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Photo by: Stefan Janeschitz
I used to LOVE sushi. It was my favorite food — I ate it at least three times a week. I was obsessed! And then one day, I had to give it up, forever.
Whenever I’d eat tuna, my mouth would get itchy, but I’d just ignore it. That all changed one night while I was on vacation in Spain with my family — I got tuna steak for dinner, and after finishing up my meal, I could barely breathe. I felt like my throat was closing up and I got all puffy — I looked JUST like Will Smith in the movie Hitch. Luckily, my dad is a doctor, so he gave me Benadryl (an allergy pill) and monitored my breathing, and I was okay. As soon as I came home to the States, I went straight to the allergist and got a blood test, and found out what I suspected: I’m severely allergic to tuna (as well as other fish like tilapia and swordfish). My doctor told me I was lucky I didn’t die. Now I have to carry an Epi-Pen with me at all times (a self-injectible device that dispenses epinephrine — adrenaline), just in case I ever accidentally eat any tuna (you’d be surprised at how many restaurants put it in random dishes). I’m already a picky eater, so telling me I can’t eat things I actually like really makes it difficult for me! So if you can relate to my allergy woes (I’m also allergic to cats, certain fruits, mold, dust, and pollen, but who’s counting), here’s how to deal with ’em, or how to make your friends feel a little less frustrated if they have them!
*KNOW THEY’RE SUPER COMMON: More than 12 million Americans have food allergies, and they’ve doubled in the U.S. in the last 10 years. Some people think it’s because children are exposed to fewer germs nowadays, so their immune system misidentifies some foods as harmful. The most common foods that cause allergic reactions are milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, and fish. There’s no known cure, but some people just grow out of their allergies as they get older. Unfortunately, mine got worse! Click here to watch a video all about allergies from ENT and Allergy Associates.
*BE PREPARED: As I said, it’s pretty tough eating out because so often, foods could have things in them you can’t even see (like if you’re allergic to nuts and order eggplant Parmigiana — it could be fried in peanut oil). So it’s important to be safe. Most restaurants are understanding, and some even have notes on their menus to alert you if you’re allergic to any foods. Here’s another option: Print out a card from the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (and make a lot of copies). It has an area for you to fill out exactly what you can’t eat. Give it to your waiter so the chef knows exactly what you can’t eat. Yeah, you might feel a little weird at first handing them a piece of paper, but it’s worth your life. And if you’re traveling abroad, look up how to say what you’re allergic to before you get there, so you’re prepared!
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