Traveling with Food Allergies- The One Thing I Will Always Do

When we travel sometimes I look at all of the stuff I pack and wonder…are we going for a weekend or a two-week trip?  My husband loads the car and I contemplate the necessity of all of the bags and boxes and miscellaneous items shoved in all of the available nooks and crannies. I am nothing short of prepared (over-prepared some, OK a lot, would argue) and many of the extra items are directly related to managing my daughter’s food allergies on the road- extra food, supplies to make and eat food at the hotel, bathroom essentials as hotel provided toiletries often prove unsafe.  But, one of the many things I have learned as a food allergy mom- it pays to be prepared and our trip this past weekend confirmed for me that all of my packing is worth it. 

I shared in a Facebook Post earlier this week that when we arrived at the hotel I immediately noticed that the hotel provided lotion and body soap had sesame as an ingredient.  A definite no-go for us with a sesame allergy.  I quickly removed them from the bathroom and replaced them with the items we brought from home.  

 

Sesame in the ingredient list-with our sesame allergy we definitely cannot use these!

Our hotel provided breakfast, which is a great perk, except when you have food allergies.  There were a couple of pre-packaged items that were safe, but a majority of the breakfast fare was unsafe, or questionable at best. We used our packed food to supplement my daughter’s breakfast.  She enjoyed getting a yogurt and juice from the breakfast bar but we added safe cereal and granola to round out her meal.  

I chuckled as we left and packed up our food realizing I had enough to feed my daughter for a few days still.....silly food allergy mom in her constant state of over-packing.  Then it happened, about three hours into our nine hour drive we started to have car problems.  We had to pull off in a small town.  We pulled off the exit uncertain of what was ahead- car problems on a Sunday morning in a small town didn’t seem like the best scenario.  My mind instantly went into planning mode- what were we going to do if we had to stay, how would we eat, how would we keep it safe.  

Fortunately, we found an open garage and were back on the road in just a few hours- and home in time to eat a late dinner at our own house.  But, my initial oh-my-gosh-what-do-we-do panic quickly faded as I thought through the arsenal of food and supplies I had.  We were prepared, even if we had to stay another night or two.  

I will always pack more than we need, because there may be a day in the future when we need it.  It wasn’t this trip, thankfully, but when it happens we will be ready!  Sorry hubby- more van tetris-ing is in your future! 

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Need help living your best life with food allergies? 
I can help you Thrive On!

Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Food Allergy Fun on Chinese New Year

Before kids and before food allergies, celebrating holidays like the Chinese New Year were an excuse to head out to a fun restaurant for the night- yummy food and drinks, yes please!  Once kids entered the scene, it seemed these holidays also presented an opportunity for my kids to learn about different cultures and foods.  But with food allergies, heading out the local Chinese restaurant on the New Year just wasn't an option.

So, what is a food allergy mom to do?  Get creative and bring the celebration to life at home!  I want my kids to know that even with food restrictions we can still celebrate and learn about other cultures even if we aren't able to go out to eat or make all of the traditional dishes.  I have said it before, and I will say it again, I am not a Pinterest mom....but with a few quick internet searches and some basic decorating you can have a fun Chinese New Year celebration at home!

Decorate your table to spark interest and up the fun factor:  
For our Chinese New Year meals, I use red placemats (I bought a pack of paper placemats at Walmart about 4 years ago and am still using them each year).  I also set our our chopsticks.  When my kids were really little we let them use forks (back then even eating properly with a fork was a challenge!) but as they have gotten older it so fun to see everyone try to eat their meal with chopsticks.

I also find out what animal is representing the New Year and incorporate that into our table decorations- silly things like finding stickers of the animal to put on the corner of the placemats or digging through our toy bin and find small plastic animals to place on the table.  This coming year is the Year of the Pig...what do you have in your house that can be used to decorate your table?

A few of our tables from past Chinese New Year celebrations!

Some other fun non-food ideas:
Print out a translation of everyone's name in Chinese to use as place cards for the table.  There are a ton of translation websites that allow you to type in your name and it will give your name in Chinese.

For older kids, read through your predictions for the new year. Click here for a link to a page with this coming year's predictions.

