More people are being diagnosed with food allergies than ever before, and having special dietary needs can turn social situations into a nightmare! You have to grill the waiter on EXACTLY what’s in the food you ordered. Well meaning chefs can accidentally prepare foods that could send you into anaphylactic shock. It’s hard to have a social life when one bite of the wrong thing and you’re on your way to the Emergency Room! There’s no reason why you have to stay home just because you can’t eat peanuts or gluten. It just takes some planning. Here’s how to deal with a few common situations from USA Today:
•Elizabeth Hasselbeck, from “The View,” was diagnosed with Celiac Disease 10 years ago and can’t eat any gluten. She says the day before going out to eat she calls the restaurant and gets the manager on the phone to find out about their gluten free options. She says be nice but stress how important it is that you aren’t exposed to anything harmful. If the restaurant knows you could have a seizure or stop breathing right in the middle of the dining room, they’ll go the extra mile to make sure your meal is safe.
•Eating in friend’s homes is tough when you have food restrictions. Waiters will get over it if you can’t eat the food, but friends can get a little touchy. One option is to eat before you go and simply enjoy being social. Another option is to call the host and tell them you have a particular allergy and you’ll bring your own food. That way they don’t have to change their whole menu around to suit you and you don’t have to worry about some harmful ingredient.
•Traveling can be impossible with food allergies unless you plan ahead. Look for hotels that have a kitchenette and are near a grocery store that stocks items you can eat. Or, call the hotel and let them know you’ll be sending a box of food ahead of you. Search websites for allergy friendly vacation spots. For instance, Disney World has special equipment that they only use for their gluten-free food and several baseball teams have started peanut-free nights at their ballparks.
