Healthy Halloween: Food Allergies

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

26 Oct 2009 06:08 PM

Halloween can be full of tricks (rather than treats) if you're living with a food allergy.

If the allergy is new, what once was a safe favorite may now be off-limits. That can be really discouraging! Here are some tips to help keep a food allergy from ruining your holiday.

• Know your triggers. If you've got a food allergy, you're probably used to checking ingredients labels. Make sure you learn the different names your allergy trigger may appear under, so you don't end up sick from something you thought was safe!
• Do your research. Know beforehand what's safe and what isn't, so sorting your Halloween haul is a little easier. It's also useful for other snacky situations like going to the movies.
• Always read the labels! Before you unwrap that snack, take a look at what's inside. Something you may think is safe may actually contain allergy triggers. Something that was safe in the past may have a new recipe.
• Keep safe snacks on-hand so you don't have to be entirely left out. If you're worried that your trick-or-treat efforts won't turn up ANYTHING safe, bring your own treats. That way, you don't have to be the only one eating at that Halloween party.
• Watch out for cross-contamination. If you are especially sensitive to something, you may also have to worry about what your snacks (or plates) have touched. Pre-wrapped candies (if what's inside is safe) may be safer than loose bowls of mixed snacks.

Food allergies can be especially tough on kids, who may not understand why they can't eat the same treats their friends get. (Or may understand the why but still be frustrated at missing out!) Try to focus on the positive: sticking with safe treats means they won't have to spend the holiday feeling sick. Is any candy or treat SO good that it's worth the suffering? I say no way.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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