When I suspected I had food allergies, it was quite difficult for me to convince my doctor I needed to get tested. Even though after weeks of eating bread, my throat felt like it was closing up, she didn't believe that food allergies were the cause. My slight anaphylactic reaction was not serious, but there are many adults and children who have very severe allergic reaction. I would have severe breakouts, stomach cramps, and headaches. But my daughter has a pretty severe symptom, she violently throws up after she eats anything with egg yolks in it. At three years old, she knows to ask if something has eggs if she's offered food, in fact she's been asking since she was about 20 months old. At times, I feel sorry that she can't enjoy a birthday cake at a party or pizza.
When we were planning her birthday party last month, I was searching for music on Spotify and for a laugh searched for "gluten." What I found was Kyle Dine, Food Allergy Musician. I loved Kyle's music right away and I knew my daughter would love it too. Kyle mixes his own personal food allergy story with folky guitar riffs. With songs like "No Dairy Please" and "Gluten Free Blues," Kyle reminds kids (and big kids like me) with food allergies that they are not alone. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kyle and asking him some questions about his music a couple of weeks ago and I want to share it with you:
A Crafty Gourmet: Hi Kyle, I hear you are in the SF Bay Area this week. How are you liking it?
Kyle Dine: It's great. It's my wife's first time and I've been here before, but we've had the chance to do some touristy stuff like going to Alcatraz and a SF Giants Game.
A Crafty Gourmet: That sounds like a lot of fun! So I saw on your schedule that you're here for a couple of weeks. Do you come here to perform?
Kyle Dine: I actually don't. It's the first time that I'm here for an extended time. I'm from Toronto, so it's pretty rare for me to cross the whole continent and do shows for this long. I'm doing a lot of assemblies at schools and education parents, teachers and administrators about food allergies and anaphylaxis . What I do is really random. I don't take myself too serious. I always ask if it's people's first food allergy concert. But I feel like it's such a great way to get messages to kids. It's a really cool way to get this message out through music. I'm really lucky to do what I do.
A Crafty Gourmet: I definitely feel people are very proactive here when it comes to children and their health. How did you get into the business of writing songs about food allergies?
Kyle Dine: I was in so many rock and metal bands when I was in high school and then I went to work at a summer camp. There I became passionate about educating kids and just hanging out with them. And also because I've had food allergies since I was toddler. I never took them seriously until I had a near death experience at 21. After that I wanted to make sure I was helping others avoid have such a serious reaction. I knew I had a lot of knowledge to help others not be on that path.
A Crafty Gourmet: So it sounds like you had a wake up call very early on that made you want to be healthy and take care of yourself.
Kyle Dine: Yes, it was so silly because I was just being stupid and not asking about ingredients because I was embarrassed in social situations. Since then, I haven't had a reaction.
A Crafty Gourmet: What are you allergic to?
Kyle Dine: Well let's see: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, and mustard.
A Crafty Gourmet: I also have a long list of food allergies and sensitivities. Are you finding that the last 5 years have been easier for in terms of living with food allergies? I feel like it's gotten easier in the US, how about Canada?
Kyle Dine: Yes, definitely. Companies have sprung up all over the place. In Canada, Nestle for example, have completely moved to a peanut free manufacturing facility. Many schools are moving to being peanut free. The policies in schools are really helping push companies and increases awareness. In the US, too, it's on the up and up with Trader Joe's and Whole Foods having so many products.
A Crafty Gourmet: What is it that you enjoy most about your opportunity to share your message?
Kyle Dine: Kids are so genuine and all they want to do is help their friends. It's so amazing. They completely buy into wanting to know more and they love that they have this knowledge. They ask so many questions and that makes it worth it. Kids just gobble it up and its so encouraging. It gives me so much hope. It makes me really love what I do.
A Crafty Gourmet: So who's your musical influence? Who do you channel when you are on stage?
Kyle Dine: I pick and choose from many sources. I'm always inspired when I go to concerts. I love someone like Raffi and how he can handle a room full of kids is mesmerizing. My biggest influence musically are the Beatles, because their songs are so beautifully written.
A Crafty Gourmet: Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me. I'm hoping I'll get to see your show when you're here next year.
For more information please check out Kyle's website:
You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest
Check out this awesome video below!
