Saturday, September 28, 2013

Teen Summit!

Coming up November 15-17. FARE's Teen Summit:  Washington DC-- a whole weekend  of People Who Get It!!! 
Other folks who know how to bring food everywhere with them.  Who can give you tips about traveling or school trips or how to make eggless birthday cake. 
  And kids making friends with others kids-- just like them--Kids who carry Epi-pens and who read ingredients like experts. 
  Teen Summit has two days of presentations by experts -- with PhDs and RNs and MDs-- and the other experts-- us! Kids, moms and dads who have been living and thriving with food allergies. 
  The kids role-play how to safely order in restaurants; they hear from mentors about dating and life away from home; they Q & A with chefs and doctors, and they exchange ideas among themselves. 
 There's so much information exchanged and so many new friends made-- it's wonderful.
  I have friends from the first Teen Summit 7 years ago. Friends I can call anytime for new recipes. For a shoulder to cry on. For advice on OIT or college dining halls. These friends-- scattered all over the country-- have been invaluable. Those friends make the Teen Summit amazing. Plus, there's the joy of seeing all these  kids finally-- finally--at ease,  not having to explain themselves or their allergies to anyone because everyone there gets it. 
  Hope to see you there!
www.foodallergy.org/teensummit 
  http://blog.foodallergy.org/2013/09/23/teen-summit-a-life-changing-experience/

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Sports Arenas and Allergies

Has anyone noticed that it's hard to go to a sporting event and find something safe --food allergy wise?
 I have. 
Whether it's the USOpen or Wrigley Field; Madison Square Garden or the Yankees-- not much without cheese. Or nuts. Or wheat. 
French fries have proved fine in all stadiums we've been to. But at baseball games, there's bags of peanuts with shells all around. And of course, Crackerjacks. 
    In Minnesota there's food allergy group which a number of times a year gets a "peanut free zone" and sometimes, a peanut free day! at their stadium. Kudos to that organizer-- that's a great thing. It's good to know you're safe. 
But on regular days, in other venues and states, finding food that's safe is tough. At Yankee Stadium
In New York there's a Johnny Rockets which will get you a burger without a bun and one that hasn't been near the cheese( utensils also). And there's a steak station-- everything's expensive at Yankee Stadium;this is no exception. 
As for  Wrigley, there's bratwurst. Fries. And Vienna beef-- the Italian beef sandwiches  are dipped and seems like there's butter product there-- but also if no bun, VERY messy haha. 
( can you tell, I like baseball...)
 Doesn't detract from the game or the match or the general fun-- but be prepared to be careful around the peanut products-- and to find few choices for the food allergic.