'Tis the season of cookies, cakes, and pies! It's a dangerous, delicious time of year and self control can be a pretty fuzzy territory for me, especially when I'm staring into the face of a homemade pie. But it's easy to not eat something when I'm playing a game of Russian Roulette with the aforementioned pie. Now, if that pie was made or purchased by someone I trust, self control goes out the window and two (four) slices later, I am shamelessly scraping the crumbs off the plate with my fork.
Need a few survival tips to make it through the holiday season? Let's dive in.
1. Communicate. You must speak up for yourself, and let your host know what you're allergic to ahead of time. Most people are willing to accommodate an allergy, but don't expect them to change their menu entirely. You can offer to bring a dish, just so you know you'll have something safe to eat.
2. Beware of Cross Contamination. If you find yourself face to face with a bowl of nuts, don't panic. Ask the host whether it's alright for you to set aside your servings before the meal begins, so you can avoid the risk of cross contamination.
3. Educate. Make sure another guest knows what to do in case you do ingest an allergen, and how to use your epi-pen. You might not be able to do it.
4. License to Carry. While we're talking about epi-pens, how many are you carrying? You should have at least two with you at all times. The effects of epinephrine usually only last 10-20 minutes. Talk to your doctor about dosage.
5. B.Y.O.F. Bring your own food, or have a snack before you leave your home just in case you don't feel comfortable with what's on the table.
6. Read ALL the Labels. I've said it before--if you don't read it, don't eat it. Ask your host to please save the labels on store-bought foods so you can read the ingredients.
5. Ask before you eat! I cannot stress this enough. I've never taken a bite without confirming that it wouldn't kill me. It's foolish to assume that just because you've had it before, it's safe this time. You should never feel embarrassed to ask for the ingredients.
6. When in doubt, don't eat it. If you're not sure, it's not worth the risk.
Allergies are a pain, but they're manageable. Just be careful, be smart, and don't be afraid to speak up. Happy eating, everyone! I'll be back soon with some Allergy Friendly Desserts!
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Flying With Allergies
The most difficult part of dealing with allergies is the awareness that not everyone you meet will take it seriously, or make any effort to accommodate your condition. Most encounters are met with kindness, but every so often, I find myself facing a negligent misunderstanding.
On a recent flight from New York to Seattle, I flew US Airways/American Airlines. Upon arriving at my gate, I informed the Gate Attendant about my allergies. I explained the severity, and she kindly reassured me that I would be safe on the flight and told me to inform the flight attendants of my condition. Which I did.
I have never been met with the kind of hostility that Debi-with-one-b served up. I told her about my allergies, and asked whether it would be possible to please create a buffer zone, similar to Jet Blue's procedure. That would simply mean asking one row ahead of me and one row behind me to refrain from eating nuts during the flight. If not, could she please make an announcement to let passengers know there was someone with a nut allergy on board. Not only did she refuse to accommodate me, she went as far as to point out that it's in the airline's rules that they will not make any kind of special exception for medical conditions such as nut allergies. She offered, with a hearty dose of sass, to show me the writing. Appalled, I didn't know what to say, so I responded with the simple fact: "I can die."
Debi-with-one-b. "You should have rented a car."
One swift punch in the face. "You should have rented a car." Those six words left me speechless. I shuffled to my seat, my stomach turning and my heart racing. I was starting to sweat. I had never felt so unsafe on a flight in my life. I've been refused food on international flights, told to move to a different seat, and suffered the inconvenienced glances of snackers who just want to eat their peanuts in peace. I have never been told that getting on the plane was a mistake. Debi-with-one-b made me feel like my life was at risk. Her dismissive, negligent, unprofessional attitude made me feel like it didn't matter what happened to me. It was obvious that she didn't really care.
I demand a change in airline policy. My life is more valuable than a bag of mixed nuts.
I have never been met with the kind of hostility that Debi-with-one-b served up. I told her about my allergies, and asked whether it would be possible to please create a buffer zone, similar to Jet Blue's procedure. That would simply mean asking one row ahead of me and one row behind me to refrain from eating nuts during the flight. If not, could she please make an announcement to let passengers know there was someone with a nut allergy on board. Not only did she refuse to accommodate me, she went as far as to point out that it's in the airline's rules that they will not make any kind of special exception for medical conditions such as nut allergies. She offered, with a hearty dose of sass, to show me the writing. Appalled, I didn't know what to say, so I responded with the simple fact: "I can die."
Debi-with-one-b. "You should have rented a car."
One swift punch in the face. "You should have rented a car." Those six words left me speechless. I shuffled to my seat, my stomach turning and my heart racing. I was starting to sweat. I had never felt so unsafe on a flight in my life. I've been refused food on international flights, told to move to a different seat, and suffered the inconvenienced glances of snackers who just want to eat their peanuts in peace. I have never been told that getting on the plane was a mistake. Debi-with-one-b made me feel like my life was at risk. Her dismissive, negligent, unprofessional attitude made me feel like it didn't matter what happened to me. It was obvious that she didn't really care.
I demand a change in airline policy. My life is more valuable than a bag of mixed nuts.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Ask Before You Eat
I learned to speak up about my allergies a long time ago. Maybe it was because of the kid who chased me through school with a bag of peanuts, or maybe it was because of the time Mr. Peanut chased me down the ocean front boardwalk. Either way, I've learned to be firm but polite when it comes to alerting others of my allergies.
While visiting my boyfriend in California, he wanted me to experience the mouth-watering joy of Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. An obvious yes! I called ahead to be sure that the restaurant was safe for me, and with the managers approval I felt confident that I was in store for a great meal.
I like to double check, which is a no brainer to me. I rattled off my list of allergies to the waiter, who then disappeared to confirm whether the food was safe. Not everyone is as paranoid as I am, but when life or death depends on one bite--I'm going to be damn sure before I bring the fork to my face.
After about twenty minutes of staff fumbling around with questionable answers to my very simple question, the boss came by our table and sat down. He shook our hands, introduced himself and explained that he unfortunately couldn't show me the ingredient list, as their waffle recipe was top secret. Which is actually pretty cool, and adds to the fun of eating there. Not very convenient for an allergic foodie like me. He was able to tell us that the waffles contained soy flour--one of my biggest allergens.
No waffle, no problem! One giant plate of fried chicken, gravy, and grits later--I was stuffed. It was amazing, and I was healthy. I was thrilled to have the clarification, but the difficulty we had obtaining that vital information reminded me of how important it is to be your own advocate when it comes to food allergies. Nobody wants you to have a reaction in their restaurant/airplane/
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