What happens when food becomes both your biggest challenge and your greatest calling? In this episode, Dr. Kiyah Duffey sits down with The Allergy Chef, Kathlena, whose 200+ food allergies inspired a mission to help families everywhere navigate restricted diets with confidence and joy.
Kathlena shares how she transformed struggle into purpose,offering practical advice for managing allergies day-to-day, building safer kitchens, and advocating for your child’s needs. Together, they explore the emotional side of living with dietary restrictions—the overwhelm, the mental health impact, and the unexpected joy that can come from reclaiming control in the kitchen.
It’s a conversation about resilience, radical responsibility, and the power of finding freedom within limits.
**** Let's Connect! ****
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**** Chapters ****
00:00 Introduction to Kathlena, The Allergy Chef
00:54 Kathlena’s Journey: From Misdiagnosis to Advocacy
07:03 The Importance of Parental Advocacy in Health
11:49 Navigating Food Allergies: Personal Experiences and Insights
19:51 Understanding Food Intolerances and Allergies
27:43 Practical Steps for Identifying Food Issues
33:45 The Broader Context: Food Allergies and Environmental Factors
38:05 Empowering Parents in Managing Allergies
42:03 Engaging Kids in Healthy Eating
43:08 Mental Health and Family Dynamics
52:31 Navigating the Journey of Food Allergies
55:10 Taking Radical Responsibility for Health
**** About ****
Kathlena, widely known as The Allergy Chef, is an educator, recipe developer, and advocate dedicated to empowering individuals and families living with food allergies and special dietary needs. After being diagnosed with more than 200 food allergies and intolerances, Kathlena transformed her personal challenges into a global mission to make safe,inclusive eating accessible to everyone.
Through her platform, The Allergy Chef, and her online community, RAISE (Recipes and Resources for Allergy Intolerant and Special diet Eaters), she provides meal plans, educational tools, and practical strategies for managing restricted diets without sacrificing joy or nutrition. Her work bridges the gap between safety and simplicity—helping parents confidently navigate everything from kitchen organization and cross-contact prevention to school planning and family mealtimes.
Kathlena has become a trusted voice in the allergy and special diets community, offering hope and hands-on support to those newly navigating diagnoses as well as seasoned families seeking fresh ideas. Her message is simple but powerful: with the right tools and understanding, every family can thrive—no matter their dietary needs.
Dr. Kiyah Duffey, a celebrated nutrition expert with a PhD from UNC-Chapel Hill and founder of Kizingo, leverages her 20 years of experience to parents towards fostering healthier food habits in themselves and their children. As a mother of three and a globally recognized speaker and entrepreneur, she combines personal insight and professional expertise to help you transform your family’s relationship with food.
**** KEYWORDS ****
food allergies, dietary restrictions, parenting, health,nutrition, advocacy, cooking, mental health, food journaling, allergy management