn, Soy) and also Eggs, Nuts, Citrus, Nightshade (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers), Apples (the main thing I was testing for: apple juice often seems to give me a stomachache), nearly all the meats, artificial dyes and flavors, I forget what all. (Didn't have to drop seafood because I barely eat it.)
      What I was left with, at first, was rice, chicken/turkey, tuna, and a subset of fruits and veggies. And spices, which is where I wound up learning how to make curries (currently my primary "meal prep" now that I've established that peppers and tomatoes don't seem to harm me).
      Trying to find store-bought food without hitting any of my categories was... like I said, eye-opening. Dairy is in a surprising number of places you wouldn't expect it. Corn and Soy are in EVERYTHING. You can't even find lunch meat without some additive, and now I laugh at people who call liberals "Soy Boys" as if we're not *all* eating big juicy soy-filler burgers any time we hit fast food.
      And of course the food that deliberately avoids one or two types of allergens typically has a bunch of *other* entries on my list (e.g. fake meats are typically soy and/or nuts).
      Basically, I wound up withdrawing from premade food for much of that diet, and it did make me feel a lot better. Which I think is less about allergens/sensitivities and more about how premade food isn't really all that good for you. I also lost a lot of weight on that diet (gained it back slower, after I went back to normal eating) -- I hadn't gone on the diet with any thought to weight loss, but that turned out to be an added benefit ^_^

  • @amandasnider2644
    @amandasnider2644 Рік тому +1279

    Kathlena, as someone with severe IBS, extensive dietary restrictions and a few food allergies... you are awesome!
    You should write an extensive cook book for every food allergy/sensitivity combination!

    • @JaskulGaming
      @JaskulGaming Рік тому +60

      You should visit the link in the pinned comment! It’s an online cookbook that contains all sorts of recipes that are incredibly inclusive to people with all sorts of combinations of allergies. There’s an advanced search tab where you put in everything you are allergic to and it will pull out the recipes that you can’t use and leave you with the ones you can! She’s a genius :D

    • @sammierose1150
      @sammierose1150 Рік тому +2

      I have severe IBS as well along with carb sensitivity and sugar sensitivity 😩
      I would love a food sensitivity cookbook 😍

    • @ririsasy
      @ririsasy Рік тому

      Got diagnosed with IBS as well , i couldn't eat anything spicy or sour anymore while it was my favorite things from food 😓

    • @beatm6948
      @beatm6948 11 місяців тому

      ​@@JaskulGamingi have gerd and i LOVE her now!

  • @nickelandimed
    @nickelandimed Рік тому +731

    Just like Beethoven, Kathlena is living proof that when you focus on your desire to create instead of on your limitations, anything is possible. Her positive attitude and confidence are contagious!

    • @ferretyluv
      @ferretyluv Рік тому +8

      Beethoven did hear the piano. He did it with bone conduction.

    • @parrotcracker6629
      @parrotcracker6629 Рік тому +11

      Yeah but in Kathlena's case she needs to be extra careful because it could send her to the hospital or kill her.

    • @gamingrex2930
      @gamingrex2930 Рік тому +1

      EOD personnel be like

  • @harrison127
    @harrison127 Рік тому +171

    Turing food from an “obstacle to be navigated” into a “treat to be enjoyed” is so beautiful to me

  • @evolancer211
    @evolancer211 Рік тому +1226

    Man that's pretty incredible. I'm in no way a chef, but I can't imagine not being able to taste what I'm cooking

    • @shiba9592
      @shiba9592 Рік тому

      It's not incredible, she feels bad when these reaction happens.

    • @evolancer211
      @evolancer211 Рік тому +31

      @@shiba9592 I'm talking about being able to cook without tasting, what are you talking about?

    • @shiba9592
      @shiba9592 Рік тому +1

      @@evolancer211
      You should feel bad for her first not she is doing something differently, in her opinion it's pain that she is dealing with everyday.

