Enjoying Thanksgiving with Food Allergies and Eczema

It is that time of the year again….Thanksgiving!!! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, but it can also be a stressful event with a child that suffers from eczema and food allergies. For a parent or caregiver of a child with food allergies, Thanksgiving can bring on major anxiety. You never know what ingredients are in the recipes and whether or not your aunt’s “secret ingredient” will trigger a trip to the emergency room. Below are a few tips that have helped me survive my favorite holiday and relieve some of the stresses that may come along with Thanksgiving. I hope it helps!

Be prepared for those family members who are highly insensitive to your child’s highly sensitive food allergies…. and ignore them!

Be Prepared

During this time of the year, most people are busy planning their menus in advance, delegating menu items to family members, and deciding on décor and place settings. For caregivers of those who suffer from food allergies and eczema, we are busy considering the other factors that come along with Thanksgiving. Common food allergens such as wheat, soy, egg, milk, nuts, and peanuts are typically found in most dishes around the table. So be prepared for the fact that your child may not be able to partake in those dishes. Another factor to consider is that at large family gatherings, people have varying degrees of understanding when it comes to your child’s sensitives to certain foods. Some family members will be sensitive to your child’s needs, while other family members could care less. Prepare yourself for those family members who are highly insensitive to your child’s highly sensitive food allergies and just ignore them!

Bring Your Own Food

To avoid an unexpected trip to the hospital because your child consumed a dish that contained an unknown food allergen, bring your own food. Just notify the host in advance that your child suffers from food allergies and you will be bringing their food. This will take the burden off of the host who may feel obligated to adjust their menu to accommodate your child’s food allergies. You will also avoid any unwarranted attitudes and the awkwardness of the host wondering why your child is too good to eat their food.  Let’s be honest, you know family members can be sensitive when it comes to their home cooking!  Bringing your own food will also lesson your stress, as your child will be able to participate in the Thanksgiving festivities, while also enjoying food that is safe for them to consume. Most importantly, the host will be aware of your child’s food sensitivities.

Communicate Ground Rules

Before the feasting begins, set some ground rules and communicate them to all in attendance. This is where you will tell your favorite uncle that under no circumstances are you to give my baby a slice of pecan pie, knowing that he is allergic nuts! Below are a few ground rules to share with family and friends:

• Do not share any food from your plate without asking the parents first,
• Do not fix a plate and hand it to the child without asking the parents first,
• Do not feed the child any food outside the pre-planned meal that the parents brought for them to eat,
• Please ensure that each dish has its own serving utensils to avoid cross contamination, if your child plans to partake in any of the food, and
• PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE….do not attempt to persuade the parents to give the child “just a little taste” because he or she will NOT be ok!

Relax and Enjoy

Even though Thanksgiving can be a stressful event, try to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. This is the time of the year where your aunts argue about whose sweet potato pie is better than the others, a spades card game could break out spontaneously, dance competitions ensue amongst cousins, and people are cracking jokes and reminiscing about childhood memories. So, enjoy the folks that you may only see once or twice a year, besides…its Thanksgiving! No matter what we are going through, we all have blessings to be thankful for and have much to praise.

If all else fails, create new traditions. Your family’s wellbeing is more important and not worth the risk!

Create New Traditions

Decide ahead of time what your safety limits are and when that limit is reached. If your family and friends are unwilling to consider your child’s food allergies and the possibility of putting his or her life in danger, consider creating new traditions by enjoying Thanksgiving in the safety of your own home. Your family’s wellbeing is more important and not worth the risk.

Other things to Consider

Other things to consider when visiting love ones during Thanksgiving is the exposure to environmental allergens such as dust mites, pets, mold, and pollen depending on your location in the U.S.  Mold, dust mites, and pets tend to bother individuals who suffer from asthma and eczema during the end of November. These allergens can trigger an asthma attack or eczema breakout.

Other irritants can include perfumes, your uncle’s Brut or Cool Water cologne, cigarette smoke, and cleaning fluids.  Additionally, fragrance soaps may trigger a flare for individuals with eczema and sensitive skin. Keep these things in mind and be prepared to intervene if an attack or flare occur.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!