Page 47 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

When things go right
Breaking Down Language Barriers, by Lindsay
When I was in high school, I took my first big trip without my family. I travelled to 6 different countries in Europe over the course of 6 weeks as I participated in a study-abroad program. Only one of the countries I travelled to had English as their primary language. I was, therefore, quite fearful about not being able to properly communicate with others about my allergies. Before I went on my trip, I spoke to my allergist about any specific locations I was going to that commonly serve foods containing my allergens. I also found a company on the Internet that creates laminated translation cards in many different languages. They contain messages explaining what your allergies are, asking for the nearest hospital, and with pictures of your allergens. While on my trip, these cards were very helpful as we frequently ate out at restaurants. I was able to feel comfortable and confident that the staff knew and understood my allergies. I was reaction-free on my trip and would recommend getting translation cards to anyone travelling somewhere with languages that are foreign to you!
Being on a trip with such a big group of people, I also found that it was important to speak up about my allergies and make sure that everyone was aware of my dietary restrictions. One day our teachers had booked a group lunch at a Chinese restaurant. They told me that they had spoken to the staff about my allergies. When we sat down, the first dish that was brought out had peanuts in it. Before I even realized this, someone in my group quickly told me to not eat the food. It was really great to see that others were so proactive about my allergies. I was accompanied by a friend to go eat at a different restaurant and avoided any potential risk of coming into contact with my allergen.
Call Ahead Before You’re Fed, by Arianne
I have always been wary of eating sweets of any kind. Since my allergies to peanuts and nuts are very severe, and people tend to like nuts in sweets, they’ve always been a ‘no- go’. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. If you’ve ever been to Disney, you know that Mickey Bars are abundant in every park, resort, store, and on every corner! These delectable little treats are vanilla ice cream covered in dark chocolate. Given my allergies, I told myself that I wouldn’t even look at them when I arrived. But my curiosity got the best of me and I did some research. I got in contact with the company who made them and it turns out that I was not the first person to inquire. I was told with the utmost confidence that they had not been made on a line or come into any contact with peanuts or nuts. Taking the time to look into something before my vacation allowed me to relax and enjoy the smallest thing like ice cream on a hot day. It is always important to be cautious and curious. Taking the right steps to determine if you can have something is rewarding because it gives you more insights into your surroundings and allows you to enjoy the little things in life with ease.