Page 79 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

allergies, they are not worth your time. That being said, people will often be very good about learning how they can help you manage your allergies. So don’t write them off without giving them a chance.
It is always a good idea to bring up your allergies early. There is no need to make your allergies sound scary. But it is important to state the facts, show your date your auto-injector, and make sure that they would know what to do in the case of a reaction.
There are a number of different ways of having a boyfriend or girlfriend manage your allergies with regards to whether or not they consume your allergen(s) and if there is anything they do before seeing you to ensure that you are safe. One way is for them to stop eating your allergens entirely. This is certainly a great way to make sure that you’re totally safe and it works very well for some people.
It is great if your boyfriend or girlfriend agrees to totally avoid your allergen(s). Yet you may also decide that it is unnecessary as long as other precautions are taken. A good compromise may be for your boyfriend or girlfriend to avoid your allergen(s) on days you are seeing each other. If, however, they have consumed an allergen earlier in the day, you will have to be very careful before kissing. If it has been several hours, they have eaten other things in between, and they have brushed their teeth, it is probably safe. Some of this depends on how severe your allergy is as well, so having a discussion with a new boyfriend or girlfriend is important so you can figure out between the two of you what the best option will be.
Most importantly, be yourself! Whether or not you have allergies, people will like you for who you are. Your allergies are a part of you and need to be taken care of. But they should not stop you from having a great time dating.
Summary Tips
1) Tell your partner about your allergies sooner rather than later.
2) Someone who doesn’t take your allergies seriously isn’t worth your time.
3) Be aware that kissing can be an issue if your date has recently eaten your allergen.