How to Safely Navigate Travel with Food Allergies: Tips and Strategies

This little guy with a piece of pizza bigger than his head has food allergies to sesame and tree nuts. Sesame is often tough at Italian restaurants, so he was pretty excited for a huge slice of safe pizza! Two of his siblings and his mom (me) have food allergies, so eating out can be an adventure unto itself.

I see so many posts regarding traveling with food allergies. I wish I could help them all, but I’m not a miracle worker and sometimes I need to sleep! I am going to offer some pointers here, though, that I find crucial as a travel advisor, a food allergy mom, and a traveler with food allergies of my own.

Plan, plan, plan: Don’t wait until the day before you leave or after you’ve arrived to plan for safe dining. Research or work with a travel advisor who will research for you before you leave. Depending on your destination, you really want to do your legwork and make reservations in advance (Disney and Universal travelers, I’m looking at you!). Even if it’s a day trip to a local city, plan! We are very close to NYC, but given the combination of demand for restaurant seating and food allergies, it helps tremendously to know in advance where is food allergy-friendly and to make a reservation. Even if you aren’t making reservations, plan your dining with information regarding allergens and allergy safety. You don’t want to wing it. Of course, the worst would be a reaction. However, no one wants to sit down hungry (especially with kids), find out one of your party can’t safely eat there, and be back to square one trying to find somewhere to eat that is safe with a hangry family. (It’s usually me. I’m the hangry one. With a food allergy.)

Of course, always ensure you are traveling with enough of your medications and any documentation from your physician that your destination and air carrier require. If you have questions regarding your air travel, contact your airline in advance.

Research your destination: We are back to planning. Know whether one of your allergens is commonly used in local cuisine. I have a child with a sesame allergy. Many Asian destinations would be challenging for him. It may be impractical to visit some places, or it may require a different level of planning, including finding accommodations where you can prepare your own food.

Theme-park resorts such as Disney and Universal have various tools available to you, including menus indicating allergen-friendly foods and contact points before your visit to inquire about your allergies and have your reserved restaurants made aware of them in advance. All-inclusive resorts and cruise lines are additional examples of food allergy-possible travel where determining available options and making contact in advance can help provide peace of mind and a smoother experience. A travel advisor specializing in these destinations is a great resource to prepare for your trip.

Know your needs: Again, we are back to planning. If you won’t be able to dine out safely, reserve accommodations where you can prepare your meals. Determine in advance if there are grocery stores in the area where you can obtain necessary ingredients.

Air travel tips: Packing safe snacks is a good idea wherever you are going. It’s especially helpful when you are flying. It’s also a good idea to bring sanitizing wipes to clean off your tray table, arm rests, seatbelts, and so forth when you board the plane. Some airlines will allow you to board early to do so. Look into whether your airline of choice does before heading to the airport, so you know what to expect. A study by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT) found it may be beneficial to avoid using airline-provided pillows and blankets, avoid eating airline food, and to notify the flight crew immediately should symptoms of an allergic reaction occur.

Communicate promptly and effectively: Notify waitstaff of your allergies upon being seated. Ask to speak to a chef or a staff member who specializes in food allergies (someone with a ServSafe or other certification, usually) if you have concerns regarding the preparation of your food in regard to your allergies.  

If you are not fluent in the native language of your destination, you may find it helpful to bring chef cards. They are available at the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) site in various languages here: https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/food-allergy-chef-cards as well as from different vendors on Etsy. Some travelers with food allergies find them helpful even when language is not a barrier, especially when managing multiple allergies and/or allergies outside of the Top 9.

Most importantly, when you have questions, seek answers from your travel advisor or directly from the restaurant, hotel, or airline, to ensure that you receive the most accurate, up-to-date information. Don’t rely solely on online reviews or word of mouth. Restaurant suppliers, policies, and recipes can change, so a dish that someone consumed safely three months ago may no longer be safe, or vice versa.

Traveling successfully with food allergies does require more planning, but it is possible. If you aren’t comfortable taking on that task entirely on your own, seek guidance from a travel advisor experienced with food allergies so you can take the trip, explore the work, and make lifelong memories.

*The information contained in this post is not intended to substitute for medical advice.