My Tips for Making It Less Scary
If you’ve ever been through an elimination diet — especially AIP — you know it’s no small thing. I remember my first few weeks thinking, “Am I ever going to enjoy food again?” Then, little by little, I found my groove. The symptoms quieted down. My body finally felt like it was healing.
And then came the big question: Now what?
That’s when I realized the elimination phase was just the beginning. The real magic happens during reintroduction. It’s the part where you start testing foods again — slowly, carefully — to figure out what your body loves and what it doesn’t. Honestly? It was both exciting and nerve-wracking.
Why Bother with Reintroduction?
When you’ve been symptom-free for a while, it can feel tempting to stay in the elimination phase forever. But here’s the truth: it’s not meant to last long-term. Our bodies crave variety and nutrients. Reintroduction is your chance to bring back the foods you’ve been missing — and do it in a way that actually gives you answers.
The Gentle Order
One thing that helped me was following a “gentle order” of reintroductions. Instead of diving right into pizza (I wish!), I started with foods that were less likely to cause trouble:
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Egg yolks before the whole egg
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Ghee before butter
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Herbs and spices before full-on nightshades
It felt like dipping my toes in the water instead of doing a cannonball into the deep end.
My Testing Routine
Here’s how I usually test a food:
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Take a bite on day one
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If nothing happens, eat a little more on day two
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Wait a few days before adding anything else
And the waiting is key. Sometimes my reactions showed up as fatigue, or even just brain fog, rather than stomach issues. Keeping a journal helped me spot patterns I would have missed otherwise.
When Things Don’t Go Well
Yep, sometimes a food flares things back up. I learned that the hard way with almonds — hello, joint pain. When that happens, I don’t beat myself up. I just step back, return to safe foods, and remind myself: “Not now” doesn’t mean “not ever.”
A Little Encouragement
If you’re in the reintroduction phase, know this: you don’t have to figure it all out in a week. Take it slow. Celebrate every safe food you get back. And lean on easy, safe treats (like a cookie made from a mix you can trust) so you don’t feel deprived while you’re testing.
Reintroduction isn’t about restriction — it’s about discovery. Every “yes” you uncover is another step toward food freedom. 🌱✨
