How to pack for travel with food allergies?
Travel with food allergies can be tough. Whether you have food allergies, or you’re a parent of a child with food allergies, the worry can be all-consuming. Fortunately, more and more travel destinations are implementing protocols to promote safety and fun for all travelers, including those with food allergies. Regardless, a little extra packing and preparing is always a good idea to help your trip run smoothly. Here are some must-haves for food allergy families to keep in their travel bag and carry on when traveling.
Wipes
A pack of cleaning wipes or allergen removal wipes for surfaces and skin is a must-have in your bag. Many airlines will allow you extra time to board by letting you skip the line and walk on to the plane before the rest of the crowd so that you can walk to your seat and wipe down the seat, tray, handles and window that could potentially have allergens lying on the surface. When you’re at your destination, plan for extra time to visit the restroom for frequent hand washing since you’ll be touching many doors and handles that other people have touched before you and, therefore, increase the likelihood of transferred allergens (think of all the families packing PBJ sandwiches to save money). But when you are not able to get to the bathroom, a wipe for your face and hands can remove pesky allergens picked up along the way.
Compact Place Mat
A mat that can be used as a place met at a restaurant table, or as an allergy-free prep zone in your hotel room or kitchen, can come in handy. Some food allergens are transferred by oils which may not always be removed with a quick wipe down of soapy water during a busy lunch rush. Or perhaps you wish to eat on a park bench or playground picnic table to take in the sights and sounds while you enjoy your snack. Having a clean mat that you can throw down quickly will create a barrier between you and the potential lingering allergens that would otherwise contaminate your meal.
EpiPens (epinephrine injectors) and antihistamine
All families with food allergy guests should pack TWO epipens. Epipens usually come in a two pack. If one is faulty, drops, gets broken or doesn’t administer enough epinephrine, the second one will be needed immediately. If you’re traveling with a food allergy child, I always suggest that each parent or adult in the party carry at least one of the epipens on their person at all times. If you plan to split up your party to visit different sites and attractions, then having both epi pens in the one bag that isn’t with you won’t be very helpful. You can bring EpiPens, antihistamines and asthma medications into many tourist attractions. Remember to inform security personnel who checks your bags that you or someone in your party has an allergy and you require medically necessary items. Some tourist locations will have a First Aid center with nurses and emergency responders who are trained in EpiPen use, but guests with known conditions should always travel with their own supplies for timely administration and optimal safety.
Familiar Allergy-Friendly Snacks
The list of Allergy-Friendly menu items, snacks and desserts – both prepared and prepackaged- continues to grow for many restaurants and eateries. You can find a large list of places at destinations nationwide here (allergyeats.com). However, to save time, I recommend traveling with a few of your go-to allergy-friendly snack items. In some cases, this will save you the trouble of waiting in line and seeking out desirable items from appropriate allergy-friendly menus, but it will also prepare you for moments of hunger when shops and dining locations are closed or not on your path of travel. Many children are known to be picky eaters, but when you add in food allergy dietary restrictions, the situation can get even more tricky. The last thing you want during travel is a tired AND hungry little one- so be prepared with go-to favorites like gluten free crackers, packets of sunflower seed butter, boxes of raisins or squeezy applesauce so your child always has a familiar item on hand.
Portable Rechargeable Phone Battery
You can use your smart phone to keep important information for your trip with food allergies to run smoothly, such as location of First Aid centers and phone numbers of your hotel’s front desk and emergency medical contacts. You can also use it to search for places with Allergy-Friendly menus and dining options. Needless to say, your phone battery is likely to run its course by lunch time on a busy day of work or touring, so pack with you a charging cord and a portable rechargeable phone battery so you are not left with a dead phone when you are likely to need it the most.
Luckily, we are finding that restaurants, hotels and travel destinations are becoming more focused on accommodating guests and travelers with food allergies. A good packing list and preparedness can go a long way in making sure your trip- whether for work or play- is an enjoyable and safe experience for you and/or your family. Even with planning and research, it is also necessary to discuss travel with your doctor or allergist to implement an allergy-management plan, as well as to create a plan of what to do in case of an emergency during travel.