Store to help with food allergies
Megan Alexander — Staff WriterArticle Photos
Buying groceries for the Nelsons is a laborious task, involving hours of travel and extensive label scrutiny.
Just a year and a half ago, the family ate whatever they felt like, even as they were struggling to find someone who could tell them what was wrong with their youngest daughter, Victoria.
Diana Nelson, her mother, told the family's story as she gave a tour of her business, Olive Leaf Pantry, which she hopes to open within a couple weeks.
Victoria, now 7, had chronic ear infections, eczema and digestive problems. She was losing weight and her sweet temperament would suddenly dissolve into emotional outbursts.
Doctors would tell her parents, Randy and Diana Nelson, that the problem was heartburn or anxiety, to give her antacid, but meanwhile "she kept getting sicker," Diana said. "She was dropping in weight and we just didn't know what to do."
Victoria would have episodes where her throat would close up and she couldn't breathe. The Nelsons would rush her to the emergency room, where she was given something to counteract an environmental allergen, which the ER doctors believed was the problem.
When Dulcimer Clinic opened, Diana took Victoria to see Carolyn Drevlow, a certified nurse practitioner.
"Carolyn said, 'Have you ever checked her for food allergies?'"
"I thought, 'I need a real doctor in here. Why would food make her sick like this?'" Diana said.
A simple blood test showed gluten was the biggest culprit. She also tested positive for egg, dairy and peanut allergy. Her older sister, Autumn, was then tested, and her results were the same, except for the peanuts.
"I'm off the chart on dairy and eggs," the 10-year-old said matter-of-factly.
Autumn had shown no external symptoms, though that doesn't mean her allergies weren't causing internal damage, Diana explained.
Since allergies are often believed to be genetic, Randy and Diana were tested as well. Diana was allergy-free; Randy was not. His allergy levels were even higher than Victoria's, but his symptoms had been subtle, mainly fatigue, muscle aches and shaking spells.
Once the family got on an allergy-free diet, Veronica's skin cleared up within two weeks.
"She's happy, she smiles and laughs and feels good," Diana said.
Randy has told her he never knew he could feel as good as he does now that his body is allergen-free.
"Now he's my biggest promoter," Diana said, referring to her business venture.
Olive Leaf Pantry, located on Blue Earth Avenue just east of Park Street, is a small building the Nelsons have completely overhauled. Carpet was torn out and everything was disinfected to reduce as many environmental allergens as possible. The space is clean and almost clinical, which is the owners' goal.
Diana intends to sell allergy-friendly foods to the community and serve as a distribution center for southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. A Web site is also in progress so customers can place orders online.
"We're beginning with a basic food line and then we'll add as we go to accommodate the community," Diana said.
Organic, natural foods will be organized by allergy type and clearly labeled to warn customers of potential allergens. Fresh-baked goods will be brought in from out-of-town bakeries that specialize in food allergies. Chemical-free cleaning supplies also will be sold for people who are sensitive to regular cleaning products.
For the past year, Diana has been traveling to allergy-friendly stores throughout the state to buy groceries for her family.
"We had to piecemeal it all together because no one place has everything," she said. "And that's what we're hoping to do here."
All the research she did for her own family she plans to share with the community as a consultant at Olive Leaf Pantry. The store also will have a corner reading nook so customers can do their own research by reading up on allergies from a variety of references.
"We're not a substitute for going to a regular grocery store," she said. "We want to be a supplement, somewhere to go without the worry and label reading."
No one is more excited about the venture than her children.
"I've told almost my entire class," Victoria exclaimed, bouncing in her chair as she enjoyed an after-school snack of chocolate soy pudding.
Hours are tentatively set for 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday 8-1; and also by appointment.
|
Annmeckes
|
|
|---|---|
|
11-16-08 11:20 PM
|
Diana and Randy... I dont know if you remember me, buti kknow you from the Christian Church in Fairmont. I commend you for your recent business venture. Congrats! Best of luck in that, and the future of your happy family. I remember when you had your family just begining. God bless.
|