Staying Safe on Flights and in Restaurants

by Ryan, age 18, allergic to soy, peanuts and peas

Vacations and overnight trips are something my family has avoided because of my anaphylactic allergies to soy and peanut. It is very hard for me to eat away from home because of my allergies, especially the soy allergy. I have had enough reactions eating away from home that I now feel uncomfortable in the setting of a restaurant, and I am wary of food not prepared in my own kitchen.

But in recent years, my family and I have traveled to many college campuses out of state, as well as to the FAAN Teen Summit in Washington, D.C. Booking a room with a refrigerator and a microwave has made the difference, because my parents tuck frozen meals and treats in our luggage, such as homemade pancakes, cupcakes, cookies, frozen soup, lasagna, and pizza. However, even this has become hard to do with the new security precautions at airports. Food is not allowed on board unless it is purchased at one of the fast food vendors beyond the luggage screening, which is very thorough. We usually don’t check our luggage, so the screening at the airport leaves me feeling a little left out and without any food options on the flight.

After we get past screening, however, there are usually some safe choices for me, such as fruit, at the vendor sites. And my mother somehow always has something in her pocketbook, like homemade cookies, that she offers to me on the plane. Once we get to the hotel, whatever my parents have brought with them makes a good small meal, but there is no way to avoid the restaurant visits, and I order very plain food such as a steak and a steamed vegetable. I never order dessert when traveling, and I never eat any of the bread offered at a restaurant because of my soy allergy.

I think that there should be universal standards for restaurants about food allergies. The level of education on food allergies varies widely from one restaurant to the next, and this makes every visit to a restaurant highly stressful for me. Also, it would be easier to avoid a reaction if information about ingredients was disclosed.

I find most people do not understand my soy allergy, but they are very familiar with the peanut allergy, which they seem to take more seriously than the soy allergy. However, my soy allergy can be fatal for me, and the soy is harder to avoid too.

In the end, I am very happy to get home after any of our trips. If you travel with food allergies, it is easier if you know what you are doing. For instance, always carry your medicine and bring your own food. It is the best way to be prepared for a reaction and to make sure you have something to eat when you are on the road. Also, know which types of food you can and cannot have. Traveling with a friend or family member is important too, because if you are unable to help yourself during a reaction, they can help you and be there for you when you need to give yourself epinephrine, and they can call 911 and make sure you get to a hospital.