Traveling with Food Allergies

We are a very active family and travel is a big part of our lives.  Given our family's multiple food allergies, you can imagine that this can be challenging at times.  We have learned so much over the years (e.g., dealing with getting meds and food through airport security, successfully bringing items with us that we can't find in stores where we are going, understanding dry ice regulations, how to bring multiple meals for the kids with us to avoid dealing with restaurants, how to send 4 weeks worth of food to overnight camp, finding needed items in city of destination, etc., etc., etc.).  And, it is often the unexpected that can really throw you for a loop (e.g., showing up at the hotel that promised you a refigerator/microwave and now can't provide them!).  From experience, we are now at a place that we know how to anticipate challenges and deal with them when they arise. 

As an example, every year, we take a summer vacation to Tybee Island, GA, and, mainly for cost reasons (and, frankly, because we LOVE the way Southwest Airlines handles peanut allergic passengers and Southwest does not fly into Savannah--the airport closest to our destination), we choose to fly into Jacksonville, Florida--making what would be a 6 hour trip into a 12 hour trip (yes, we are crazy--but, the fares are so much cheaper and we use frequent flier miles!).  When flying, we always plan for delays and because we generally cannot find food that will work for two of our three kids (and don't want to take chances when we are getting on an airplane), we always bring a cooler of food.  Although our kids are not large quantity eaters, for this particular trip, I threw in some extra food.  Thankfully, I did, because our
 normal 12 hour trip (long enough as it is) was made into 15 hours due to a mechanical issue.  Moral of the story--anticipate challenges that may require packing additional food (delays and other mishaps that may occur--like your 5 year old dropping one of her sandwiches on the ground!)

ADDITIONAL TRAVEL TIP:  When you travel with food, you have to be prepared for the fact that TSA regulations change by the day, vary according to city and can be applied differently depending on the person you are dealing with in the moment.  Sometimes they allow you to bring cool packs in a cooler of food and sometimes they won't.  So, we take small ziploc bags and double them up to make them stronger and fill them with ice.  Just before going through security, we dump the ice.  Once through, we go to a concession stand and fill up the bags again.  Caution:  Be aware of the time you are traveling as there is a possibility that concession stands may be closed (some airport concessions close early on Sat. nights--6:00!).  For longer flights, or if the consessions are closed, we have been lucky that the airlines have been very accommodating and helped us change out our ice bags on board.

Wishing you safe and worry-free travels this summer!  For additional and more detailed travel assistance, contact Jennifer Schwarz, Food Allergy Consultant with Food Allergy SOS at info@foodallergysos.com or 602-680-8382.