    • @UntrackedEndorphins
      @UntrackedEndorphins Рік тому +38

      @@shiba9592 yeah no, don't victimize her. I shouldn't feel bad about a chef who overcame a big ass hurdle

    • @evolancer211
      @evolancer211 Рік тому +24

      @@shiba9592 why? She doesn't feel bad for herself. If it was painful like you claim, she would have mentioned it in the video. She's someone people should aspire to be like, giving hope to people with food allergies that you can live a normal life foody life, albeit with some changes.
      I think we're watching different videos cause clearly she's happy

  • @carieannpayne7091
    @carieannpayne7091 Рік тому +240

    I cannot like (LOVE) this episode enough! I was diagnosed with Alpha-Gal Syndrome in my 50’s. After a lifetime of steaks, burgers, bacon and dairy…it all started trying to kill me. Anaphylaxis is the worst…nonstop GI distress and hives are the best I can hope for when exposed. I am so inspired by this episode. And so grateful. Thank you GBS & Chef Kathlena!

    • @i_am_bisexual_or_something3132
      @i_am_bisexual_or_something3132 Рік тому +12

      Fun fact scientists have genetically modified pigs to remove the alpha-gal so you can have bacon from those pigs

    • @edwardjamesjr1
      @edwardjamesjr1 Рік тому

      Damn the lone star tick! More cases of alpha-gal allergies seen post tick bite as that tick’s territory expands northwards due to climate warming.

  • @Rheezen9th
    @Rheezen9th Рік тому +96

    I can't consume caffeine (including coffee, chocolate, and tea) and nuts (peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, etc), so every time I see a dark-colored dessert I have to ask if it contains chocolate or nuts.
    Despite so, I've made desserts containing chocolate and nuts for my friends, and have served tea and coffee to guests that come to my house. I love seeing their faces when they find the food and drink I make delicious, even though I don't even know how they taste like.
    She's right, when you can't taste it, you'll learn to find another way to be able to tell whether it tastes good or not. For me it's mostly by looks and trial-and-error, because even smelling the things I can't consume makes me dizzy and if I inhale it too long I'll start getting suffocated and numb.
    Big respect for her for doing what she does 🙏

  • @jessicahamilton398
    @jessicahamilton398 Рік тому +214

    Yassss! I’m a vegetarian by choice (15 years now) but 2 years was diagnosed with some autoimmune disorders that severely restrict my diet. It’s been so freaking hard trying to satisfy my tastebuds of the foods I used to love when the substitutions are all things I can’t eat now! I’m here for this work. This is a divine calling and so needed in today’s world. Thank you! ❤

    • @anona2017
      @anona2017 Рік тому +2

      I agree so much. It affects your mental health so much when you have to restrict so much. Or your other option is be in pain/super sick. Whenever I find a new food I can experience it's like heaven. I can only imagine how hard it is for kids with this situation

  • @claudiareina2689
    @claudiareina2689 Рік тому +78

    I was once working in an italian restaurant and this lovely girl who came to dine in with her family brought up a huge list of things she could not eat. I was so unprofessional and said wow i am sorry you cant eat any of this but she was so gracefull and just laughed it off with a joke. She said she had dine in before in this place and gluten free pasta with tomato sauce and salt would do. She never made a fuss or complained but i still havent forgot that we could not feed her something nicer and that we should have been able to, even tho she mentioned she was so happy at this place bc there was actually an option for her that seemed normal.

    • @hannahk1306
      @hannahk1306 Рік тому +19

      I remember going to a pizza restaurant *once* as a family when I was a child. Literally the only thing the restaurant provided for my brother was the tomato sauce, my mum had to provide all the other ingredients for them to use.
      He was honestly delighted that he was eating pizza cooked in a real restaurant, but looking back it's so sad that they couldn't properly cater for him (his dietary needs weren't even that complex).

    • @oakenshadow6763
      @oakenshadow6763 5 місяців тому +2

      Your honesty was likly refreshing. Just a true "That sucks." can be so nice.

  • @Noorullah1
    @Noorullah1 Рік тому +105

    She is amazing. I suffered from many food allergies which pretty much cuts out the happy things in life such as desserts, restaurant food, and homemade foods from friends/families. I always believed that one of the most hardest challenges that a chef have to face was being able to satisfy a person with food allergies.

