6 Tips to Enjoy Your Vacation with Food Allergies | Covenant Allergy and Asthma

Covenant Allergy and Asthma wants to help you get the most out of your summer vacation. If you or your children have food allergies, vacations provide an opportunity to show your kids how to navigate a challenge and have some fun at the same time. Check out these tips to make your next vacation a breeze.

Book a great hotel.
Whenever possible, book your stay at a hotel with kitchen amenities so you can prepare your own food. If you rent a vacation home, you’ll typically get a full kitchen. Otherwise an extended stay hotel often have rooms with kitchenettes. At minimum, you can ask your lodging to place a mini-fridge in your room. If the facility has a good prep area with microwaves, toasters, or outdoor grills for guest use, you can use toaster bags, wax paper or foil for creating appropriate barriers to protect your food.

Scope out the location.
Examine the distance from your hotel to grocery stores and allergy-friendly restaurants. Also map out the closest emergency medical care and put the address and phone number in your cell phone.

Review your action plan.
Before leaving for vacation, you’ll want to make sure that all prescriptions and your action plan are up-to-date. If you notice any last-minute symptoms before you go,or if you are leaving the country, visit your allergist to fine-tune your treatment plan.

Mail a care package.
Most hotels will hold a package for upcoming guests if you notify them in advance. So if you can’t fit must-have allergy-free necessities into your suitcase, consider shipping out a box to your hotel to get there before you arrive.

Plan your first night’s meal.
Since it’s common for the whole family to feel exhausted and hungry after traveling, it’s a wise idea to have a plan in place for dinner that first night. Depending upon your travel method, you might bring along a frozen precooked meal, or call ahead to have an allergy-friendly meal delivered to your room.

Pack a cooler.
During your vacation, bring along a cooler and backpack full of your favorite safe snacks and meals. Pack more food than you think you’ll need, as well as a letter from your allergist explaining the medical necessity for having your own food at amusement parks or other tourist destinations with few safe food options.

This summer, with a little planning, you’ll find that food allergies don’t have to spoil your vacation fun. But if you need any help controlling those allergies and making an action plan, call on Covenant Allergy and Asthma. Schedule your appointment or visit our website today.