Meadows Coffeehouse

What`s the buzz on food intolerance testing? 🗣️
Food-sensitivity blood tests can save you from exposure to harmful ingredients. But could they be needlessly limiting your food choices?

What does the science say?
Some food allergies are easy to detect with skin tests conducted by a doctor, but others take legwork such as blood work, tracking symptoms, and temporarily eliminating some ingredients from your diet.

Most at-home kits detect Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, which, according to the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) organization, are actually normally occurring in allergic and non-allergic people in response to eating food.

What`s the takeaway?
1️⃣ If you choose to use an at-home test, work with a trained health care professional to help you identify which of the foods may be causing symptoms by guiding you through an elimination diet and eventually reintroduction of foods.

2️⃣ The best way to know whether you have an allergy or intolerance is to head to your doctor.

#TheBuzz #FoodIntoleranceTesting #FoodAllergies #NutritionScience ...

Need to prepare a meal for family or friends with allergies? Try out this Chimichurri Chicken with Apple Cider Vinaigrette Spinach Salad, which is free of the major 9 allergens. 👏

Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS
For the chimichurri:
1-1/2 cups fresh flat leaf parsley
1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

For the chicken:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

For the salad:
1 pound fresh spinach
4 ounces red cabbage, shredded
2 medium carrots, shredded
1-1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS
Preheat a grill or oven to 350 degrees F.

Place parsley in a food processor and lightly pulse to rough chop. Add olive oil, garlic, crushed red pepper, red wine vinegar, pepper, and salt. Pulse until mixture is just combined and resembles a thick sauce. Pour half of the sauce into a separate bowl and set aside.

Spoon remaining sauce over chicken and bake or grill until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, turning over halfway and basting with sauce. Remove from the oven or grill and top with remaining chimichurri sauce.

To make the salad, combine spinach, cabbage, and carrots in a large bowl. Whisk together vinegar, olive oil, mustard, salt and pepper until completely combined. Toss with spinach just before serving and top salad with sliced chicken.

#AllergyFriendlyFood #FoodAllergies #FreeFromAllergens #AllergyFriendlyRecipes ...

The number of people with food allergies and intolerances is on the rise and, whether this is due to better diagnostics or more people developing them, they should not be treated lightly.

What is a food allergy? An adverse health effect that occurs, reproducibly, on exposure to a given food that can show up as hives, tingling of the lips and throat, whole body flushing, difficulty breathing, or significant digestive distress and can be life threatening.

A food intolerance or sensitivity, on the other hand, isn`t usually life threatening but still serious and can be life altering. They can cause significant digestive distress, migraines, skin disorders, or joint pain, among other symptoms.

Even if you don`t suffer from a food allergy or intolerance, here are seven ways to help others feel safe:

1️⃣ Know that this isn`t their choice. Don`t give folks a hard time or coerce them into trying foods they are avoiding.

2️⃣ When hosting a friend or family member that needs to avoid certain foods, rise to the challenge and provide foods that are safe for them to consume.

3️⃣ Don`t be afraid to ask if a food is safe for someone to eat.

4️⃣ Be flexible. Allow someone with a food allergy or intolerance to select where you`re dining.

5️⃣ Do research. Find somewhere to dine that works for all of the folks you are dining with.

6️⃣ Understand the severity of the allergy. If an allergy is so severe that airborne particles can cause a reaction, modify meals to accommodate that.

7️⃣ Take the time to learn what to do in an emergency.

Learn more about how Bon Appétit handles food allergies at the link in our bio. #FoodAllergies #FoodIntolerances #AllergyAwareness #FoodSafety #FoodAllergySupport ...

Get a taste of ""Tofu Tales: A Collection of Recipes from Bon Appétit Chefs for AAPI Heritage Month,"" our newest digital cookbook that celebrates tofu.

Tofu Sisig by Sous Chef Marilou Howe

Born and raised in the Philippines, Marilou has since become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. Marilou has worked at Compass Group since 2011 and is very proud to be Filipino-American. She misses her experience farming with her parents in the Philippines but is happy to be in America cooking for students at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon oil
1 pound extra firm tofu, small diced
1 tablespoon shiitake mushrooms, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 small red pepper, diced
3 small chiles, deseeded and sliced
1 tablespoon sweet soy
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Pinch salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add tofu cubes and fry until golden brown, stirring occasionally to brown on all sides. Then transfer cooked tofu cubes to a plate to remove excess oil.

Turn heat to medium low and add the mushrooms, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and chiles to the skillet. Cook until the vegetables are just aromatic, but still crisp. Then add the cooked tofu, soy sauce, lime juice, and mayonnaise and toss until well blended. Season with salt and pepper, then serve.

Get this recipe and more at the link in our bio! #AAPIHeritageMonth2024 #TofuTales #AAPIHeritageMonth #TofuRecipes #FilipinoCuisine #PlantBasedCooking ...