  • @callumdrew
    @callumdrew Рік тому +218

    Kathlena you're the best of us, keep it up!

    • @GreatBigStory
      @GreatBigStory  Рік тому +33

      She's inspiring us all 🙌❤

    • @ShinjiSixteen
      @ShinjiSixteen Рік тому +15

      Strongly agree! Thank you GBS for both helping cover interesting stories but also helping to highlight some of the best in humanity!

  • @GwynneDear
    @GwynneDear Рік тому +32

    I’m a chef and I love making food for people who have allergies. There is no greater feeling than presenting someone who has complex allergies a dish that is just for them.

    • @Sheenifier
      @Sheenifier 10 місяців тому

      That's actually one of my greatest fears is dealing with ppl with allergies bc I'm like "oh f- did I touch this or is there this with that or I cooked this with this pan can I use it shit shit shit clean everything clean everything.

  • @MasterpieceLost
    @MasterpieceLost Рік тому +38

    Going from being a foodie who loved experiencing the vast world of food, to having dramatic restrictions, felt like loosing a huge facet of life. It has taken a lot of experimenting and creativity to rediscover the joy of food I can eat. It is so powerful to see people stepping up and making food restrictions visible, it makes the experience far less isolating. Thank you!

  • @a3day
    @a3day Рік тому +35

    This is my mighty need! I am severely allergic to 100+ things, many of which are foods, and to have someone like her helping us with this issue is soooo appreciated.

  • @gurlfriend9443
    @gurlfriend9443 Рік тому +13

    thank you so much!! as a scientist with celiacs disease, words cannot convey how grateful I am for what Kathlena is doing. She's doing THE WORK and changing people's lives.

  • @shefelldown1
    @shefelldown1 Рік тому +21

    Amazing! I am on a very restricted diet for migraine, which is not the same as an allergy, but I appreciate the work that goes into cooking around disabilities.

    • @emilysha418
      @emilysha418 Рік тому

      What do you avoid?

    • @Nyx773
      @Nyx773 Рік тому +1

      @@emilysha418 For me, I have to avoid anything aged, cured, pickled, or fermented because they have high levels of tyramine. A little bit makes me feel malaise, a large amount triggers a migraine.

  • @jessicab9271
    @jessicab9271 Рік тому +35

    I am also an allergy friendly baker who has tons of allergies. Good to see there are more of us out there!

  • @pineapplegamer6986
    @pineapplegamer6986 Рік тому +21

    I love stuff like this where people find ways to accommodate for niche problems. I feel a lot of the world just tries to be one size fits all but there are always gonna be people who don’t fit in those molds. So it’s so cool she’s coming up with ways of making these foods for people that big food corporations will never cater towards

  • @skybright1893
    @skybright1893 Рік тому +12

    She is so inspirational, the way that she speaks about everything this calmly, and the way that she encourages everyone to continue on even through all these different difficulties. Truly, genuinely inspirational.

  • @pompadorbz9168
    @pompadorbz9168 Рік тому +12

    She is doing the purest most selfless work there is out there. I know many people who can't eat the things they like due to allergies and other stuff like IBS and it's a genuine shame that there aren't more people like Kathlena that are putting in genuine effort to make food more accessible for people who aren't able to have it.

  • @journeygraph7111
    @journeygraph7111 Рік тому +75

    She's amazing and a treasure!

  • @Butter_Warrior99
    @Butter_Warrior99 Рік тому +264

    I honestly can’t imagine making such delectable food but I can’t even eat em.

    • @derekhenschel3191
      @derekhenschel3191 Рік тому +10

      Hopefully with recent advancements in treating allergies she will one day be able to taste them

    • @utisti4976
      @utisti4976 Рік тому +4

      It's like standing in the middle of a deep, freshwater ocean while having no mouth to drink it with.
      Bless this chef.

    • @jhsounds
      @jhsounds Рік тому +9

      @@utisti4976 Well, most oceans are saltwater, so you shouldn't drink it anyway.

    • @johnnychang4233
      @johnnychang4233 Рік тому +1

      The mind can make up for any sensory deprivation by way of imagination.

