B

ecause of my husband’s food allergies I’ve always been on the lookout for dairy substitutes — or any other product I could use to broaden his food repertoire — while strolling down the grocery aisles. Now I double my efforts the shopping taking twice as long. I know that I won’t feel adequate in my role as wife if I allow my husband to eat the same thing day in day out — despite his willingness to do so.

Reading ingredients and nutrition labels I try to remember what it is that my husband wants — or even just approves of. Did he say I can subtract the dietary fiber from the total carb count or no? Is fructose a problem? Sucralose? Maltitol? Aspartame? What are these things anyway?

Scrutinizing the nutrition labels on Bob Mills and Arrowhead packets I wonder how one even prepares these grains. The products appear either seed-like grainy or smooth as flour while others look like simple cholent beans.

Since the quinoa touts itself as being an excellent source of iron it makes its way into my shopping cart. I deliberate over whether to go for the millet but then decide that one is enough for today.

In the baking aisle I grab the chopped nuts — as I promised my husband I would — and then sneak a glance at the sugar substitutes. The huge yellow Splenda bags dominating the shelf catch my attention first. At work the Splenda packets next to the coffee maker constantly need replenishing — much faster than the sugar cubes do — so I know that is a going item. But then Truvia — which I’ve become acquainted with this very moment — has a big All Natural sticker on it. Stevia seems like another good natural option but the word Xylitol sounds familiar — though I can’t recall why this is so. Turbinado sugar too has a familiar ring coconut sugar sounds somewhat wholesome and the pink Sweet and Low packets are so appealing — even if only to the eye. Maple syrup is right up there on the shelf right alongside the raw honey.

Who ever said eating healthy is limiting? I’m overwhelmed with choice! I leave them untouched and steer my shopping cart over to the next aisle.

Here I can indulge in a bit of normalcy. Tuna tomato sauce peanut butter… I drop each item in the cart. My hand hovers over a package of elbow pasta considering deliberating over whether it truly is like sugar.

Nah I decide. I’m not going to make pasta for myself if hubby’s not going to eat it. It’s not like I have a large family of kids to please; it’s just me and the little ones. And so I take my first semi-conscious step in joining my husband on his journey.

What’s that? I notice the date halvah chocolate and almond spreads — all imported fromIsrael — next to the fish cans. They seem somewhat healthy. The date spread joins the groceries in my shopping cart and I decide to call it a day.

“I have a few things to show you” I tell my husband at home looking forward to sharing my findings.

Lining up the groceries for his perusal I am suddenly beset by doubts afraid that I was too quick to fill my cart. The grocery bill sure reflected that reality.

He picks up each item while I unpack the rest of the groceries holding my breath waiting for his stamp of approval.

“Are these returnable?” he holds up the date spread.

“It’s not good? But why?” I point to the sugar content.

“Look at the serving size. Three grams of sugar for one teaspoon...”

“I can’t believe I forgot to check the serving size! Who would’ve thought they have such ridiculously small serving sizes?”

“It’s fine. You don’t have to think of everything.”

I can’t think of everything! And I don’t even know if I want to! We’re healthy enough as is thank you very much. I don’t know how I could’ve ever thought of this as an exciting adventure!