Visit 2: Another Step Towards Food Freedom

We made it through another big milestone in Theodore’s journey to food freedom — and this visit came with big wins, small hiccups, and sweet moments we’ll never forget.

But before we get to the fun here are all the details of his appointment!

A Quick Recap of Visit 1

At our first visit, we successfully challenged and cleared alfalfa, pectin, and flaxseed. These are now part of Theodore’s morning maintenance foods. We also introduced three new foods — chia seeds, pine nuts, and macadamia nuts — in extremely small microdoses as his treatment foods, which he takes at night.

Visit 2: Food Challenges and New Introductions

After 11 weeks of microdosing chia seeds, pine nuts, and macadamia nuts, it was time to challenge those foods in higher amounts to confirm tolerance.


Day 1: Food Challenges

The day started with a baseline check: heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, throat, and a full skin scan. They also asked about any stomach symptoms.

Then Theodore ate a full dose of one of the foods and immediately went to the exercise room for five minutes of activity. This step is crucial — movement can sometimes trigger reactions, so it’s important to evaluate how the body responds during physical exertion. The room had trampolines, treadmills, cycles, hula hoops, and a mini racetrack to keep it fun.

After exercise, his vitals were rechecked. If everything looked good, we moved on to the next food.

(Fun fact: being sick, physical activity, or taking warm baths/showers can all exacerbate allergic reactions.)

We’re thrilled to say Theodore passed all three food challenges with no reactions, meaning chia seeds, pine nuts, and macadamia nuts are now part of his daily morning maintenance routine!


Day 2: New Food Introductions

This day marked the introduction of a new set of foods: Brazil nuts, poppy seeds, and pinto beans — each given in extremely small microdoses. The process is different from food challenges and handled very carefully.

After another baseline assessment (including heart monitors this time), Theodore was given his first microdose, typically in the form of a gummy or fruit snack made by the Food Allergy Institute lab. He then rested completely for 15–20 minutes with no physical activity to avoid triggering a reaction. After each rest period, they reassessed him before moving to the next food.

Once again, he completed all three food introductions with no reactions!


Why We Travel

These food challenges and introductions must be done under medical supervision, which is why we travel across the country for appointments. It’s a big commitment — but we also want to make it enjoyable for Theodore. So we made time for a few adventures!


Our Adventures

After landing, we settled into the Ronald McDonald House and headed straight to Mother’s Beach. It was the perfect spot — a shallow beach and a big playground. While we were there, we met up with another food allergy family I’ve connected with through social media. Our boys had appointments around the same time and are just a year apart in age. Once they warmed up to each other, they had a blast splashing in the water and digging in the sand.

Having a community of other allergy moms is so important. Online connection is powerful — but meeting in person made it all the more meaningful for us and for our boys. This was such a special moment for me meeting and hanging out with someone who “gets it”

On day 2, we visited Irvine Park for their Easter Extravaganza. It was full of fun for ages 3–8. We tried crafts, carnival games, train rides, and Theodore’s favorite — the construction zone, where he got to operate a mini digger to search for eggs.

On our final day, after the new food introductions, we kept things low-key. Theo requested to stay and play at the Ronald McDonald House — and I’m so glad we did. That place is truly a blessing. They offer meals, toys, a full kitchen, and daily activities. That day included a visit from therapy dogs and a craft time where Theo painted flower pots.


A Few Bumps Along the Way

The trip wasn’t without minor hiccups. Theodore had some redness on his face at the airport — likely from surface contact. Later, he experienced a small breakout after the craft activity, possibly caused by something in the paint (there was no ingredient label available). Thankfully, everything resolved quickly after rinsing.

It was another reminder of how important it is to read every label — even on non-food items — and to stay extra diligent when traveling. We hope that as we move through this program, cross-contact will become less of a concern. One day, we won’t be reading any labels at all. That’s the true goal — freedom.



What’s Next

Our new routine begins tomorrow:

6 foods in the morning

3 foods at night

6 support/recommended foods, 3 times per week


Consistency is key. Keeping these foods in his daily diet will help condition his body to tolerate more allergens as We inch closer to the foods I once thought he’d never eat. It’s overwhelming, hopeful, and so worth every trip. If you’ve ever considered this kind of treatment — or you’re in the thick of it too — I see you.

Here’s to a strong and healthy Cycle 2!