From Anaphylaxis to Buttercream

When Holli Bassin's daughter, Rachel was still a baby, she developed severe allergies to milk, eggs, mustard and more. For years the protocol was strict avoidance; the family had a responsibility for Rachel's life, and her diet was carefully regimented. Any popsicle, school lunch or granola bar could cause an anaphylactic reaction. After years of struggling with these food allergies, Rachel's reactions were diminished with the help of an experienced health coach. She now enjoys pizza, ice cream, and cupcakes just like any other kid! Rachel's surprising transformation reveals why parents need to advocate for their food-allergic children. Holli, now an integrative Nutrition Health Coach herself, explains the systematic desensitization process Rachel went through from a mom's perspective. Holli also digs deeper to target the sources of her daughter's allergies: overarching problems with our medical system, its over-dependency on antibiotics, and the pitfalls of the Standard American Diet. By learning about this process from a knowledgeable parent, food allergic readers and their parents will understand the complexities of systematic desensitization and it's potential as an avenue for life changing dietary health.