The holiday season is a chance to celebrate—and what better way to do that than getting together with family and friends and sharing joy around a table loaded with delicious treats? Nevertheless, if you or someone in your family or friends deals with food allergies, the logistics of planning a shared meal can get a bit tricky!
Bearing this in mind is crucial because what is considered enjoyable for most can be potentially dangerous for others. Someone who suffers from food sensitivities can develop allergic reactions from consuming even small amounts of food they are averse to. The symptoms can show up even within minutes, and some of these include abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, swelling, lightheadedness, vomiting, and hives. An allergic reaction must be treated promptly with an injection of epinephrine, which is a life-saving medication!
The last thing you want is to spoil the holiday mood with a bad allergic reaction to food served at a dinner table. So whether you’re all prepped to set up a holiday feast at home or invited to be a guest elsewhere, here are some handy tips to help you navigate the holiday season without worrying about any bad allergic reactions.
Be Clear And Open In Communication
If someone has invited you to their home, politely inform the host of your food allergy so they have ample time to find alternative options. Many people not fully aware of the risks of food allergies might think that a little bit won’t hurt, so you must communicate right from the start and let them know that even tiny traces can cause dire consequences!
Offer To Help The Host
Of course, accommodating guests’ individual diet requirements is not easy, as the host will have to take more care in preparing meals. You can make it easier for them by offering to help with grocery shopping or meal preparation. In doing so, you’re not just being a considerate guest but also taking a lot of pressure off the host because you’re much more acquainted with the complexities of preparing allergy-safe dishes.
Be The Host
If you battle food sensitivities, hosting the gathering at home can give you more control over what is served. This is arguably the safest option when it comes to managing food allergies. You can serve dishes that are free of major allergens and let the guests know in advance what food they can bring. If guests bring food containing allergens, you can arrange to serve them separately to prevent cross-contact.
Be Considerate When Hosting Parties
When inviting people to a holiday feast, ask if they have any food allergies or intolerances so you can consider them when preparing meals. Also, ensure you always read all the ingredient labels when grocery shopping. Even if you’re familiar with a product, it could be possible that the manufacturers change specific steps in their production chain, which can cause cross-contamination of the product with allergens.
Modify Recipes
Luckily, modifying recipes using allergen-free ingredients is a lot easier than many people think. There are substitutes for all the key food allergens, including milk, eggs, wheat, dairy products, or nuts. You just need to do some quick research, and you’ll easily find an alternative ingredient.
Bring Your Own Food
Many people with allergies are worried about eating elsewhere, so they prefer bringing their own snacks. Since baked food includes common allergens like eggs, wheat, dairy, and nuts, you can get your own snacks, such as fresh fruits, popcorn, chocolate chips, and so on. Bringing your own food offers peace of mind to families with multiple or extensive allergies.
Be Prepared And Keep Medication Ready
Always carry some allergy medication, like antihistamine tablets, for light allergic reactions. Also, bring at least two epinephrine auto-injecting syringes (or EpiPen) with you, especially when you travel or attend holiday parties. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, giving you ease of mind, allowing you to enjoy the holidays like everyone else. You can also ask your allergist or immunologist for a food action plan so you know what you can expect during an allergic reaction and know precisely how to respond to one!
Get Tested
Have you suddenly gotten an allergic reaction while eating but have no clue which ingredient triggered it? If you’ve experienced this, getting an allergy test done is a good idea to get a clear idea about what food you should avoid.
Bottom Line
The holiday season is a chance to celebrate, and if you suffer from food allergies, you might dread the festivities altogether. For one, you might not want to create a scene, and for another, you don’t want another autoimmune flare-up. But worry not – enjoying the holidays free from food allergic reactions is entirely possible. All you need to do is plan well, communicate openly, and be positive!
If you’re having second thoughts about attending holiday events due to food allergies, we hope the above tips will help you change your mind and allow you to enjoy the holidays to the fullest!
