Finding my go-to Thai order while avoiding food allergies

Tom Kha Gai, a Thai coconut soup.

For weeks, I've been doing what I can to avoid all the foods I'm allergic to. It’s been stressful and defeating sometimes and admittedly, what I end up doing most of the time is just eat some lunch meat or grilled chicken and call it good. When going out or getting take out, I'm easily swayed to eat like I used to because of how hard it is to find a substantial amount of food that doesn't have at least one of the foods I'm allergic to. Most of the time, I’m stuck with having a boring salad. Occasionally, I'll find things that I used to eat and find out that it’s safe, and today I had a pleasant surprise at my local Thai restaurant. I'd been craving Tom Kha Gai. It’s a creamy, fragrant coconut chicken soup, that I like with just one-star of heat. I hadn't gotten around to checking if it was safe for my long list of food allergies till now.

When I finally did my usual ingredient detective work, I couldn't believe it. There's no wheat, no nuts, no dairy, no eggs, no soy, no shellfish. Just coconut milk, chicken, galangal, lemongrass, lime leaves, mushrooms, and fish sauce. For someone dealing with allergies to wheat, peanuts, hazelnuts, sesame, egg whites, milk, rice, oats, almonds, soybeans, walnuts, shrimp, and scallops, finding a dish this delicious that's completely safe felt like a big win.

The irony wasn't lost on me that in the past, I would have automatically ordered this soup with a side of jasmine rice. Now that rice is off the table for me, I discovered the soup is actually perfectly satisfying on its own. Who knew that what I thought was incomplete was actually a complete, balanced meal all along?

This discovery came at the perfect time. I'd been stuck in a rut of the same few safe meals, feeling frustrated and frankly a bit sorry for myself. When you're also managing prediabetes on top of multiple allergies, the intersection of "safe" and "blood sugar friendly" can feel impossibly narrow some days.

But Tom Kha Gai checks all the boxes. The coconut milk provides richness without dairy, which is a yummy factor that I'd been missing. The protein from chicken makes it more filling and helps with blood sugar stability. The fish sauce adds that perfect umami depth, and thankfully, fish is one protein I can still enjoy. The aromatic herbs and spices make it feel like a treat rather than just another "safe" meal. I’m so happy to now have a go-to order for whenever I go to a Thai restaurant.

For anyone else navigating multiple allergens from the major allergen lists, this soup might be worth investigating. Traditional Tom Kha Gai is naturally free from most of the Big 8 allergens (it does contain fish sauce, but no other major allergens), though always double-check ingredients and preparation methods with your restaurant or when making it at home. I think I’m going to try this recipe of Tom Kha Gai soon.

Sometimes the wins come when you least expect them.