An estimated 15 million people have one or more food allergies in the United States. For them, social gatherings with food can be an exercise in anxiety as they navigate the buffet table in search of foods that are safe to eat. While you might not want to bother the host about food allergies, it’s important to advocate for yourself to ensure your safety.
It’s unfortunate that there’s been such an uptick in food allergy diagnoses but the good thing is people are talking about it and there’s not as much stigma as there was previously. The primary approach to food allergy is to strictly avoid the food that causes the allergic reaction. But you may need treatment if you come in contact with the food allergen or accidentally eat it
Here are some tips to safely enjoy social events with a food focus:
1. Educate the host about food allergies.
It’s helpful to let your host know well in advance about your food allergy. Make sure they know how to read food labels. The most common food allergens milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat should be listed. Ask the host to save the labels of packaged foods.
The other thing to ask them to keep in mind is cross contamination. If the host is baking cookies, for instance, they should wash the cookie sheet that was used to make peanut butter cookies with hot soapy water before it’s used to bake something that is nut free. Also, suggest using color-coded utensils so guests know which utensils go with each particular dish.
2. Bring a dish or snacks.
Offer to bring a dish or two that you know you can eat so there’s at least one or two items on the menu that have been safely prepared. You can eat prior to the event and bring a snack to enjoy so you can still participate in the meal.
3. Be cautious about foods you recognize.
In general, it’s easier to eat foods you can recognize such as fresh fruit and vegetables, pasta or meats. But even when it comes to some of these foods, read the labels to be on the safe side.
Some pre-seasoned turkeys may have wheat, soy or milk in the brine or other flavorings. Some people may not realize pesto has nuts in it. There are even some cocktail mixes that are made with egg whites.
4. Bring your epinephrine auto-injector.
If you have an epinephrine auto-injector, make sure you bring it with you. Review how and when to use it, just in case you need it.
Symptoms of an anaphylaxis reaction include throwing up, wheezing, heart racing, passing out, swelling and the sensation your throat is closing.
If you use your epinephrine, you should go to the emergency room because the reaction could last longer than the epinephrine lasts. You need to be monitored for some time afterward and you could potentially need more treatment that they could provide there.
Always be sure to replace epinephrine before its expiration date, or it may not work properly.
Work with your child’s school. It’s important to work with nurses, teachers and other school staff so they understand your child’s need for epinephrine. Create an anaphylaxis action plan.
Living with Food Allergies
A food allergy can be a source of ongoing concern that affects life at home, school and work. Daily activities that are easy for most families, such as grocery shopping and meal preparation, can become stressful for families and caregivers living with food allergies. Keep these strategies in mind to help manage your or your child’s food allergy-related stress.
If you or your child have a food allergy, you’ll likely need to develop a habit of reading labels and avoiding foods that could contain the allergen. An allergist can talk to you about what treatment options are available and what to do if you have a reaction. They may recommend repeating allergy tests periodically to see if your child could’ve outgrown the allergy (or if you or your child have developed a tolerance through treatment).
Allergic reactions are unpredictable, so they can become more severe with each additional exposure. And there’s no way to test for how severe your reaction to a food might be without eating it. So, even if you’ve only had a minor reaction to a food in the past, you still need to be cautious in the future.
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