I love to travel and explore new restaurants and refuse to let my garlic allergy keep me from enjoying life, neither should you!
Hi! I’m Sam Harris
I’m a native New Yorker, amateur chef, and love to travel! I started this website because I want to help people who suffer from gastrointestinal reactions to garlic allergies. My mission is to make garlic free cooking and dining out easy for you and your family! I’m on a one-woman mission to make grocery shopping, cooking, and dining out fun again! It’s exhausting to explain to waiters, chefs, family, and friends what you can and cannot eat. I get it because I live it. I can’t wait to see you try my recipes and visit places I love.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND ON GO GARLIC FREE
I’ve curated a list of garlic-free products that are easy to purchase online or at the market, crowd-pleasing recipes for any level cook, easy tips and tricks to make eating out more fun and city guides so you can take your fabulous self out on the town for some fun! Currently, we’re catering to gastrointestinal allium/garlic allergies specifically - garlic,’d love to hear from you. All of the products include link to my Amazon Associates Account where I earn from qualifying purchases.
I’M HERE TO HELP | SERVICES
Are you feeling overwhelmed shopping and cooking for yourself or your family without garlic? I’m offering at-home or virtual consulting services for people who need help setting up their garlic-free pantry or assistance in learning how to cook classic dishes for their families! Get in touch and learn more. hi@gogarlicfree.com
Tag me #gogarlicfree or email me your personal recommendations! Looking forward to trying your recipes and visiting places you love.
Have a question or want to share a restaurant or tip.
MY STORY
I’m pretty sure I’ve had a garlic allergy my entire life, as a kid, we assumed I had food poisoning every now and again not thinking much of it. I tried a number of elimination diets which didn’t solve my issues and then was formally diagnosed in 2004 after an Allergist administered a scratch test. I recall asking the Allergist, “Why are you testing me for garlic?” moments later, my arm was inflamed, red and itchy at the exact spot where he scratched me with garlic. This led me to research garlic as a species and I’ve since eliminated the entire Lily Family of flowers and foods from my diet - I can tolerate onions but omit them as well to simplify things when I order at restaurants. All alliums are off the list. In doing my research, I was so surprised to learn that the FDA does not consider garlic or onions to be allergens and companies legally do not have to list either as an ingredient on their packaged foods. Companies can hide garlic/onion under spices, flavorings, seasonings - it’s up to you - the consumer to contact them directly to find out if these items do or don’t contain garlic. I’ve listed my favorite pantry items on our products page.
MY ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES
I’m allergic to garlic and all of the members of the Lily Family. Onions are tolerable but I avoid them. This is my only true allergy while I’m sensitive to gluten, eggs, and dairy.
WHAT HAPPENS TO ME IF I CONSUME GARLIC?
Personally, I have gastrointestinal reactions to ingesting garlic - for me, it’s like food poisoning. The fresher the garlic the more severe the reaction which can scale from vomiting to stomach distention, burning pain and horrible gas. It’s miserable. My stomach will then feel beaten up for the following week. There are a few remedies I’ll apply to assist with the reaction but there is no quick fix to stop the reaction. I always keep digestive enzymes, charcoal pills and benadryl on hand for emergencies. To learn more about food allergies the Mayo Clinic they have a great site dedicated to explaining food allergy-related symptoms.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO COOK, DINE OUT AND TRAVEL THE WORLD EXPERIENCING NEW CUISINES, FLAVORS, AND DELICACIES EVEN WITH RESTRICTIONS
DISCLAIMER
Information provided on Go Garlic Free is provided for awareness, education and general information. Health benefits of various diets, foods, recipes and eating strategies are the opinion of the author, and there may be differing views on many of the topics covered including evolving research, opinions, benefits, allergies, ingredients and efficacy. This site is meant to inform the general reader and is not a substitute for medical advise by a physician, allergist, dietician and/or nutritionist. Please consult a doctor if you have a history of garlic allergies, other allergies, chronic ailments or feel adverse side effects after starting a nutrition regiment, and do not ingest items to which you have sensitivities or may be allergic. Readers should consult a licensed health professional who knows their personal medical history on matters relating to their health and well-being, including being aware of allergies, and potential interactions with medications you are taking, and conflicts with other wellness-related goals. If you purchase a product through our referral links we make a small commission which helps support Go Garlic Free. Thank you for your support!