The holidays present a unique challenge when you have a child with food allergies. You want to make sure they get enough special foods to eat so they feel like they have a great holiday, but you know they may be exposed to high-risk foods, which can be scary for everyone. Here are some ways you can minimize the stress that comes with holiday food allergies.
Carry prescription medications wherever you go
Always bring your EpiPen and Benadryl or whatever medications your doctor has prescribed to treat an allergic reaction. You (or your child if he is old enough) should always have these medications on hand. Make sure you know when and how to use them, or give them to a responsible adult if you won’t be attending the event with your child.
Troubleshoot meal preparations
If you are going to eat at someone else’s house, contact them well in advance to let them know about your child’s allergy. Offer to provide any information that would be helpful and reinforce the seriousness of the allergy. Offer to troubleshoot ways to make meal preparation less stressful. For example, you can say “It’s ok if there are eggs at the meal, but just let me know which dishes are egg-free. Those are safe for Cody to eat.” Tell them you’re happy to bring specific dishes (for example, offer to bring a dairy-free dessert if your child is allergic to milk). If the host is very uncomfortable, reassure them it’s ok and that you will bring your own food for your child.
Emphasize the importance of the allergy
If you are hosting a meal at your house and others will be bringing food, emphasize the importance of the allergy. For instance, “Remember that Cody has an allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. Read the label to make sure the food doesn’t contain any peanuts or tree nuts. If you make something at home, make sure all of your ingredients are nut-free and that they don’t come into contact with any nut products at your house.” If you are not comfortable having guests bring or make any food, make that clear, and offer alternatives, such as asking them to bring drinks or fruit.
Train kids to handle risky situations
If your child is old enough, teach him how to handle risky situations. Family holiday meals are a good time for a child to practice saying “I’m allergic to nuts. Which of these desserts are safe for me to eat?” Teach him to find a responsible adult to help if needed and avoid foods he’s unsure of.
Your child, family, and friends should understand the seriousness of a food allergy. But you don’t want to scare them or make your child feel any more singled out than they may already. Holiday meals will go more smoothly and with less stress if you plan ahead of time. You probably became very good at that when your child was diagnosed with a food allergy.
Is your child allergic to a specific food or ingredient? If you have some tips of your own on how to manage holiday food allergies, please share them in the comments below.