    • @yamigekusu
      @yamigekusu Рік тому +3

      My younger sister loves to cook shrimp. She can't eat it. It sucks since she thinks it looks so good

  • @SpunxYT
    @SpunxYT Рік тому +39

    Wait they’re back?? So happy now 😎

    • @Butter_Warrior99
      @Butter_Warrior99 Рік тому +6

      Been back for a while.

    • @slovicturtle7170
      @slovicturtle7170 Рік тому +1

      ​@@Butter_Warrior99I never knew until now!

    • @SpunxYT
      @SpunxYT Рік тому +1

      @@slovicturtle7170 same here!

    • @GreatBigStory
      @GreatBigStory  Рік тому +12

      We are indeed and bringing you stories every week! Watch this space 👀🚀❤

    • @Butter_Warrior99
      @Butter_Warrior99 Рік тому +1

      @@GreatBigStory, It’s been a long time coming.

  • @bridget4858
    @bridget4858 Рік тому +16

    So inspirational! Definitely should do a cookbook with segments for different food allergies. Keep going Kathlena!

  • @myselfjust5839
    @myselfjust5839 Рік тому +5

    Chef Kathlena is ... a hero. For so many people struggle with allergy, her work is not only cake, it is hope. And seeing her own struggle to do what she loves despite all those conditions, she is indeed a bright star.

  • @treevvoor
    @treevvoor Рік тому +35

    This person is a BADASS. Now this is someone worthy of being called a Chef

  • @TheIronArmenianakaGIHaigs
    @TheIronArmenianakaGIHaigs Рік тому +8

    I'm so happy you guys are back and making videos on niche but really interesting stuff

  • @safalafagins
    @safalafagins Рік тому +7

    Ugh this is so validating, I also have pretty bad allergies and it's so difficult to find vegan recipes without nuts, soy, sesame, and lentils

  • @TheWizardsOfOz
    @TheWizardsOfOz Рік тому +3

    This inspires me to do things I thought I couldn't do. Kathlena, you show that anyone can do something they love even when something can set them back. You didn't let your allergies hold you back from doing things. Thank you for being an inspiration.

  • @akdlg9sjjslk8
    @akdlg9sjjslk8 Рік тому +5

    I love how determined and positive she is. She’s someone who’s truly fearless!! Thank you for being such an inspiration and just a great human being overall Kathlena :)

  • @honestreviews8776
    @honestreviews8776 Рік тому +6

    Wow! She’s amazing! Wished more chefs like her would find innovative ways for people to enjoy food that they’re allergic to.

  • @mangobodybutter
    @mangobodybutter Рік тому +17

    What an inspiration. I really admire what she does

  • @queenofdramatech
    @queenofdramatech Рік тому +6

    I have IBD, Ulcerative Colitis. I am on a special diet to control it and it would take days to explain. Simply put, it is about soluble vs insoluble fiber. I felt so seen with this. I'm not allergic or intolerant per say but the diet is beneficial! Mad props to this wonderful woman!

  • @MrBitviper
    @MrBitviper Рік тому +8

    this is very uplifting. it's wonderful to see how she makes these wonderful dishes even though she can't eat them
    thanks for these videos guys

  • @glossaria2
    @glossaria2 Рік тому +25

    I feel this. My niece has a number of food sensitivities that give her horrible migraines. Gluten, eggs, dairy, nuts, onions... the worst is soy. Soy lecithin is in EVERYTHING (even cupcake sprinkles) and she can't eat it. So many of our celebrations are centered around food, so I research my tail off to make sure we can make dishes that include her.

    • @NanatheBrave
      @NanatheBrave 10 місяців тому +1

      I took Prilosec OTC and my food triggered migraines dropped from every day to once per week.

  • @krazypeople4
    @krazypeople4 Рік тому +11

    The story about that little girl was touching, she will never forget that cake.

  • @em-agan
    @em-agan Рік тому +2

    A lifesaver, literally! I have food allergies and sensitivities, but I’m also on immunosuppressants because I go into anaphylaxis from grass and tree pollen. Ever grateful for Xolair. I’m thrilled to watch more of her content!

