This is an exceptionally difficult time of year if you have food allergies. There may be holiday favorites that you miss. It's especially challenging if you have multiple allergies. Here's how to cope, emotion by emotion.
Disappointed: Focus on what you can eat v. what you cannot. Even if your list of allergens is somewhat lengthy. I'm sure there are still lots of foods that you can eat. The World's Healthiest Foods site can provide inspiration on how to use some of your favorite foods in healthy ways.
Overwhelmed: Before eating out (especially before a date) if you know where you are going, do your homework first. Check out your dinner destination's on-line menu or call first to see what your options are. It's helpful to prepare the chef and staff about your allergies. Plus you won't feel overwhelmed staring at a huge menu trying to figure it out on the spot.
Angry: There are plenty of organization that support food allergy advocacy. FAAN (Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
Walk for Food Allergy Sufferers has their walk in Chicago in September but they are always accepting donations.
Also,
ELL, Inc., based out of Geneva, IL, is a not-for-profit organization that manages a nationwide program of training services on food allergy safety to schools, camps, daycare facilities and homes.
Envious: It feels like everyone but YOU gets to dig in and eat all those yummy holiday goodies. While regular bread still beats the white rice variety, it's encouraging to know that before the agricultural age man ate a very natural diet. This diet was filled with veggies, fruit, seafood and meat. Thanks to raw foodists, vegans, paleo diets enthusiasts and pro-real food entrepreneurs there are a lot of great alternatives that actually taste good.
Confused: What to eat now? Check out the
iEatOut Gluten & Allergen Free Application, which customizes menu items from 15 fast food and restaurant chains based on your allergens which can be customized for any combination of 9 common food allergens: gluten, wheat, eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, and tree nuts.
Scared: Surviving anaphylaxis is no fun. If you have been recently prescribed with an auto-injector of epinephrine there are several
sites to educate you about its usage and even You Tube has some great
demos.
Filed under:
Advocacy, Dairy-free, Eating out, Gluten-free, Health, Holiday, Medical, Peanut-free, Support Groups, Vegan, Wheat-free
Tags:
dairy-free, emotions, gluten-free, holiday, support groups, wheat-free
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