Traveling with food allergies: Day trips

Living with multiple food allergies is a daily challenge, but more so when we’re eating out or traveling. After three years of managing my children’s allergies, I still get anxious whenever we go out of the house, even if it’s only a trip to the groceries, or a week-long travel to the Outer Banks.

However long the trips, the trick to coping is preparation, preparation, preparation.

Day trips, parties and restaurants

1. Always pack the Epipen and medications. I have two Junior pens, Benadryl, a hydrocortizone ointment and inhaler in a Ziploc, and that’s always kept in the diaper bag. Even if we’re only going out for a short trip to the groceries, I never fail to bring this with me. I can never be too sure that my allergic daughter won’t accidentally eat something that’s not safe for her. Innocent-looking but allergy-dangerous candies have found themselves in her mouth.

2. Pack a cooler and other nonperishable food. Many a time, the place or friend’s house we’re visiting won’t have food that my daughter can eat. So we just made it a point to bring a dish or snacks that’s OK for her to eat. We have regular meetings with the same groups of friends, so I volunteer to always bring KFC chicken, which all the children love anyway. Actually now that my son is showing signs of eczema and I’m breastfeeding, I have to limit my diet to safe foods too, so I bring some for everyone to share.

3. Call ahead or Google the restaurant’s safe food. Then ask again. When I know our destination, I usually Google the nutrition/allergy information ahead of time, or I call ahead and ask what’s safe to eat. Then at the restaurant I tell our server about her allergies and ask her to check the ingredients for menu that I think is safe. More and more restaurant people are knowledgeable and more than willing to help choose the right food. We don’t go to restaurants that don’t have anything safe for allergies. Our daughter is at an age where she feels left out if she’s eating bagged fries from Burger King and the rest of us are enjoying warm plates of entrees.

4. (But I’ve learned) that ingredients and menu can change.

The last time we went to Fridays, the hotdogs were scrapped from the Kids Meal, so dinner was steamed broccoli. Good thing this family loves that veggie! However, our Virginia trip took us to Arby’s where I asked about steamed broccoli with their roasted chicken. The server shouted “steamed broccoli, no butter!” to the kitchen. But when the food came, I smelled the butter right through. When I asked again, I learn that the broccoli is pre-packed, and buttered. I was so relieved I didn’t give them to my daughter. Alas, we ate a fruit cup for lunch.

5. Don’t forget desserts and treats. Birthday parties are always a challenge, because most often the celebrant’s cake, ice cream, cookies and treats contain allergy ingredients. I often volunteer to bake a small cake or cookies, complete with decorated icing as our gift to the celebrant. Sometimes I bring the cake to the restaurant too, and I ask the server to bring it out on a nice plate as well.

6. Keep the area clean. My children react to allergens through touch and ingestion. They will itch and get hives if someone or something with allergens touches their skin. At the restaurants, food courts and other public eating places, I always wipe the tables, boosters and chair rails. I’ve gotten looks before of being freaky-clean but I don’t care. I’d rather not endure crying fits and red welts from the precious kids.

With enough advance planning, I am learning that going out doesn’t have to be so scary or stressful anymore. After seeing my daughter get severe skin reactions, her young friends from our group and church know to wash their hands before touching her now. In fact, they police each other now and give warning if someone has eaten a cookie or food with milk or eggs. The restaurants that we frequent also know us now to expect my “scrutiny” of their menu. It’s almost become a way of life, at least, hopefully until our children outgrows their allergies.