Page 107 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

healthier is sometimes difficult for me because many producers are beginning to quietly incorporate pumpkin seeds into their foods. They have very powerful nutritional benefits.
Eating healthy means that I have to sacrifice eating certain granola bars, trail mixes and, most unfortunately, delicious breads. But, on a positive note, it also means that I can make them myself. If I see a delicious granola mixture with dried cranberries, chocolate chips, and pumpkin seeds, I can buy plain granola, dried cranberries, chocolate chips, and a pumpkin seed substitute, take those items home, and make something on my own that I know will be delicious and, most importantly, safe.
Quick Tip - If you know that you’re going somewhere where food may not be safe, pack a snack. It can help make a situation less frustrating.
When things go wrong
Not a Sweet Experience, by Chelsea
During my grade 11 year, in high school, my dance class went to New York City for a week. We stayed at a hotel, went to shows, shopped, and went to dance classes. One day, after going to see a musical, we went to get a tour of the theatre and meet the actors. One of my friends really wanted to get a picture with the main actress and I told her that I would wait in line with her. After getting our picture taken, we realized that a lot of the class had left and we had to make it back to the hotel with a few of the other girls. On the walk to the hotel, some of the girls saw a huge candy store and wanted to go in. I told my friend I couldn’t go in because of my allergy to peanuts (there was open peanut candy in the store). She told me she really wanted to go in and I would have to wait outside by myself. I told her it wasn’t fair I had to stand outside alone since I waited with her in line to get her picture taken. One of the other girls started yelling at me and told me I was selfish for not letting my friend do what she wanted just because I couldn’t. Not really knowing how to respond, I stood outside and waited for over 30 minutes. I felt so frustrated and angry at my allergy and the fact that I couldn’t do everything everyone else did. It was a hard and irritating moment for me and, looking back on it now, I wish I’d stood up for myself instead of just taking it.
The Bigger Picture, by Erika
In life, there will be things that do not go as planned. There will be times when we feel we are taking more steps backwards than we are forwards. I’ve had a significant amount of frustration in my life (most notably over the last few years). I’ve had to deal with injuries resulting from an accident on top of coping with my food allergies. Food allergies are something that I have learned to manage. Speaking to restaurant staff has become almost second nature. I have done it so many times. The same can be said for reading labels. Even though I have experience managing my food allergies, having to deal with the