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How to Help Food Allergy Families This Holiday: 5 Simple Tips
The holidays can be a very stressful time. All the get-togethers, school parties, and family celebrations can be overwhelming for anyone. The hardest part for food allergy parents is that all these events revolve around food—whether it’s gingerbread houses, potlucks, hot chocolate, special treats, or crafts.
Food allergy parents handle this in many ways. I think it’s safe to say most of us want to go above and beyond. We all want to give our kids their own homemade Thanksgiving feast to take to school. We want to be there with safe hot cocoa. We want to bring our own pancakes to eat with Santa. We want to make homemade gingerbread houses that are safe, while sneaking all the candy and licking the frosting. We want to attend the school parties and create food-free crafts for all the kids to enjoy. But as much as we all want to be that allergy supermom, we all have our limits.
In reality, this means sometimes we have to eat before we go to the potlucks. Sometimes we have to settle for our safe treats and explain to our kids that they can’t have the yummy hot chocolate like everyone else. Sometimes we have to visit Santa prepared with wipes and remind our kids not to touch their faces—over and over again. And sometimes we have to say no to events altogether for our own comfort and sanity.
Some of us have family and friends who truly understand and go out of their way to make things safe. Others don’t know how to help or ensure safety. So here are five easy, tangible things you can do this holiday season if you have a friend or family member with food allergies:
1. Wash your hands without being asked.
It’s simple and the most effective way to remove food allergens, but it’s awkward for us to have to ask.
2. Take off your shoes when entering their home.
They may not want to ask, but the thought of allergens (and germs) being tracked into their safe space is terrifying.
3. Reduce cross-contamination.
Keep serving utensils designated to one dish. If you have a dish with an allergen, a simple label can mean a lot. A sticky note like “Contains peanuts” or “Contains dairy” is very helpful.
4. Communicate.
If you plan to prepare food that is safe, communication is key. Reaching out and asking how you can help is a great start. Allergy parents will likely want to see the labels and the recipe.
5. Don’t take it personally.
If they don’t eat your food, pack their own food, or choose not to attend, don’t take it personally. If they wipe things down or double-check labels, it’s not about you—it’s just how they keep their kids safe I’m
I consider myself one of the lucky ones because I have many family and friends who go out of their way to exclude unsafe food without losing the fun. They get creative with finding safe options and openly communicate, which takes some of the stress out of the holidays.
We don’t expect everyone to understand, but when it comes to friends and family, a little support can make a big difference for a food allergy family.
Happy and safe holidays to all my food allergy families out there!