Page 128 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

Being confident about your food allergies involves two main challenges: One involves accepting your allergies as a part of who you are. The other involves learning how to manage your allergies in various situations.
It can be difficult to accept your allergies since they can seem like such a nuisance. However, if you read the next chapter, you’ll see how teens with food allergies have learned to be thankful for what they have and even learned to appreciate some of the advantages (seriously!) of having food allergies.
Learning how to handle a variety of situations will also help you build confidence. In new situations, it is helpful to have others around you who know your allergies and how to handle a reaction. When you surround yourself with people who “get it,” you’ll find it’s easier to be confident in different situations. Furthermore, as you get more practice dealing with situations (such as dining out or travelling), you will become more and more confident.
Summary Tips
1) Don't let allergies define you. There are many other things that make you, you.
2) Trust your gut and have faith in yourself and your years of experience with staying safe. 3) Practice the words you’ll say in advance of certain tricky situations.