{"id":1287,"date":"2022-12-13T11:00:53","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T11:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allergicliving.com\/thisallergiclife\/?p=1287"},"modified":"2025-04-15T06:04:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T06:04:17","slug":"lessons-in-allergy-friendly-mayonnaise-and-kindness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allergicliving.com\/thisallergiclife\/lessons-in-allergy-friendly-mayonnaise-and-kindness\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons in Allergy-Friendly Mayonnaise and Kindness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I entered the grocery store with the sole purpose of finding the Hellmann’s vegan mayonnaise I had heard a lot about. An eggless mayo that tastes like the real deal? Take my money!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It could be a total game-changer for someone living with a food allergy to eggs, like my son. Well, not necessarily my son because, he’s also a picky eater. But a game-changer for me. When you’re the cook for a large family that’s avoiding allergens, finding a key new free-from product is like finding gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I searched for the dressings aisle, I was mentally going over all the delicious possibilities in my mind. I could feel how close my first attempt at a safe potato salad was. Plus, countless sandwiches with zero worry of cross-contamination.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I turned onto the aisle, I noticed an elderly gentleman sitting in a motorized scooter. He was camped out in front of the mayonnaise section I needed, intently reading labels. Something I know all too well, but likely for different reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stood next to him, quietly scanning the shelf with my eyes. When I finally spotted what I wanted, I whispered an apology before reaching across him to grab it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noticing me for the first time, he reversed a little to make room. I thanked him but let him know he didn\u2019t have to. I’d already found what I came for.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He glanced up at the Hellmann’s jar in my hands, became bright-eyed and said, “Ya know? This brand over here is on sale!\u201d I smiled and thanked him again but told him I needed the vegan one I was holding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh, a vegan, are ya?\u201d He said with a smirk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caring About Food Allergies <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, yes and no\u201d was my reply. I thought about leaving it there, but then bravely added, \u201cWe have food allergies in our family, and we need a mayonnaise without eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lessons
Emily Duty<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With sincerity, he replied, \u201cOhh, I\u2019ve heard those food allergies are serious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s when he placed his jar back on the shelf and grabbed one of mine instead. He pulled his reading glasses down from the top of his head and said, \u201cOK, let\u2019s see what we\u2019ve got here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s egg-free like you need. Good! Dairy-free, too. Do you need that also? Ooh and look! It\u2019s Kosher!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m not typically a sociable kind of person. I mean, I\u2019m friendly but tend to lean on the more introverted side. So, I can\u2019t say for sure why I’d continued to stand there. Except for this .\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That gentleman didn\u2019t care about my vegan mayo \u2013 he came for whatever was on sale that day. But in a matter of moments, he made me feel like he cared about me, my family, and our situation. It was so genuinely nice and unexpected that I didn\u2019t want to leave. Eventually, I had to. I appreciate that, at some point, tailing a stranger through the grocery store stops being sweet and starts being creepy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my experience, most people hear the words “food allergies” and bolt, but this man chose to stay. What\u2019s more, because he was warm and funny, it made me want to stay, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident is a reminder that you don\u2019t always have to understand what other people are going through to show up for them. Sometimes it just takes being present, listening, and sharing a few kind words over mayonnaise to make all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emily Duty is a freelance writer based in South Florida. Learn about her children’s book, “Can You? (A Food Allergy Story)” here<\/a>.  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Reading:<\/strong>
Dairy Allergy as an Adult Rocked My World<\/a>
Nut-Allergic and Vegetarian: Hurdles in a Happy Decision<\/a>
Ask the Allergist: Are Quail Eggs Safe with an Egg Allergy?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feature Photo: Getty<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the elderly man asked about my excitement over vegan mayo, he made me feel he cared – about my family and our food allergies. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18292,"featured_media":1291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_post_subheading":"The elderly shopper was just looking for bargains. 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