Where’s the beef? Not in my belly!
By Cody Gray on Jan. 29, 2008
First things first…Kid Rock and his Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival Tour is coming to the Roanoke Civic Center on Tuesday March 18th. The tour is featuring Kid and His Twisted Brown Trucker Band with special guest Rev Run from the legendary Run DMC, Dickey Betts from The Allman Brothers Band, as well as other surprise performances. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10AM at the Roanoke Civic Center box office, all Tickets.com locations, or charge by phone at 888-397-3100. But here is the deal. The Planet, 101.5 & 97.9 has your opportunity to Win ‘Em Before You Can Buy ‘Em. Beginning Tuesday, January 29th and running through Thursday, January 31st, I will have your opportunity to pick up tickets to see Kid Rock before they even go on sale. Check out my show, Tuesday through Thursday afternoon from 2-7PM for your opportunity to win!
So have you ever had an allergic reaction? I’m talking about body encompassing hives that itch to no end? Some people even get sick and can have their throat close up. Luckily, I haven’t had those symptoms, but for about the last 5 months of 2007, almost nightly, I was waking up with hives everywhere! As gross as it sounds, I first thought that bed bugs were biting me while I slept. Then after a week or two, it got worse and I realized I was breaking out in hives. Now having hives isn’t necessarily a major medical problem, but it sure is a pain…or should I say, an itch!
So I went to my family doctor after a couple weeks of this constant misery, and he basically told me that until the condition consistently lasted for a few months, that he wouldn’t recommend an allergy test and we would just try some medicine and a few ideas of foods and other things to stay away from. So, I didn’t eat most fruits, vegetables, any canned foods and all kinds of other stuff which would be likely culprits. Nevertheless, the hives continued and I was beyond frustrated! So I finally set up an appointment with an allergy specialist. Those tests are crazy. They take about 3 hours and they prick you all over your body with just about every substance known to man to see if you react to it. So while the tests were ongoing, the lady conducting the test informed me I had a slight allergy to dogs and cats. But who doesn’t? I don’t even have pets, so I knew that wasn’t the problem. So after about another hour of testing, they were finally done and so I waited to see what the allergist was going to say about my results.
So the allergist comes in and goes over not exposing myself to dust and dogs & cats as much as possible, but he didn’t think that was the cause of my hives. He also told me that I’m allergic to myself!? Yeah, that’s right. I guess some people have this condition where your body basically attacks itself when there is nothing actually wrong inside your body. So since you release all that histamine for no good reason, you break out in hives. My translation from that is, “We don’t really know what is causing your hives, so we’ll just make something up”. That may not be true, but it sounds a little weird. So anyways, after that, he talked about the medications he was going to give me and was about to send me on my way. But before we could shake hands and get out of the door, the assistant said to the allergist, “Aren’t you going to tell him about the other allergy?” Yeah, the allergist didn’t look at the last page of results. So he took a look, raised his eyebrows a little and broke the news.
He told me I’m allergic to…you ready for this? BEEF! That’s correct, beef! That’s when the lady who performed the test on me piped in and said, “I knew that you reacted to that when I poked you with it, I just didn’t have the heart to break it to you”. I about fell over on the floor. No steaks, burgers, tacos, not even a hot dog! I ate beef every single day! I think I began to break out in hives right there just from the stress of the news! Just out of the blue one day, I apparently just developed this beef allergy. So, Cody is now a chicken, turkey and ham eating person. I’m getting used to it, but every time I see a cow, I want to go punch it in the face! But of course, I would never do such a thing because some may look at that as animal cruelty! Probably for good reason, but you get the point. I’m starting to enter the world of “fake beef”, and that of course would be turkey burger. It’s definitely not the same, but it’s good enough.
So, as I look for tasty ways to replace beef in my diet, I need to ask for your help. Can you help me out with some good recipes for meals that don’t include beef, or that might be good with a beef substitute? Either leave your recipes on this page by posting a comment, or you can always email me at with your suggestions. And when you get a chance, check out The Planet website at rocktheplanet.fm. I am in a competition with some of my co-workers to raise money in the Bowl For Kid’s Sake and Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon events coming up. I need to raise more money than my co-workers. I already know I’m going to kick their butt doing the actual bowling and with your help, I’m confident I can raise the most money too. Just go to rocktheplanet.fm, you’ll see where to click to donate and you can make your pledge right there on the website! Thanks so much for your help in advance!
So send that money and get me your recipes and I’ll look forward to talking to you on the radio and right here on The Burg! Have a great week!
COMMENTS
Hey Cody, I have a friend who also developed an allergy to beef and pork. His got worse the older he got. It is to the point now that even a taste of either beef or pork totally incapacitates him.
Hey Mark! Thanks for the comment...I think. That’s real encouraging! Haha! Thanks again!
All I have to say is wings, wings, and more wings! I’d recommend a lot of pulled pork bbq, as well. Honestly, pretty much anything from a pig is good and I actually prefer that over beef.
Anyway, I love The Planet and really enjoy listening to you when you’re on the air, Cody. Keep up the good work!
Hey Cody! Sorry to hear about the allergy. I’m that allergic to penicillin (welts all over my body when I took it as a child), but you don’t put penicillin on a bun and chow down on it!
Here’s my idea...I was going to suggest deer burger and venison steak, but that’s hard to come by unless you like to hunt, or know someone who hunts. Then I thought, there are other red meats...try buffalo burger. You can buy that at Kroger in Daleville, I know. You might also try ground lamb meat, and lambchops. Lamb is a little more gamey, as is deer meat, but I couldn’t tell the difference with buffalo. You might want to check with your allergist before trying any of the above, or you might just test it on a hamburger bun. No hives means you can eat it in place of beef.
You might also ask you allergist to check and see if you are allergic to hormones, etc, that cattle are injected with these days.
Good luck!
Saliva & Drowning Pool on Feb 16th and Chevelle on March 12 in The Burg at Cattle Annies.
Cody,
WHAT???? Beef What?!?!?!? Being allergic to meat is tough.
All I have to say is frogs legs. They are tasty.
Great music on the planet.
Jules