My New Life with a Food Allergy by Kayla Jennings Until 10 months ago, I was a teenager with no worries other than your usual teenager drama. I went through life every day with no idea that my life would change due an allergy. I loved peanuts, boiled peanuts, peanut butter, pistachios, Nutella and so much more. I had the privilege of eating my mom’s boiled peanuts every year that were those big ones. I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich almost every day for school lunch with peanut butter and apples as a snack before softball. I have had gastrointestinal reflux for several years and never thought anything of it. I did notice that I was having reflux attacks way more frequently and would even go to my teacher’s room for tums during the day. At the beginning of last summer, I started noticing that my throat would get real scratchy after I ate peanuts and even told my mother than I felt like my throat was closing. Of course, she said stop eating them! My mother or I never even thought about a food allergy. So, I went for my yearly check-up with my pediatrician in June of 2021. My mother mentioned the constant reflux to the doctor and then I mentioned how I felt when I ate the peanuts. Thankfully, the doctor said, we may actually be looking at a peanut allergy instead of reflux. My mother and I never imagined that I would be allergic to peanuts since there is no one in our family that has food allergies. Little did I know that my life would change two days later with one phone call. Not only was I allergic to peanuts which was the highest, but I was also allergic to four other tree nuts as well. It may seem little to just be allergic to some nuts, but it was a life changer for me. I could not eat another peanut butter and jelly sandwich again, I could not eat my mother’s boiled peanuts again, apples were not the same anymore, and pistachios by the pool were gone. Not only that, but who doesn’t love Chick-fil-A! That was actually my first question when my mother got the call, can I eat Chick-fil-A because I knew they used peanut oil. Once we received that phone call, my life was changed. I was called in an EpiPen that I had to practice at home how to use and even made my friend practice in case I was unable to do it. So now, I carry one with me and my mother also carries one in her purse since she is at all of my softball games and other events. My goal for the future is to not let the allergy rule my life, but learn to live with it. I do know that I have to be conscience of what I eat, always read labels, remember to ask when I go to new places what they cook with, and if the food I want contains any nuts. I have even thought about getting a Golden Retriever as a service dog so that when I go to college, I will have a sidekick that can alert others if I started having a reaction. This would also be a constant reminder of my allergy so that I do not get complacent or careless. I am so thankful that I did have 16 years without the worry of a food allergy, because I know that some people are not so fortunate.