June 10, 2026

This Alpha gal is over it

Diagnosis forces correspondent to give up pork

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A typical alpha-gal friendly breakfast in my home: chicken sausage, fried egg, fresh vegetables, and fruit/ Photos by Davina van Buren
A typical alpha-gal friendly breakfast in my home: chicken sausage, fried egg, fresh vegetables, and fruit/ Photos by Davina van Buren
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By Davina van Buren
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By Davina van Buren
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In first grade, I wrote an essay about my favorite things. My favorite food was pork chops, and remained so for 45 years. As an adult, my go-to meal at any soul food restaurant was pork chops, mac-and-cheese, and collard greens. 

​Beyond the chop, I was an avid barbecue fan (being from North Carolina, it’s hard not to be), and a favorite “special treat” meal was baby back ribs, a dish I lacked the patience to prepare myself. And don’t get me started on bacon and Italian sausages—no Southern breakfast or cookout was complete without them.  

 
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