Thanksgiving should be a lively time spent with loved ones. It should be. But people with food allergies can often feel left out, as the holiday usually means unfamiliar foods and unknown ingredients, often from people who aren’t used to dealing with allergies. However, you’ll be happy to hear that having allergies at Thanksgiving doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself like the rest of us. You just need the right approach to help you out.
Having allergies at Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving means food, often a lot of it. But having allergies at Thanksgiving isn’t exactly convenient unless everyone around you knows every single ingredient in all of the food being served. Since that isn’t practical, it’s best to make a few small adaptations to help you make the most out of this food-centered holiday.
• Bring your own snacks: Snacks are often riddled with food allergens, so it’s best to bring your own allergen-free snacks that you can safely enjoy while waiting for the main meal. In fact, why not bring along a whole tray of them so that other people with sensitivities or allergies can enjoy them as well!
• Visit places you can trust: If bringing your own treats isn’t possible, consider only visiting places and people that are happy to cater to allergies. This way, you can eat what everyone else is eating and not have to worry about an unknown or forgotten ingredient that could give you an allergic reaction.
• Don’t give in to social pressure: One of the things about visiting extended family is that not all of them will understand the seriousness of a food allergy. They may encourage you (as well-intentioned as they may be) to eat something that contains an allergen. It’s tempting to give in, to be polite, and be part of the crowd, but it’s crucial that you stick to your own needs. Even if your reactions only tend to be mild, it’s not a good idea to tempt fate. After all, it could end up in a medical emergency or, at the very least, an uncomfortable onslaught of symptoms.
• Have medication to hand: With all of that food and lots of people around, mistakes can happen. It’s a good idea to make sure you have extra allergy medication or an EpiPen on you so that you’re prepared should the worst happen. Safety first, even during the holidays!
You don’t need to miss out on any of the fun this Thanksgiving. But you do need to keep allergies in mind when it comes to the food part of your Thanksgiving. That’ll keep you reaction-free without feeling as though you are being left out, which is exactly how the holidays should be.
