Traveling with someone with food allergies requires a little more planning, whether that person is you or your child. But don’t let that limit your family vacation ideas. With the right precautions, your family can travel safely even with food allergies and sensitivities.
Whether your child has a peanut or seafood allergy or is gluten sensitive, there are ways to have a safe family vacation that doesn’t end in a trip to the ER.
If you or someone you care about is concerned about food allergies while traveling, here’s how to plan, prepare, and enjoy your trips.
Planning a trip when your child has a food allergy
When traveling with food allergies, search for hotels and vacation rentals which have refrigerators and microwaves on hand. In this way, you will always have the possibility of preparing certain meals yourself. Locate grocery stores that stock the foods you usually buy, and pack or buy a cooler on your trip if you need to refrigerate anything while you’re not in your room.
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Also research the menus of restaurants in your destination in advance. Many restaurant chains include allergen information online.
When fly with children (or anyone) allergic, read the airline’s allergy policy online before booking. You can usually find them on the airline’s website by searching for terms like allergies or peanuts. “Many airlines still serve peanuts and tree nuts, or foods that contain them,” explains Dr. Wendy Sue Swansonpediatrician and chief physician SpoonfulA, a line of allergen introduction and maintenance food products. “However, it is rare for children to be at risk of inhalation through food.”
However, if you are concerned about a severe peanut allergy or other potentially dangerous anaphylactic reaction, you can request a nut-free buffer zonewipe down trays and avoid areas of potential concern such as food, pillows and airline blankets.
The first flight of the day will usually have the cleanest aircraft. If you can book the flight early, that might help put your mind at rest.
What to do before traveling with a food allergy
Melanie Carver, head of mission of the American Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA), whose food allergy division specializes in children with food allergies, recommends checking your health insurance policy to find out ahead of time whether your plan will cover doctor’s visits or emergencies in other states or countries. Discuss travel risks with your allergist or doctor and refill prescription medications before you go.
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“Check the expiration dates of epinephrine auto-injectors before you go and bring extra,” advises Swanson. “Train with an auto-injector trainer and go over a contingency plan with everyone in your travel party so you can feel an extra layer of confidence.”
What to bring if your child has food allergies
Always pack your health insurance card and a list of medical conditions, medications, prescribing doctor and dosages. It is best to ensure that your medications have their original labels and are with you at all times in a handbag Where backpack. If the food allergy is severe, also wear a medical identification bracelet.
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Print and take a allergy avoidance list to help order food in restaurants. Allergy translation cards are available in 50 languages from Eat equalwhich can help avoid mistakes or misunderstandings when traveling abroad.
Wipes and hand sanitizers are great tools for cleaning your seating area, trays, and hands when eating out. Also pack plenty of food and snacks for your travels – even more than you think you’ll need, as you never know if there will be delays, restaurant closures or other unexpected situations that will arise along the way. road.
Swanson recommends allergy amulet, a wearable food allergen sensor that can quickly determine if some of the most common allergens are present in your food. (This tool is expected to be available for peanut and soy allergies later this year, with detection of additional common allergens to come.)
How to relieve your allergic anxieties while traveling
Managing children’s food allergies is about making sure you know exactly what’s in everything that goes into your child’s mouth, which is a big reason why leaving your usual bubble can cause discomfort. ‘anxiety.
“If food allergy anxiety, travel navigation, or even concerns about teasing or bullying arise with your child, never hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician for support and ideas for improving health. your child’s mental health,” advises Swanson. “Often, we recommend parents and children see a psychologist to learn more about coping mechanisms.”
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Meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and having an emergency food allergy care plan in place are great ways to relieve anxiety.
As the mother of a child with food allergies, I understand how difficult it must be for her not to be able to dine out and eat easily like everyone else. when we travel together, if there’s something she wants everyone to eat and she can’t have it, I sit with her and don’t eat it either. Solidarity is a consolation. Often I try to find something else that she really likes or bring along indulgences that I know she may have just in case. Special surprises always help.
Food allergy safety when traveling
As always, check restaurant menus and food labels to make sure there are safe choices your little one will eat. When alerting servers to food allergies, the presentation of a Chef’s Menu Equal Eats or an allergy avoidance list can help ensure there is no confusion when ordering.
Online apps and resources for traveling with food allergies
You can find all kinds of allergen awareness tools and online communities to share tips and information on managing food allergies. Swanson recommends following NoNutTraveler on Instagram, food allergy advocate and international speaker, as well as RATEan organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life and health of people suffering from food allergies.
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Food allergy apps are useful especially when traveling because you can search for restaurants based on your location. An example is AllergyEata guide created by and for the food allergy community that collects feedback on restaurants’ ability to accommodate food allergies.
Swanson recommends spokin, an app that lets you search for restaurants, recipes, and food brands. “It’s an awesome resource that offers a combination of content, community, and tools with the common goal of making food allergy management easier, faster, and safer,” she says.
the American Asthma and Allergy Foundation and his Children with food allergies are also solid food allergy resources for understand your rights, reduce your risk of allergic reactions on flights, tips for holiday travel with food allergiesand both US Airline Policies and TSA Policies related to food allergies while travelling.
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