Food Allergy Solutions: Help is on the Way
Updated on 3/18/22
We reached out to our Foodom community to find people who have family members with food allergies. Common food ingredients such as gluten, egg, soy, dairy, and nuts can trigger a wide variety of reactions. People reported experiencing hives, itching, rash, headaches, joint pain, major stomach upset, and indigestion to more serious and life-threatening conditions like anaphylaxis. It can be a challenge to accommodate food allergies, especially severe ones.
The Whole Family Eats Allergy-Free
Sometimes, the family members will eat the same diet as the person with the food allergies. For example, Camille said, “We all eat the same food to make it easy. So, we both eat gluten-free vegetarian.” She also mentioned, “Eating this way takes an extra step of planning. There are many more options for gluten-free foods in the past 5 years making it more pleasant for me to eat gluten-free as well. The only thing we do not share is bread. I get my regular bread, and he gets his gluten-free bread.”
Avoiding Food Allergies at School and on Playdates
Corey said, “My daughter is allergic to peanuts and cashews. I never make meals or desserts with nuts. We generally avoid restaurants that serve dishes with those ingredients to avoid cross-contamination. Schools have become much more aware of food allergies in the past 20 years. They are good about providing nut-free zones, and reminding parents to not use nuts in any treats provided. Even with that, it was a bit nerve-wracking when she was little. Going to a new friend’s house meant worrying they might serve something that they forgot had nuts in it.”
Bored with Limited Allergy-Free Choices
Other participants mentioned that they eat at the same restaurants that they know have dishes to accommodate their food allergies, such as gluten. Not all restaurants offer gluten-free options, though, so more time is spent cooking at home with gluten-free ingredients. It can become really boring if you get stuck in a rut using the same ingredients all of the time.
Adi mentioned, “People sometimes don’t understand that people with food allergies do not always like everything they can eat, which can further limit choices.” Especially if a family member has multiple allergens.
Some families with picky eaters don’t want to restrict their diet when they don’t have an allergy. When this happens, the cook of the family ends up making multiple versions of a dish to make everyone happy (except for the cook!).
Six Tips to Living Safely with Food Allergies
Our community members discussed some of the struggles of living with food allergies, but the biggest factor with allergies is staying safe to avoid a potential medical issue. Dr. John Cohn, an allergist and immunologist, recommends these six tips for keeping your family member safe if they suffer from food allergies:
- Avoid any food to which you are allergic at all times, unless your allergist directs otherwise.
- Know all names for that food. For example, cow’s milk may also appear as casein on labels.
- Know all the risks. For example, peanuts are in the legume family, different from tree nuts, but developing allergies to both is not uncommon. Cooked foods may be tolerated even though raw versions may cause symptoms. Cooked foods may “taste” differently to your immune system, too.
- Tell people about your food allergies. This includes restaurant servers and any friends or family members who may be preparing food for you. If you’re dining out and you think your server doesn’t understand your particular food allergy, explain it to them, or ask for a manager.
- Know the signs of a reaction (lip swelling, hives, trouble breathing) and get to an emergency room or call 9-1-1 as soon as possible.
- Travel wisely. If suggested by your doctor, always carry an epinephrine injector with you at home, at work and on any trips. If you travel abroad, know the language of the country you’re visiting so you can identify allergens on restaurant menus.
One Solution the Whole Family Can Get Behind
If you are the cook of the household and are dealing with cooking multiple meals, or are growing tired of eating the same things to accommodate a family member’s allergies, Foodom has the solution for you. Not only are personal chefs skilled in preparing meals that are tastier by using spices or cooking methods you may not have tried, but they also have no problem making different versions of meals. Just ask our Founder, Reneta Jenik, who often orders one dish cooked in multiple ways to accommodate the different dietary requests of her family!
With Foodom, we have filters where you can locate gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, and nut-free dishes. Or, find a dish that you like, and ask the chef to omit or substitute an ingredient to make it safe for your family. The possibilities are endless, and for less than the cost of takeout, it allows everyone in the family to eat the way they want and need.
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