How to make the most of your trip with a food allergy

Spring Break is just around the corner, meaning millions of people are planning travel. However, the planning process can be more daunting than usual for people with a food allergy.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, in 2021, about 20 million people reported having a food allergy in the U.S. Of those, 16 million were adults, and 4 million were children.

Food allergies play a huge factor in vacation planning. In fact, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, many people with food allergies limit the number of vacations they take, especially families with a food-allergic child.

While a food allergy does add an extra layer to vacation planning, there are many things a person with a food allergy can do to ensure their trip is safe whether it’s a weekend getaway or a long vacation abroad.

Here’s a list of tips to minimize the risks of traveling with a food allergy:

• If traveling by airplane, always have your medications with you. Avoid putting them in your checked luggage. Also, make sure to bring a letter from your MD and a signed emergency action plan.
• Pack your own food, preferably non-perishable foods, and try to pack twice as much in case of delays.
• Communicate allergies and concerns to the crew in charge. Whether it’s a cruise or a plane, make sure to inform the staff in charge about your or your child’s allergies. That way they will know what items to avoid to ensure your safety.
• Keep your allergist’s phone number or other emergency contact information on hand.
• If traveling by airplane, sanitize your airplane seat and surfaces.
• If you are traveling internationally, ask your doctor to write extra prescriptions that you can carry with you. Learn their generic and brand names in the countries you’ll be visiting.
• If there will be a language barrier in the place you’ll be visiting, consider carrying a card in the local language with the list of foods you can’t eat. Show it to your server. Bonus points if you learn the word for your allergy in the language of the country you’re visiting!
• Kids with Food Allergies has an amazing list of allergy-friendly recipes. Make sure to check them out.