For younger kids, print out coloring sheets or do simple crafts (that may be to be used as table decorations).  Click here for a link to some awesome and simple ideas.  One year, I printed a coloring sheet and we let the kids decorate the table- so fun to see their "design".

Food is there, but not the focus:
For our celebration, I focus more on the non-food aspects, although I do try to make foods that are tied to the Asian culture.  One of my favorite go-to resources for nut-free Asian fare is Nut Free Wok- she has so many great recipe options.  Check her out to get inspiration for your Chinese New Year meal.

So get ready, Chinese New Year is February 5th.  Our mantra to celebrate safely is that we focus on family, friends and fun, not food.  This Chinese New Year will be no exception...I have already dug out my trusty red placemats and chopsticks.  What will you do to show your kids that celebrating can be about so much more than the food?


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Need help living your best life with food allergies?
I can help you Thrive On!

Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Allergy Friendly Super Bowl Sunday Party Foods

Who is getting ready for Super Bowl Sunday?  Allergy friendly party foods are a must to keep it safe!!  To help you thrive on this Super Bowl Sunday I have compiled a few tasty allergy friendly recipes from some of my favorite bloggers and food allergy publications to give you some inspiration for your game day spread!  


Banana Guacamole from Me- Thrive On Consulting  

Pizza Casserole from Vegetarian Mama

Cranberry Glazed Chicken and Quinoa Meatballs from Allergic Living

Baked Zucchini Fries from Gluten Free and More

Chocolate Raspberry Cookie Dough Truffles from Petite Allergy Treats

Have other favorite allergy friendly game day snacks and treats that you are planning to make? Share them in the comments below...and enjoy the game!

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Need help living your best life with food allergies?  
I can help you Thrive On! 

Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Dining Out With Food Allergies- The One Thing You Need

Going out to eat and food allergies can be tricky combination.  For us, the decision to trust others with our food prep has been one we take very seriously.  There are so many questions that arise when we relinquish control of our food prep….

• Will the restaurant take our food allergies seriously?

• Will our allergies be communicated clearly to the kitchen staff? (think the game of telephone...we all know how that ends!!)

• Will the kitchen staff take the proper steps to ensure there is no cross-contact? (do they even understand the concept of cross-contact?!)

The key to all of these is clear communication with the restaurant.  We take lots of steps to ensure safety and communicate our allergens to a restaurant, but my number one tip for dining safely with food allergies is to have a chef card to communicate your allergies.

What is a Chef Card? Chef cards are small business card sized documents that list your allergens. You should present these to servers, managers or chefs.  This ensures that the entire restaurant team is on the same page (literally!) about your allergens.  

When we do dine out, restaurant staff are always so appreciative of the fact that we provide the card- and it gives us some piece of mind knowing there will be no question about the foods we need to avoid.  

Thrive On! And.....always be sure to take your epi with you....so technically you need 2 things :)

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If you want to get a custom designed chef cards reach out!  I design custom cards with allergens, contact information and stay safe directives for kitchen staff.  

Heading out now to a restaurant and need a card ASAP? You can use the generic template below.

No matter if you work with me to design your cards, or download the version below, be sure you never dine out without a chef card! 

Generic Chef Card Template from FARE

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Need help living your best life with food allergies?  
I can help you Thrive On! 

Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Tips and Gift Ideas for a Safe and Fun Valentine's Day with Food Allergies

I feel like I am just catching my breath from the holidays….but it’s time to start thinking about Valentine’s Day!  One of the many things I have learned in my years as a food allergy coach and mom, planning ahead is key.  So, stuff those last holiday decorations away and join me as we prepare to Thrive On this Valentine’s Day! 

Party Prep

Most schools and day cares plan a Valentines party so get ahead of the curve and start conversations now about how to keep it safe.

• Discuss food allergies with teachers and room parents so everyone is aware.
• Offer to help in any way that you can- I always offered to bring snacks for parties when my girls were in preschool so that I could control the food.
• Make a list of safe candies for parents- or highlight those that should not be brought into the classroom- check out snacksafely.com for their annual list of allergy friendly treats!
• Offer fun non-food alternatives for the party and valentines – I love this bog post from My Gluten Free Kitchen with lots of fun and creative ideas.

Gifts that Cause the Right Kind of Reaction- Joy!

