Do you struggle to explore new places with your little ones' food allergies in mind?

Are you feeling bored with your regular family outings? Ready to feel safe and make your family outings more exciting and adventurous? You're not alone! Many families struggle to explore the world because of fear of allergic reactions. Food allergy management and travel can be challenging, but here are simple ideas to help make your next family fun, safe, and a total blast. 😆

Why traveling with children matters

Not only is travel fun for the whole family, but travel also has a bunch of benefits for children. It can significantly boost development and expand their worldview, making them more empathetic and adaptable to change. It can even help them in school (just in case you needed more motivation to finally book that dream vacation 🕶️). On top of that, they can explore cultural and language differences, see how different people live around the world, and try new cuisines (more on that in a minute).

Even though it may feel challenging to go on family adventures while managing food allergies, you totally can!

Okay, so we totally get it, travel with a young child can be a daunting prospect on its own. Throw a food allergy on the pile and it may seem downright impossible. Well, I’m here to tell you that it's not. I’ve been successfully traveling all over the globe with a peanut allergy for decades, and now my daughter (and her hazelnut allergy) join me regularly.

You may not feel ready to book that safari trip or that relaxing family retreat in the Caribbean yet, and that’s totally okay. But, let's make your family outings more adventurous and spontaneous! Don't let food allergies completely limit your options. We have easy ways to safely explore the world while conscious of food allergies.

6 Easy ways to have fun exploring the world while staying conscious of food allergy safety: 

🍲 Try out different cuisines from around the world. You might be surprised that many international cuisines don't typically include common food allergens in their dishes. How cool is that? So, once a month, pick a night to try out a new type of food as a family. This way, you get to try out new flavors and explore the delicious world of food again. ✨ Bonus: when you are ready to book your trip, you’ll already know what dishes are allergen-free. ✨

🧑🏽‍🍳 Check out new places to dine. Use an app like Allergy Eats to find safe restaurants that have already been vetted by other allergy families. It's a great way to discover new local restaurants with excellent allergy practices, especially when you're on a family trip. Just remember to do your due diligence on every restaurant and menu item.

🎒 Have a travel bag ready for your own supply of allergen-safe grab-and-go snacks. Try to include a variety of food groups, such as proteins (jerky), dried fruits and seaweeds, carbs (crackers, puffs), and sweets (fruit snacks). Remember to double-check the labels before consumption to confirm allergy safety.

🪪 Order allergy translation cards from Equal Eats to translate your family’s allergy specifics into the local language and carry them around in your wallet while you’re away. These are a really simple way to ensure that you aren’t facing language barriers to communicate about your family’s dietary needs.

🏨 Book a hotel or a vacation rental that has a kitchen. That way, you can explore a new place while cooking all of your own meals. A trip to the local market will ensure you have all the fuel you need for a fun, adventure filled trip, minus the anxiety about navigating street food.

🛼 Try new activities that are centered around something other than food. Consider adding in an element that makes your adventure easier, such as visiting snack-friendly places and pastimes, being near family-favorite restaurants you know are allergen-safe, and having a pre-prepared homecooked meal ready for your return (casserole, stew, noodle jars).

17 Ideas for Family Fun without Food Stress

Pack your favorite snacks and drinks and get ready for hours of connection, play, and character building experiences...

🎸 Playing Music
⛵ Boating
🌲 Exploring Nature
🏇🏻 Racing
🏛️ Museum Visiting
🩰 Dance Class
🛍️ Shopping
🎨 Art Class
🛵 Scootering
🌼 Gardening
⛳️ Golfing
🧩 Puzzling & Board Games
🪞 Interior Decorating
🌊 Surfing
🌌 Stargazing
🪁 Kite Flying
⚽️ Playing Sports

Remember, being a responsible food allergy parent or caregiver doesn't mean being afraid to try new ways to have fun as a family. We understand it can be daunting, but building a healthy mindset around eating and exploring is important. By trying new activities safely, you set an excellent example for your kids and reduce the feeling of limitation in and outside the home.

Building a healthy mindset around eating and exploring is an important part of raising an allergy warrior.

So, what are you waiting for? Use our tips to go out as a family and enjoy fun & adventure again!

Remember, having an allergy doesn't mean you can't enjoy life. There are plenty of food-allergen-safe activities to enjoy, from hiking to putting on your own backyard production of A Charlie Brown Christmas!*

*But don't try to charge the neighbors for tickets; we've found they sometimes appreciate the arts less than we do. 😅