Food Allergies and the Holidays: Tips for being a guest this holiday season.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays- it marks the start of a holiday season of many communal feasts.  For the 15 million Americans who suffer from food allergies, it can mark the start of a stressful period.  All those dishes with potentially hidden food ingredients.

If you have food allergies, getting the invite to go a  new home is scary.  You have to confide in your friends information about your health and potentially something that can make you very sick.  Having food allergies shouldn't stop you from enjoying the generosity of others.

Here are 5 easy tips to deal with food allergies during the holidays:

1) Communicate

• Give your host ample time to make substitutions to the menu by telling them clearly your allergies. Bring it up one time and then avoid constant reminders about your allergy
• Find out what the menu will be and if they are planning on cooking with something that causes a food allergy

2) Offer to help

• Offer to bring the salad, stuffing or dessert.  This are foods that often have multiple ingredients that can be difficult to identify.
• If your allergy is especially difficult to avoid, then offer to bring food for yourself.
• There are easy substitutions for milk, eggs, and nuts available.  
• Milk- any of the milk substitutes (coconut milk, rice milk, soy milk, almond milk, oat milk etc) can be used 1:1 in any recipe.
• Eggs- applesauce and banana's are great substitutes for cookies and cakes.
• Nuts- keep them on the side, or make 2 dishes 1 with and 1 without.
• Here's a great website for more information Cooking with Food Allergies

3)  Educate yourself

• Sit down with your allergist and put together a specific plan on what to do if there's an accidental ingestion.
• Consider foods that might have hidden ingredients (cocktails, baked goods, stuffing, mashed potato etc..)

4) Be prepared

• Be sure to have an epinephrine auto-injector in your bag along with an anti-histamine.
• Consult with your allergist about recipes and ideas on how to approach the situation.
• Know where the closest hospital is in case there is an accidental ingestion.

5) Enjoy yourself

• Trust those around you to take your allergy seriously.  
• Don't let your food allergies spoil the holidays. 
• Here's to your good health and those around you 

Need more specific help?  Please call the office or click here to schedule an appointment

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