Controlling Allergies Away From Home

If you have been diagnosed with a food allergy or intolerance, the best way to prevent symptoms is to simply avoid the food. Keep it out of the house. But what happens when you're invited to eat at a friend's house? Entertaining etiquette these days allows you to be a bit personal about your medical history. Make it a habit to inform friends and relatives that you have a food allergy or food intolerance.

Unless the host also suffers from food allergies, he or she may not know how to thoroughly avoid problematic foods. Your host may neglect to notice the traces of cornstarch on tortillas and may not realize that milk solids are found in pancake mixes. Be polite about asking, "What's for dinner...and what's in it?" or, better yet, volunteer to bring a dish or two. If need be, educate them (briefly) about your allergy and alert them to hidden food allergens.

For those with food allergies, fruits and vegetables can be an option.

If you have food allergies and are eating at someone else's
home, fruits and vegetables are a way to go.

For a host, having guests with food allergies requires flexibility and understanding. Don't be offended if guests bring their own entree, decline those pastry puffs you spent hours preparing, or ask detailed questions about the birthday cake's ingredients. Forewarned is forearmed, too. Besides, there is nothing like having to call 911 for an anaphylactic reaction to put a damper on your party. When inviting guests over, make it a policy to ask if they are allergic or have intolerance to any foods.

Small get-togethers afford greater control for the host. At larger gatherings, cast the net wide and assume someone in the crowd has a food allergy. Avoid nut trays and keep plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits on the table. Limit the use of packaged and processed products and provide an ample selection of beverages. As for some general party tips, request that no one smoke since it could lead to symptoms for people with asthma or allergies, avoid fresh flower bouquets, stow the cat safely away, and vacuum several hours prior to party time.

The main thing to keep in mind is that it is not rude to be protective of your health. While you don't want to see your friends wearing surgical masks, you may have to put the threat of a serious allergic reaction ahead of a little inconvenience. In most cases, it is usually a lack of communication that leads to possible allergy nightmares at another person's home. Simply stating your special needs is usually enough for any host to try and make a comfortable environment for all of their guests.

Our look at living with allergies concludes with a look at avoiding them while traveling -- both in the United States and abroad.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.