Page 15 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

Hannah - I wish that I was allergic to shellfish and not tree nuts. Shellfish aren’t often listed as a ‘may contain’ food and I don’t like shrimp anyway!
Nicole - Tough call! I love desserts and sweets. So I would definitely change the peanut and nut allergies. Then I could eat all the chocolate and desserts I want!
Do you ever find your allergens hidden in certain foods or products? What are they?
Arianne – I was recently on the hunt for a new kind of juice to add to a summer punch. One day I saw delicious looking blood-orange lemonade at the store. As I skimmed the ingredients, I was shocked to see that, at the end of the list, there was a statement saying “Contains: Tree Nuts.” I immediately put it down and realized I have to be more careful when reading ingredients—even in the most harmless foods or drinks.
Hannah - Usually peanuts and tree nuts are clearly listed as an ingredient in a particular food. But once I was about to buy a pie to bake at home and realized that one of the ingredients was almond extract! I had even bought that brand of pie before. However, they must have changed the ingredients. It was a good thing that I decided to re-read the ingredient list. It just proves that your allergens can pop-up in the ingredients of certain foods when you’re least expecting it.
Nicole - I always find it odd when I find fish (anchovy paste) in certain sauces and dressings. I have learned to double-check these items!
Do you think it is much harder to have multiple allergies versus only one?
Arianne - I think it is harder to have more than one allergy. Being vigilant about multiple food allergies is challenging. I’ve often felt self-conscious and like a burden when I list all my allergens to friends or servers at restaurants. I just have to be confident that all of my allergies are important and need to be known in all situations.
Hannah - Although I don’t have a lot of food allergies, I think it would be difficult to be allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, AND milk, for example, because then you can’t drink almond milk and you’re even MORE limited when it comes to your food choices. That being said, it certainly isn’t impossible to manage—everyone adjusts to what they’re given.
Nicole – Ummmm...that depends on the allergy I guess. And where you live. If you were only allergic to seafood, but you happened to live in a coastal area, that would be more challenging than being allergic to multiple foods that are not from your region.
A lot of focus is placed on what you can’t eat. But what are your favourite things you can eat?