  • @Craze961
    @Craze961 Рік тому +4

    It's comforting to know there's someone with such food allergen severity like me. My diet is like dog food; no more than 3 ingredients makes up my 'meals'. My allergies kill my desire to cook and bake because of how limited and expensive specialized ingredients are. I'm just glad she uses it as inspiration instead of just daydreaming about it like me you know?

  • @Renzol
    @Renzol Рік тому +2

    Kathlena I met you a few years back at a GF food show in the bay at the San Mateo fairgrounds. I want to say thank you so much, your views and work have allowed people like my partner and one of my extended family members to be able to eat and have celebrations just like any of the other kids. Thank you so much for the good work.

  • @JackDespero
    @JackDespero Рік тому +3

    Amazing story. I wish her all the luck in her crusade to make the world a better place, even if just in a small way.

  • @mierenierez
    @mierenierez Рік тому +11

    Dude she’s AMAZING

  • @crystalortega2156
    @crystalortega2156 Рік тому +5

    I literally have to make my daughter’s bday cakes because she’s just like this woman. Allergic to everything including corn, which is why I have to peel all of my daughter’s produce that most people just normally bite into. The elbow grease comment is so real. I put in so much work into my daughter’s diet to make sure she isn’t feeling left out. She’s 7 and can’t eat nothing that the kids her age normally eat but just like this chef I do the same thing. Get things that resemble other foods but just with slightly different ingredients

  • @TheLearningLounge
    @TheLearningLounge 11 місяців тому

    Combining compassion and creativity. Amazing woman!

  • @wesleychen3551
    @wesleychen3551 Рік тому +7

    She is incredible for doing this

  • @cat3crazy
    @cat3crazy Рік тому +2

    It's great that she's makes things for people with different allergies. Thanks for letting people know that you have to put in the work to be sucessful.

  • @op4000exe
    @op4000exe Рік тому +3

    This is amazing, and I can't love it enough. Kind of wish it'd have recipes that'd work for someone close to me in my life, but the individual is allergic to elemental chrome. Essentially one of the primary parts to making stainless steel, so it's nigh impossible to avoid. Also a lot of plants absorb it from the ground, so again, very very hard to avoid. Though we've managed to find some options so far.
    With that said, from living close to someone that has an almost unavoidable allergy, what Kathlena does is beyond amazing. Thank you so much, even if it doesn't help in the case I previously described!

  • @GingerKiwiDev
    @GingerKiwiDev Рік тому +3

    I love Kathlena's work - especially that everything candy cake!
    I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) which comes with an autoimmune MCAS.
    While there's just two (known) food triggers, when I do have a reaction from something I eat it causes physical damage, in addition to allergy symptoms and possible anaphylaxis. Two food triggers are soy and meat preservatives - like even a trace transfer amount.
    I was on gastro meds for 8 months because of the damage that soy did. Soy is in everything now - bread, crackers, soup, sauces, frozen fish, gum, candy, chocolate, ice cream, Starbucks drinks, even eggs - because farmers feed their chickens soy based feed.
    My eggs cost $10/dozen because they're from a local farm with pasture raised heritage chickens. (The eggs are multiple colours from dark brown, to white to light blue and even light green with speckles.)
    I went for over a year without having any cake or cupcakes - then my friend made me a home made marble cake for my birthday with the expensive eggs, and a really awesome Brazilian chocolate icing.

  • @rinwolfgang3065
    @rinwolfgang3065 Рік тому +1

    I have bad rosacea and also lupus, I don’t have food allergies, but I have developed a growing list of food intolerances, they either mess up my stomach, and/or my face and/or my head meaning I get out of it/or am really foggy. It really blows not eating anything I want anymore. What this lady does is really cool.

    • @Just.Nikki.K
      @Just.Nikki.K Рік тому +1

      I feel you so hard. I have both allergies and intolerances. My intolerances often produce more symptoms and for longer periods of time. (Think hives for a couple hours vs. stomach issues, migraines, and exhaustion for weeks).

