Vacationing with Food Allergy
Traveling with food allergies can be challenging at times because of the extra preparation required. Here, FAAN members Kenna and Todd share their experience and strategies for successful vacations.
Our family has traveled many times with our 9-year-old son Andrew, who is allergic to milk and peanuts, and so far, we have not had any reactions. Before we left for our trip to Maui, Hawaii, we contacted the resort director of food and we discussed our son and his food allergies. We gave him information about the foods Andrew likes to eat, as well as key words his staff would need to look for on food labels.
When we arrived at the hotel, they took a digital picture of Andrew. The staff wanted to be sure everyone serving him food would recognize him.
We usually called ahead about 30 minutes prior to going to the restaurant and discussed Andrew’s meal choices. There were a few times when our food took longer than normal, but it was worth it knowing that our son was eating safe food. Throughout our stay, each time we ate at one of the resort restaurants, we were amazed at the service. The main chef prepared my son’s food, and the manager served it.
This was the first vacation where we did not have a full kitchen at our disposal, and therefore we ate most meals at one of the resort restaurants. By working solely with the managers of the restaurants at the hotel, we avoided any miscommunication or mistakes.
It was one of the best vacations our family has ever had. We did not feel limited by our son’s food allergies.
We wanted to let FAAN members know that they can successfully have a vacation without any reactions, with some preplanning and the help of a willing hotel staff.
Additional Tips for Traveling
• Call the hotel to find out whether it has a doctor on staff or on call in case of an emergency. As soon as you can, locate the nearest hospital and make sure 911 is available where you will be vacationing, or find out the foreign equivalent of 911.
• Call your health insurance company to find out your level of coverage away from home and ask if your policy covers emergency services and ambulance transport.
• Keep the contact information for those who should be notified in an emergency in your briefcase or wallet.
• Ask your doctor for written instructions outlining treatment so that you can give them to an emergency department doctor if you have a reaction while out on the road. If you are traveling overseas, have the instructions translated into the primary language of the country you will be visiting.
• Keep all medications in your purse, carry-on bag, or briefcase so that you always have access to them. Carry medication in original containers with prescription information. Have plenty of medicines with you to avoid having to refill a prescription while away from home.
• Check the airline policy on peanuts. To arrange for food allergy accommodations while flying, contact the airline well in advance. Additional advice for flying with food allergy is available on our website.
