This post is a two parts in one. This first section is about food options free of common allergens and my family’s faves. The second is my position on Epicure 2.0. Read none, some, all. This is where I stand. In future, current food links will be on my links page.

Choosing What is for Dinner?

There are 7 mouths in my family, 9 with the marriages. There are 9 food allergens between us. That’s a big deal that hinders just “whipping something up.”

In my 9-year tenure with 2 clean eating companies, I met so many people who have similar challenges that cover the spectrum from Celiac to intolerance to FODMAP. Maybe you are one of them. Answering the What’s for dinner? question can be the source of true anxiety and guilt. It should not be that way, but the journey is real and if you or a loved one has ever had a dietary diagnosis, you get it.

What do we use & eat?

This is my allergen-free food world right now, linked for you to do your own deep dives:

• My remaining Epicure stock; you can restock here.
• Jovial products give us gluten free and cassava pasta (our preference) and we love the beans! A lot of their items are in local stores, but not my faves.
• Clean Monday Meals: I love the flavor of the taco and Italian seasonings! Shout out to my friend KM and KT for introducing me to these products! The bottles are huge and last a while. Clicking the link should give you 10% off your first order. And be sure to try the rice ramen noodles, individually packed.
• Kuchni launches this month; developed by a former Epicure rep who needed the products and decided to partner with a company local to her to develop them; they launch February 2026 and I’m so excited to be ordering this week!

Just trying to eat

I think Kuchni tells the real story about the need for quality tested, junk-free products. The family needed what Epicure offered for weekly menus; it simplified the game.

One of my children has to be free of gluten, nuts, soy, sesame, fish for 6 months. Soy hides in everything and I need their body detoxed, not triggered!

We are all just trying to do life; it shouldn’t be this hard! When my dairy-free kid was first diagnosed, I had to learn how to make my own cream-of soups; it took forever to learn and to make! I spent 75% of my week just trying to feed 4 boys with high metabolisms who played nonstop basketball. I was so stressed, always consumed with trying to think through the next meal!

If I can do anything to reduce or eliminate that stress for anyone, I’m doing it. Some of the links above have discounts, some don’t. Let me know if you have any questions about the food products. If I’ve tried it, I’ll answer to the best of my ability.

Now, about Epicure

To Epicure or not to Epicure: is that the question? No.

The quality of the product was never at issue.

The way the company was managed pre-2025 was an issue. Obviously something was lacking or we wouldn’t be reading this post.

The company that was, is no more. It has new ownership. They kept the name. From a business perspective, there is a decision to (1) keep the name for brand recognition, or (2) change the name and have to rebuild trust in a product that already had loyal following and trust.

The product is not the management. A company that dissolved did an extreme disservice to its workforce and to the companies with whom they did business; I will not blog my opinions and emotions on that and its impact on my friends and colleagues. They remain my friends, and I’m loving life in this season.

Someone else recognized the product value and chose to redeem that. I can’t fault that. That’s a very human thing to do.

I’ve discussed this at length with my husband. Our family worked very hard to grow our food business. When you purchased from me, you were choosing me. You could’ve chosen another representative to purchase from, but you chose me. That matters to me.

I still stand by the product. I recognize the value and I value my clients and their needs. I’m choosing to redeem that. It’s the choice our family (and all 9 allergens) is making.

In a non-food Convo, my friend of over 30 years reminded me the other day of something I said in my early parenting years. It was a position I took when I didn’t agree with a choice another mom was making for her kids:

Your family.

Your child.

Your choice.

I’m glad my friend brought that up. It’s liberating.

So I invite you to make the best choice for your family and the food you serve.

Thank you for taking the time to read all the way through. It means a lot!

Smiles & gratitude,