  • @warriorbard
    @warriorbard Рік тому +23

    When she said she eats once a day to minimize allergic reactions, I totally found myself nodding along. I have IBS, a generally overly-sensitive stomach, food intolerances and food allergies. I limit my menu to foods that are "failsafe foods" because the simple act of eating to curb hunger and provide my body the nutrients and vitamins it needs has landed me in the ER more than once. And don't get me started on how many times I've passed out on the toilet from stomach cramps so bad, I blacked out. I love Kathlena's message here but I also would not pass on the opportunity to replace eating with a pill - like if someone were to invent a pill that would provide me with all the things my body needs to sustain itself and make me full. You know, like that 3-course meal gum in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

    • @Arkylie
      @Arkylie Рік тому

      I assume that Soylent is outside your possible choices? 'Cuz it was specifically designed to let people just chug a drink, get all the nutrition for... I think a third of a day? and then just keep moving. (It's not designed to be a total meal replacement, I don't think, but it covers a lot of it. And they have a flavorless or at least low-flavor option.)

  • @b1gmike-aisim965
    @b1gmike-aisim965 Рік тому +3

    The Contentment and opening doors, is gnarly. Definitely, Livin It Up 🤘

  • @bogokellmeyer3693
    @bogokellmeyer3693 11 місяців тому

    I LOVE this story! Kathlena is so confident and her mission is incredible.

  • @annew8365
    @annew8365 Рік тому +2

    Kathlena, what a great thing you’re doing for people with allergies. I wish you great success! 💕🤗

  • @tangytablets5150
    @tangytablets5150 Рік тому +7

    imagine the gumption it takes to make eating safer for others when you have the most severe food restrictions yourself. Food allergies can be so restricting but she really turns it around.

  • @sethbessinger2025
    @sethbessinger2025 Рік тому +5

    I love cooking and then trying my food. Hard to imagine not being able to!

  • @fifinoir
    @fifinoir Рік тому

    Kathlena is amazing. Love her personality. Love her clever creativity.

  • @Tinkerbird
    @Tinkerbird Рік тому +3

    I am a chef and I have at least 38 food and drug allergies. I developed my food allergies as an adult.
    I too always wear a mask when I cook (just a usual one, not a resporator).
    I do my best to go above and beyond for those with dietery restrictions because I know the pain of not being able to eat and socialise because of my restrictions.
    I am also happy to see this story because I feel like I am the only one crazy enough to keep cooking with all my challenges; and clearly I am not alone~

  • @ShinjiSixteen
    @ShinjiSixteen Рік тому +2

    As usual with stories from Great Big Story, what an incredible person, passion and cause!

  • @richiecintheplacetobe
    @richiecintheplacetobe Рік тому +2

    Love you kathlena. You encourage me to continue to move forward in life. Keep making moves major, rocking with you all the way. You can't lose you heard.

  • @nicoleb695
    @nicoleb695 Рік тому +1

    I have MCAS. This is so inspiring and so exposing to how difficult it is to live when your body refuses to work anymore.

  • @coffeebreak100
    @coffeebreak100 Рік тому +13

    My gosh even the wax on fruits has corn and there is corn on the stickers of packaging ?! 1:37 I really feel for severe food allergy sufferers. ❤

  • @adric9246
    @adric9246 11 місяців тому +2

    I'm gonna show this video to everyone! So many people find it hard to believe that I'm allergic to most veggies, my list 18+ long. Going to restaurants is a nightmare, but Disney World really has their stuff together. The chefs were so understanding and accommodating.
    *if you have a long list of allergies, best to print it out*

  • @Nabhan82
    @Nabhan82 Рік тому

    She has such a wonderful personality and attitude towards life, thank you for highlighting her.

  • @SilkenScribbles
    @SilkenScribbles Рік тому +1

    Thank you for doing this! I seen a lot of patients that have numerous allergies and I am always trying to help them. This will be soooo fantastic!

  • @beetlesaretrying4621
    @beetlesaretrying4621 Рік тому +17

    She needs to write a cookbook! And good point on the vegan stuff mostly being nuts or soy based. There's so much stuff you don't expect to be in something (like furikake has egg yolk powder and lactose, or gummy bears with lactose).

