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Preparing for the Holidays with Food Allergies

November 23, 2015  |  Allergy, Allergy-awareness, Anaphylaxis, Awareness, Blog, Christmas, Dining-out, Education, Epinephrine, Family, Food, Food-Allergies, Food-allergy, Food-Allergy, Food-allergy-blog, Holiday, Holiday-tips, Holidays, Medications, Recipes, Safety-tips, Support, Thanksgiving, Traditions, Travel, Traveling
Preparing for the Holidays with Food Allergies

Guest Blog for The National Peanut Board by Eleanor Garrow-Holding

Eleanor Garrow-Holding, president & CEO of FAACT, shares her tips on traveling and eating in/out while successfully managing food allergies during this holiday season. 

Holiday gatherings are usually filled with family, friends – and food. Here are some tips from FAACT for traveling this holiday season, as well as dining in/out to help you avoid any potential dangers, so you can have a happy holiday season!

Traveling this holiday season

  • Plan your route for traveling and note any allergy-friendly restaurants to stop along the journey.
  • Eat a good meal before leaving to help keep everyone full for a longer period of time.
  • Bring a cooler full of allergy-friendly snack items. Keep the snacks fun and be sure to include a variety of sweet, salty, crunchy and soft.

 Dinner at your house

  • Plan out in advance what others will bring. Assign dishes that are less likely to contain the allergen.
  • Are they buying the item or making from scratch? Discuss label reading and recommend certain brands you know are allergen safe.
  • Have them take a picture of the label and text or email you if they have any questions.
  • Gently, but thoroughly, go over how to avoid cross-contact in the kitchen.
  • Be in charge of all the baked goods to reduce any issues and remind them to not bring the allergen as a gift.

Dinner at a family member or friend’s house

  • Contact or have them contact everyone and politely remind them not to bring any unsafe items.
  • Offer to go a little early and help clean.
  • Offer to help the host cook the food.
  • Have your child eat a snack before you go, so they’re less tempted to grab food  when you’re not watching.
  • Bring separate dishes that you know your child can eat.

  • Remind your child about not eating anything that you haven’t OK’d first.

Dining out this holiday season

  • Research restaurants to find out if they’re allergy-friendly.
  • Call ahead to speak with the chef and/or manager and address any concerns.
  • When at the restaurant, let your server know about the allergy. Ask to speak to  the manager and/or chef so you have no doubt the kitchen has been made  aware.
  • Consider eating at a time that is less busy.

Wishing you a safe and Happy Holiday Season!