Nick’s Pizza owner Don Beard recently introduced a dairy-free pizza to the menu. As someone who has been vegan for the majority of my stay at Blackburn, I was excited and grateful for this menu addition. Beard included this option with instructions from his doctor to improve his autistic son’s health. In a study by George W. Christison, published in the April 2006 issue of “Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics,” dairy and gluten have opium-like compounds (casomorphin and gluten exorphin) that affect the brain, and therefore, make symptoms associated with autism less manageable. It was speculated that those with autism reportedly had better social skills and verbal engagement after changing their diet. This study is not well publicized as it’s considered alternative medicine, but anecdotal experiences, such as Beard and his son, prove that diet can make a difference.
The pizza is made with Daiya cheese, an alternative produced from thickened oils and spices, but is free from major allergens. The Daiya cheese is far less profitable for the business due to its high cost but Beard understands the importance of those with special diets and is very inclusive of those with different dietary preferences. He even mentioned that someone once brought in their own ingredients and he made the pie. “Everyone has to eat,” he stated. This pizza costs a few dollars extra, depending on the size you choose, but keep in mind that Beard doesn’t even get his costs covered for providing it. It has not been selling well but this may be because it is not widely advertised. The information got to me through word of mouth.
Pizza is in no way a health food but a vegan pizza is significantly healthier due to it containing better fats and no cholesterol. Cheese is naturally high in calories and ladened with hormones, excessive salt, saturated fat and cholesterol. Some physicians including Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. John McDougall and many others, agree cheese in one’s diet should be completely avoided. The impact of cheese on one’s health is a taboo subject; people love their cheese. Barnard explains that cheese contains the previously mentioned chemical casomorphin, which gives it that addictive quality.
Although this dairy-free pizza is healthier than its counterpart, it’s still relatively unhealthy due to it being high in oil and should be considered a treat. Beard stated that this option won’t be going anywhere, which is good news for anyone who is looking for vegan pizza in Carlinville. For those interested in trying it, a tip is to add extra sauce as the cheese tastes better on a thick base and to get it with plenty of vegetables. I want to commend Beard for providing this option for Carlinville as it’s a godsend for anyone that is vegan, health conscious or has allergies.