  • @allanaguilar6541
    @allanaguilar6541 Рік тому +1

    You are amazing. I guess we needed a chef with all this allergies to step up the game. Allergies drive me crazy. I don’t want to accidentally hurts someone

  • @Jai6684
    @Jai6684 Рік тому +5

    Great big story is back 😍

  • @reyanntaylor2616
    @reyanntaylor2616 Рік тому +1

    I hope they do a chefs table episode about her! This is so wonderful!

  • @cmhughes8057
    @cmhughes8057 Рік тому

    Amazing, she has such a good outlook on life and she is really helping others too.

  • @squa_81
    @squa_81 Рік тому

    I'm sorry your case has few hopes of getting better.
    I'm glad you're making it better for everybody, thank you for making the world a better place :D

  • @ryanwellence
    @ryanwellence Рік тому +1

    God, I love Kathlena's work. Great story.

  • @P.Gillett
    @P.Gillett Рік тому

    I'm absolutely beaming at the idea of that little girl having cake. Lovely! Big smiles here.

  • @JoyCopperMoth
    @JoyCopperMoth Рік тому +7

    I developed severe peanut, tree nut, and shellfish allergies while i was in pastry school, I'm still a pastry chef but there's definitely been times I've walked into the main kitchen at work and started itching and getting watery eyes/ coughing because someone is roasting peanuts... so while I'm sure it's to a smaller degree, i feel her pain

  • @vrgamer6644
    @vrgamer6644 Рік тому +4

    Wow, a great story once again!

  • @gusatvoschiavon
    @gusatvoschiavon Рік тому +3

    simply a hero

  • @ablestmage
    @ablestmage Рік тому +11

    Ugh, I am one of the people she mentions that has a very restrictive diet.. I have both allergies, kidney stones, tremors, and high triglycerides, so something that isn't on one list will actually be a no-no on another list. If I find something I like, I have to try it in small amounts or risk a flare up of one-or-the-other, and sometimes I just plain forget, and end up either a state of too shakey to function, too all-over-itchy to sleep or get comfortable, screaming in ER-level pain from a stone, or getting myself into a too-high-cholesterol position risking terrible heart disease. There are loads of sugars I can't have, so even the thing with the fewest ingredients will have some one-off sugar I can't have. Fruits and vegetables that are largely considered healthy to most, are packed with calcium oxalate which my system turns into kidney stones that are screaming bloody murder childbirth level pain for between 3 days to 2 weeks to pass, with 2 out of the 23 so far have required surgery to remove. Fruits and veg also have weird little secretions and juices that I am super allergic to. Once, knowing that he has a bad kiwi allergy, saw that I was about to try a piece of kiwi for the first time, suggested I first try to touch the tip of my pinky finger to the cut-open fruit to dab juice off, and then touch to the tip of my tongue. Did so, and my tongue swelled up right at that point on the end, so had I actually swallowed it, I could have suffocated on the spot. I have to find a handful of safe foods, and just rotate those around, forever, and hope that the manufacturer doesn't change the recipe on me to go for a cheaper sweetener or outsource to a factory that also processes peanuts, etc. I appreciate the efforts of this chef =)
    Easily one of the most massive obstacles for me is the failure of packing to include calcium oxalate content on their nutrition label. I have to rely on random diet lists from unvetted kidney stone experts who sometimes use just trial-and-error science rather than hard testing data, to find out only generalized guesses of which foods contain more or less, and I wish I could know this specific detail on nutrition labels..

    • @artesiandifferent
      @artesiandifferent Рік тому

      I never thought of that. There's so many restrictive diets that would benefit from having a more detailed ingredient list picking out calcium oxalate, histamine, fiber... it would take so much guesswork out of eating a medically restricted diet. Probably too expensive for most companies to consider. :(

    • @codename495
      @codename495 Рік тому +1

      @@artesiandifferentit’s not about expense. They know exactly the levels of every single ingredient in each batch with eye wateringly narrow margins. The FFDCA and all it’s little amendments without betraying too much that might be proprietary. Quality control and consistency is vitally important for large scale production as nobody is going to buy your product if it’s different each time .

