Peanut a super snack. My superfood for my mostly vegetarian diet, great source of protein, convenience and deliciousness. I ate it roasted and salted (my favorite), in 'Shenga Holige' (Shenga = peanut in North Karnataka Kannada parlance) 'Shenga Laddu', 'Shenga Chutney / Pudi', Chivda, Chikkis (original Snickers), Snickers (duplicate Chikkis), Reeses etc and Pad Thai! I seriously dont remember long stretches when I didnt eat any peanuts.
A persistent gastric condition and focused diagnosis later, the Doctor pronounced me allergic to something. Something was my beloved peanuts after a selective exclusion exercise and eureka moment.
The amazing realization set in me and my Family was that I have been allergic (and also was my Father) to peanuts since my teens. I suffered mild stomach upsets, aggressive and consistent skin breakouts and sluggishness. The transformation was semi miraculous when I stopped immediately.
Mild jokes here and there thrown about being a 'Firang' and having a fashionable 'American' condition. Worse when someone serves something traditional which cannot do without peanuts (Chivda, Poha for example) and you gotta eat around it leaving nuts at the end like a bad mannered kid.
I wish I could show them the scene from Hitch.
