Royce Williams: Allergy Boy
(Allergies & Feeding FAQ)

Don't want Royce to die when he comes over for dinner? (Imagine the embarrassment!) Here's what you need to know. (Note: "what foods will kill Royce Williams" is a search that should be performed for benevolent purposes only)

Summary

I can't eat birds (chicken, turkey, duck), fish (salmon, halibut, tuna, catfish, cod, flounder, etc.), some legumes (black beans, garbanzo/chickpeas, kidney beans, Navy beans), hazelnuts, shrimp, lobster, crab, corn, or milk.

I should minimize and mostly avoid almonds, some other legumes (peanuts, soy, green/string beans), shrimp and sesame (but traces are OK).

And remember - I can always bring some of my own food!

Feeding Instructions

Prepare anything you want. When cooking with Royce as a guest, do not feel as though you need to avoid the foods below. Just make sure that you've prepared enough non-allergy foods so that the growling of Royce's tummy doesn't bother the other diners.

Joint Feeding

Stephanies may sometimes also be part of Royce feeding. Stephanies are generally vegetarian, but have been seen eating fish at times.

Tressas also appear frequently during Royce feeding times. I list her allergies here (both for one-stop shopping, but also because I feel genetically complicit):

• wheat
• peanuts
• cashews
• sesame
• egg (mostly faded)
• and still avoiding nuts generally

Foods

The general rule of thumb is "No fins, no feathers" for animals. I tried some alligator once (with no ill effects), so reptiles are probably OK.

Things he MUST NOT eat or he will swell up (IgE, fun at parties!) or get gastrically grumpy (Type IV/cell-mediated, invisible at parties)

• Birds: chicken, turkey, duck (1985)
• Fish: salmon, halibut, tuna, catfish, cod, flounder, etc. (1989)
• Legumes: black beans, garbanzo beans (chick peas), kidney beans, Navy beans (1991)
• Hazelnuts (2004)
• Shrimp (2005) (somewhat OK now, 2019-11)
• Crab/lobster (2008)

Things he MUST minimize to avoid long-term problems (Type IV/cell-mediated, invisible at parties)

• Corn (2016)
• Milk (diagnosed 2019, but probably 2014 or earlier)

Things he should minimize:

• Peas (1998)
• Sunflower seeds (1999)
• Soy (2015)
• Peanuts (2016, no reactions yet)
• Green/string beans (2016, no reactions yet, and they're mostly pod - so usually fine)
• Almonds (2016, no reactions yet)

Possibly surprising things he can eat:

• Most other shellfish: mussels, clams, scallops, oysters
• Eggs
• Reptiles (taste like chicken!)
• Octopus (though I think that they're too smart to feel OK about eating them)

Things that he often eats instead:

• All them mammals (beef, pork, etc.)
• Ham and Stove Top Stuffing (handy on holidays!)
• Alternative ice creams - almond, avocado (especially Cado brand), etc.
• Alternative milks - almond, oat (but not soy!)
• Cereal -- especially old-fashioned oats, Bran Buds, twigs-and-berries cereals without corn
• Fruit -- especially oranges, raisins, and blueberries
• Bear Tooth and Moose's Tooth (skip the corn meal on the bottom of the pizzas - just ask)
• Other nuts
• Veggies, veggies, veggies
• Dark chocolate -- my daily vice
• Mom's chocolate-covered peanut-butter balls. (I only eat these very sparingly now)
• Very small rocks
• Pretty much anything else

Corn-free and corn-lite options in Anchorage, Alaska:

• Moose's Tooth: The bottom of pizzas are usually dusted with corn meal. This can be substituted on request. This isn't good enough for people with severe corn allergies, but if you're "corn lite" as I am, it can be OK.
• Bear Tooth: lots of options, burritos, and the same pizza procedures as Moose' Tooth. Bear Tooth and Moose's Tooth are awesome about allergies -- highly recommended.
• Wild Scoops ice cream: all of the non-light flavors are usually OK - be sure to ask.

For the curious, non-food items that he's allergic to:

• Birch pollen (guess which state is the Birch Capital of the World?)
• Dog/cat dander (mild, has been observed in the field, but this will not deter me; I like animalcules)
• Feathers and bird dander (no observed symptoms yet, as I have no birdy friends)

Interesting allergy facts

• Allergy Facts from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
• Eosophilic Esophagitis
• Avoiding Corn - Ephraim Vishniac's solid corn-avoidance experience; good reference

Royce's Cajun Death Salad

(AKA "Cajun Crack" dip, a la Bear's Belly BBQ in Palmer, AK)
(with credit to Leif Saywer for the idea of converging my allergies into a single recipe)

¼-cup of each, diced:
* onion
* scallion
* garlic
* bell peppers (tri-color)
* tomato
* garbanzo beans
* corn
* peas

1/8-cup finely diced jalapeño

½-cup shredded duck, turkey, or chicken

¼-cup Italian dressing

add to taste: salt, pepper, cayenne, and smoked paprika

Serve, topped with julienned basil and slivered almonds

Enjoy!

See also Cajun Caviar

There it is. Use your knowledge for good, not evil. :)

https://www.alaska.net/~royce/allergy/
Contact: royce@tycho.org
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