How I deal with Social Situations

A little while ago I published two posts; one about alcohol and the lack of allergen labelling in the industry, and the second about feeling left out. I thought I would post a bit of a part two seeing as both those posts gained very positive feedback.

I have heard from a lot of allergy parents that they are terrified of letting their allergy children out of the house unsupervised. This fear is not unjustified! There are so many ways that your allergy child can get hurt, and it's not just food that I am talking about.

However, it is possible for your kids to go out and have a completely safe and fun time!

In terms of food, I religiously research potential food outlets and choose one that I will eat at before I go anywhere new. I call the restaurant, speak to the waiter/waitress and the chef and explain my situation. That way when I get there, they already have an idea of what they need to be doing.

In doing all this research, I feel more comfortable and I am sure my parents appreciate it too! That said, sometimes you do not get the desired result.

Funny story time! When we order a 'special meal' quite often we expect to get a meal from a restaurant that is tailored to our needs, for example without a certain sauce, or swapping a bun for slices of bread. However sometimes this is not what we get. I went out for breakfast recently, which I never do as I find it to be one of the hardest meals for a person with allergies. I ordered a meal that was toast with bacon, eggs, baby spinach and grilled tomato. I told them my allergies and stated that I would have to omit the eggs and butter off the toast. So what I expected based on my conversation was toast with bacon, baby spinach and grilled tomato. What I ended up with was a plate of bacon. Just a full plate of bacon. See what I mean?

When I go out partying with my friends, I generally stick to the same non-alcoholic drinks, for a few reasons! By ordering non-alcoholic, I know exactly what I am eating/drinking and have a clear mind. I also know what that particular drink looks like when poured. I stick to lemonade or water, they come out of a handheld remote style controller that the bartender has, and it is easy to ensure that you do not get served the wrong drink.These drinks are often inexpensive/free, which means my bank account doesn't hate me at the end of the night! It also means I can remember all of the fun times!

When I go to the movies, iceskating or other social places, I generally eat beforehand or take my own snacks. This minimises the risk of cross-contamination or an allergic reaction! The same goes for university, I take my own lunch and if I do buy snacks, I buy the ones that are already packaged with ingredients and allergy information clearly displayed (e.g. Smiths chips)

At work, I take my own mug and teabags. I take these home with me everyday to ensure they are clean and untouched by other people.

I understand that this can seem a little bit over the top to someone without allergies, but in truth it is ensuring my safety in a world where people do not always understand what allergies are or how severe they can be.

These are just a few of the ways people with allergies can handle certain situations and help their parents to feel a bit more comfortable letting them out of the house.