While you can never take a break from food allergies, you can still go on a vacation with them – all it requires is a little planning and a lot of communication. We chatted with AllergyEats to get their top tips on how to manage food allergies during your family trip.
1. Worth the splurge
Many luxury resorts and restaurants go the extra mile for guests, including those with food allergies. Phone the resort or restaurant at least a month prior to your vacation and speak to the executive chef or manager about what they can do to accommodate your food allergy family. Many five-star resorts will happily order specialty items like pancake mixes, breadcrumbs, top 8-free (many food allergies are caused by 8 foods, top 8-free foods avoid these allergens) chocolate chips and more to prepare allergy-friendly dishes. Chefs will often connect with food-allergic families each night to plan meals for the next day, delivering customized meals to your location of choice – even poolside.
2. Don’t forget about drinks
Before ordering a fruity drink for yourself or something for your child, remember that beverages can contain allergens, too. While it may be tempting to indulge in a tropical drink upon arrival at your destination, stick to something simple until you are familiar with your surroundings, including the nearest medical facility. Find a beverage manager during a quiet moment to ask about the brands of alcohol and mixers used by the hotel to avoid any surprise ingredients. Ask bartenders if the blenders used for popular beverages, like coconut-infused Pina Coladas or milky Mudslides, are cleaned after each use. Be mindful that ice scoopers come in contact with drink after drink at busy resorts and to befriend a bartender who will fetch fresh ice for you.
3. Remote doesn’t mean restrictive
Far from a grocery store? If you are staying in a hotel room with a kitchenette or a rental home that has a full kitchen, make a grocery list and a tentative meal plan. Shortly after arrival, pick up your supplies for the week — even if it means having to freeze beef, poultry or other items to keep them fresh. While it may seem mundane to eat your family’s same old meals on a tropical island, keep the emphasis on the fun of being somewhere new and not on the food. By stocking up in advance, you also won’t spend hours going to and from the grocery store or wondering what to make for dinner. Consider going out for a meal or two using reputable dining guides like AllergyEats to find allergy-accommodating restaurants in the US. You can also connect with other food-allergic diners on popular Facebook groups such as Dining Out with Food Allergies.
4. Make the menu work for you
When traveling with kids, don’t necessarily rely on children’s menus that tend to include processed foods containing egg, wheat and milk, typically cooked in shared fryers. Be creative and look at fresh, simple items perfectly suited to a smaller appetite: shrimp cocktail, bun-less burgers or grilled chicken (of course, don’t forget to ask about the cooking surface to avoid cross-contact). It also doesn’t hurt to inquire if the chef will allow you to make a meal out of a few side dishes like rice, roasted vegetables or potatoes. This ultimately saves the restaurant time from having to come up with allergy-friendly options for you and sets the stage for a reaction-free dining experience. Keep in mind that if you encourage your child to try new things at home, they will be more inclined to do so on vacation.
5. Eating on excursions
Speak directly with adventure operators during the booking process to avoid having to cancel costly outings at the last minute due to food allergy concerns. If you are going to be on an enclosed tour bus, find out what food, if any, will be served on the excursion, particularly if you are sensitive to airborne allergens. Rail trips into the Grand Canyon, boat excursions in the Caribbean, and other adventures at home or abroad can be long and hunger-provoking, so ask if it’s acceptable to bring along safe non-perishable items in a cooler.
6. Communicate with kids clubs
Even if you’ve spoken to the chef and planned your child’s meals in advance of your resort stay, don’t forget to speak directly to any staff at on-site kids’ clubs. Make sure they are aware to double-check that your child’s order is allergy-safe and to situate your child in a place where kids eating their allergens won’t send stray crumbs (or sticky hands!) in their direction. While you don’t want to provoke fear in your child, ask the childcare attendant to play with them for a minute after eating just as an assurance that they aren’t showing signs of a reaction. Keep your phone nearby in case they need to double-check something with you. After the first day, both you and your child should feel good about the procedures in place so everyone can enjoy their vacation.
7. Better to be safe than sweet
Who doesn’t want to enjoy treats and sweets on vacation? Unfortunately, these last bites are often where mistakes occur, given that many establishments don’t have a dedicated pastry chef and rely on treats from local retailers or large manufacturers. If you can’t get accurate information about brands, equipment used, or a full ingredient list, it may be best to pass on dessert. Alternatively, ask the restaurant manager to “surprise” your child with a bag of pre-approved candy or store-bought cookies (only you will know if that special dessert actually came on the trip with you!). Not a planner? You’d be amazed at what a talented chef can do with just a bowl of fruit and a fun garnish – it never hurts to ask.
8. Some like it hot – allergy medications do not
Skiing? Sunbathing? Both of these things can have an impact on the stability of your epinephrine, so plan ahead accordingly. If your vacation has you spending long days at the beach, find a cool spot under a chair or tree and keep your medications in a temperature-controlled cooler. Body heat can help maintain an appropriate temperature on the mountain; look for jackets that have interior pockets to keep your medications close to your body. Keep in mind that rooms at resorts are often a far walk from the main common areas and if you have medications on hand, you will feel more comfortable ordering food or drinks beachside. For peace of mind, ask hotel staff about area hospitals or on-site medical care so you know exactly what to do in the event of an emergency.
Every food allergy family will likely worry about what could happen on vacation, but having a game plan in place and locals that you can count on should ease your concerns. Once you have decided upon a destination, be sure to also evaluate how you will travel with food allergies. When it comes to managing dietary restrictions, every little detail matters!
Legal Disclaimer: All content found in this blog post is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog. The content in this blog is provided on an “as is” basis and any reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk.
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About AllergyEats
AllergyEats aims to help food-allergic and food-intolerant diners quickly and easily find restaurants that will properly accommodate their individual dietary needs. It was created after its founder, Paul Antico, struggled to find restaurant options for his family of 7 – with 3 food-allergic kids. Now, AllergyEats is the dominant guide to finding allergy-friendly restaurants across the United States.