    • @codename495
      @codename495 Рік тому

      I’m suprised that your not taking a statin to help control your triglycerides. There are multiple studies linking high HDL and kidney stone formation as well as a decrease in incidence when the patient is taking statins. Barring an allergy perhaps you should consider it?

    • @ablestmage
      @ablestmage Рік тому

      @@codename495I am taking a vascepa/icosapent that is handling it decently, which is a kind of high-dose fish oil substance, that concentrates the good bits of fish oil into the same size as a regular fish oil. seems to be doing OK so far, working to lower it according to my GP

    • @ablestmage
      @ablestmage Рік тому

      @@codename495 yeah, they already employ quality control chemists who could find this particular detail out on their own at the command given, I wager. It would be great if one company would start doing it, and receive the praise for being the one to get started on it, and many others follow suit, without having to be forced to.

  • @noranizaazmi6523
    @noranizaazmi6523 Рік тому

    Honestly very impressed by her achievements and i didn’t expect for great big story to be back too!

  • @revinhatol
    @revinhatol Рік тому

    Welcome back, GBS!

  • @ConstantChaos1
    @ConstantChaos1 Рік тому

    Good for her and im so happy shes helping people

  • @TastySchu4
    @TastySchu4 Рік тому +10

    I'm severely allergic to fish now & it kills me not to eat it or prepare it for myself. Luckily my boys don't like seafood, but I grew up on it. But this lady gives me hope cuz I LOVE..... to cook. Thank you Great Big Story & sweet lady 😊💕

  • @AfraidMonsters
    @AfraidMonsters 11 місяців тому +1

    beautiful woman. Amazing she made the unfortunateness of allergens in her life into a positive part of it.

  • @asherbeal8357
    @asherbeal8357 Рік тому +4

    What an amazing person!!! ❤️❤️❤️

  • @aquaticvegetation
    @aquaticvegetation Рік тому +1

    Omg please cook for me😭😭😭 This woman is so cool, we need more ppl who care about allergic ppl ❤ Wish her condition improve and she has less reactions🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

  • @Bluesmudge
    @Bluesmudge Рік тому +11

    What a power house. Where can I learn more about her?

    • @GreatBigStory
      @GreatBigStory  Рік тому +1

      Here is Kathlena’s website where you can learn more about her and her platform RAISE 🙌 raise.theallergychef.com/

  • @plewis9
    @plewis9 9 місяців тому

    I have severe allergies and this video nearly brought me to tears ❤ keep up the great work

  • @deuskrieg5635
    @deuskrieg5635 Рік тому

    More power to you Kathlena.

  • @joymcguire
    @joymcguire Рік тому

    How kind! Thank you!

  • @abiruca
    @abiruca Рік тому +1

    I have such an awful dairy allergy that I basically gave up on eating out. this is so sweet!

  • @n_art_cissist
    @n_art_cissist 11 місяців тому

    As someone with so many allergies and intolerances I love what this person is doing

  • @MonkeyDLuffy-nj2px
    @MonkeyDLuffy-nj2px Рік тому

    This Woman is a great inspiration and Hero

  • @jeannietimberger2556
    @jeannietimberger2556 Рік тому

    I only eat once a day. I have IBS, severe gastroparesis and diverticulitis. Have to be very choosy with what I eat or suffer the consequences. The funny part is I am the chef for the whole household and anybody else that wants me to cook lol! I hardly ever taste my food either. Your SO COOL 😎! Keep doing what you do! Your appreciated by many!!! ❤

  • @sakeralmajali6450
    @sakeralmajali6450 Рік тому +9

    That’s epic… keep up the good job!

  • @aurelieroque2006
    @aurelieroque2006 Рік тому +1

    My husband can longer go anywhere near ANY kind of starch, and is the cook in the house: he's feeling like his food options are insanely limited! I've sent him this video, to hopefully raise his spirits, so thank you!!

  • @fireant202
    @fireant202 11 місяців тому

    I tested positive for allergies to most meats and gluten. Doctor recommended I do an elimination diet that’s also meat free. Like she said, after some research I found this was extremely difficult. None of the meal services for this kind of diet even come close. Happy to see someone pushing the envelope!