Often times allergy friendly treats require some time because they are being shipped from all over the country.  Here are few of my absolute favorite gifts to order now so they are here in time for your Valentine (plus some great deals!!):

• Chocolate? Did someone say nut-free chocolate? If you are looking for nut-free chocolates Vermont Nut Free is the best! They have great Valentine’s Day themed gifts…and their chocolate tastes amazing!  Our fave: Skippers!!  And, here is a cool deal.  Vermont Nut Free has partnered with FAACT.  If you place your order by 2/27 and enter the code FAACT at checkout you will receive 10% off your order and a part of the proceeds from the sale will go to support FAACT!  
• Kiss Freely has the cutest heart shaped lip glosses perfect for your Valentine.  We got these for my daughter a few years ago and she loves them!  
• If sweet treats are your thing check out Annie Mays Sweet Café for a full array of baked goods- including their box of 12 rose cupcakes….how romantic….and safe as they are free of the top 8 allergens!  They have a full Valentine's Day Menu and if you order before February 1st you will get 10% off your order! 

Share your other stay-safe tips and great gift ideas in the comments below so we can call Thrive On this Valentine's Day! ❤



Need help living your best life with food allergies?  I can help you Thrive On! 
Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.


Product Disclaimer:
Thrive On Consulting was not paid to promote these products.  Products mentioned here are provided as ideas and suggestions to help you Thrive On with food allergies.

Feeling Stressed about Back to School and Food Allergies? Try This!

My kids are staying up too late, sun kissed and loving life as our summer days roll on.  But, I know it’s coming, soon it will be back to school.  Part of me craves the routine and structure our school days bring, but part of me is already feeling very anxious about the new year because, well, food allergies add an insane wrinkle to the start of a school year- new teachers, new classrooms, new friends…will they get it?  I can easily start to spiral into a swirl of negative thoughts about the upcoming year which can lead to me being all stressed out and not able to focus on what is front of me- the fun of summer.  But, I have found a simple solution for managing this stress!

I have recently started listening to a number of wellness focused podcasts, part of an effort to help with my own stress management, about food allergies and life in general.  I had to share a strategy I recently picked up that is intended for mindfulness and to help refocus your attention so negative thoughts don’t take over.  I was at the gym as I listened to the podcast so I didn’t have a pen to write down the author of the blog that was being narrated (more on this great podcast soon) but the idea is so simple and genius and I think can help us all out as we navigate the stressful waters of back to school with food allergies. 

The concept is this- get a bracelet, any bracelet.  It could even be a hair tie or rubber band if that is all you can grab.  Put it in your wrist.  When you feel yourself starting to stress out about back to school, you know the worry, the what ifs- mindfully take the bracelet and switch it to your other wrist.  As you switch the bracelet, think of the things you are doing to keep your child safe- the meetings you will have with staff, the gear you will send to school, the confidence you are building in your child that will allow him to advocate for himself.  As you switch your bracelet and your thoughts, you regain control and start to think about the positive steps you are taking to keep your child safe rather than letting the what ifs get you down. 

There may be days you switch that bracelet multiple times, especially on days when bad food allergy news fills your Facebook feed or a back to school night looms, but you can control your thoughts and the simple mindful act of switching your bracelet can help put you in a better place to not only manage some of the inevitable food allergy stress that comes with a new school year, but allowing you to stay focused on the summer fun at hand and not the what ifs of the Fall. 

I am wearing my bracelet now – it felt strange at first, but I am finding it really does help me re-center and stop thoughts that would otherwise spiral out of control.  Some days I switch it a lot, others the bracelet just fades into my look and no one really knows the purpose it serves.  But, it is a constant reminder to me that we can thrive on with food allergies!

I encourage you to try it out too and share your experience!  Does it work for you?  We would love to hear! 

And, let me tell you about this awesome podcast.  I posted yesterday on my Facebook page about it- Optimal Daily Living. Each and every day, Justin, the host of the podcast, reads from the best blogs and books all focused on mindfulness, minimalism and living your most optimal life.  I have found so many amazing strategies for managing stress, focusing on what is important and reframing my view of life and managing food allergies.  I encourage everyone to check it out! 

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Learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow her on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.