Let’s fill the holiday season with happy moments and keep allergies and asthma at bay.
The holiday season means so many happy things, like vacation, family reunions, eating some of the most favorite food of the year, board games, decorating together, traveling and making memories, that talking about ‘surviving the holidays’ may seem unfair.
The N.1 rule with allergies (and asthma) is awareness.
Knowledge brings power and inclusiveness, no kid or adult should feel isolated or different because he or she cannot enjoy the eggnog or the pecan pie. Not everyone knows what a food allergy is. If you think about it, before being diagnosed, did you really know what gluten was or that lactose intolerance is different from milk allergy? What’s most important is that anaphylaxis is serious; it’s a scary-sounding word and can be life-threatening.
Here are some tips to help you entertain, travel and participate to the holidays celebrations
- To enjoy the holidays: promote an inclusive environment, prepare family and friends with the right things to say and do.
- Yes you can be allergic to pumpkin, wine or cinnamon, but that shouldn’t make you a burden, there are alternatives. Find out more here .
- You suffer from a pet allergy? Visiting family members who own a cat that is allowed to jump on the sofa and purrs affectionately can really stir a domino effect of symptoms. You may want to READ this blog post and eventually forward it to your family before you travel.
- School gatherings and holiday celebrations can be stressful instead of fun and joyful: do you really trust someone who is not familiar with food allergies to know the repercussions of using, touching or mixing an allergen in the recipe? If you think of it for a second, it would be a lot of pressure on the wrong person. The best way to bypass fear and let things run smooth is to put yourself in charge as room parent or chaperone. It is as simple as communicating and being proactive. Disclose the ingredients, be creative and label items and dishes with “gluten free” or “egg free”.
- If the party is at someone’s home, the less conflicting way to manage your allergy is to speak with the hostess in advance and suggest your bringing your own cooked meal or plate.
- There are some chances you could be allergic to house plants and even pine, although rare in South Florida, but if you suffer from environmental allergies you may want to watch out for synthetic trees, garlands and scented potpourri that are catalysts for humidity, accumulated dust and eventually mold.
Meanwhile we wish you the most wonderful Holiday Season!
