Written by Megan Lavin, Owner of AllergyAwesomeness.com
I still remember wandering Walmart’s aisles aimlessly—passing all the typical kid foods I had once imagined feeding my son: Goldfish, Go-Gurts, and the like. But now, my reality was different. I had to train my eye to spot unfamiliar brands with ingredients I could barely pronounce, let alone trust. I felt overwhelmed—pushing my cart slowly, eyes brimming with tears, trying to summon the courage to feed my son when I had no idea how.
Our allergist had told me only what not to feed him. That was it. No road map. No meal plans. No grocery list. I looked at other moms with carts full of foods we could no longer eat and felt a deep pang of envy. I looked at my own nearly empty cart and felt lost.
That was over a decade ago. My son had just been diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE) and multiple severe food allergies and was on a strict 10-food elimination diet. While today we still avoid wheat, dairy, peanuts, and tree nuts, our list has thankfully shortened—and compared to where we started, it feels like a miracle.
When I think back to that version of myself, I want to reach through time, give her a hug, and whisper, You’re going to figure this out.
Back then, Pinterest was just taking off. Blogspot was still a thing. When I searched for allergy-friendly recipes, my options were slim. So I decided to do something about it.
With a degree in broadcast journalism, a background in marketing, and a deep desire to help others facing similar challenges, I launched AllergyAwesomeness.com—a recipe site for people with food allergies who still wanted to eat and feel awesome.
I knew the pain of recipe flops, wasted ingredients, and angrily scrubbing pans after yet another failed attempt. I wanted to spare others from that. If I could tweak or create something delicious, I’d post it—so people could have a shortcut to safe, satisfying meals. My mission was simple: no bland food, no “separate meals,” just yummy food everyone at the table could enjoy together.
Over the years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to connect with the allergy community in meaningful ways. I’ve served on a nonprofit board, collaborated with organizations like FARE and FACT, published a cookbook, and started a monthly vlog series with Allergic Living called Megan’s Minute (how fun is that!?). Most recently, I’ve joined the Certified Free From Foods advisory council—a role I’m excited about. I truly think this can be a game changer.
It’s been a journey—culinary, emotional, and professional. And it’s taught me that even the hardest trials can shape you into someone stronger, someone who can help others walk the same path with more confidence.
These days, I go grocery shopping with confidence. I have hundreds of trusted recipes in my back pocket, and with the Certified Free From label, I now have a visual shorthand that helps me quickly identify safe, trustworthy products. (I still hate doing dishes, though!)
I’m excited to see where this journey continues to take me. But one thing is certain—there are no more tears in the middle of a Walmart.