Traveling with Food Allergies is Never Easy

This post is part of the #AmWellMD campaign. See below to enter to win some fantastic prizes and find out more about healthy travel. All statements and opinions in this post are my own.

As a family with a food allergic child it can often be difficult to travel to new destinations. It is a scary proposition to walk into an unfamiliar place, at times with a language barrier, and not know whether the food you’re about to feed your child is safe for consumption. We have taken many precautions when we travel but there were times the allergens appeared without warning.

When traveling, it is not uncommon for us to go through an agency to find an apartment to rent. This affords us many benefits because we are able to cook our own meals and our larger family has room to spread out. The drawback of staying in a local accommodation is that you don’t always know who to contact in case of a medical emergency. In the United States we have been taught to always call 911 when an emergency arises. This can be a difficult issue when you’re traveling with food allergies in a foreign country and you don’t speak the language.

Tips for dealing with allergies in new places:

1) Whenever you travel to a new destination, be aware of the location of the nearest hospital and how to reach emergency services. This prepares you for any issues that may arise.

2) If you’re traveling out of the country and don’t speak the language, invest in food allergy translation cards. These will give you the assistance you need when dining in restaurants and shopping in grocery stores.

3) Pack some extra food in your suitcase that you know is allergy friendly for your child to eat. Find easy to pack travels snacks. Doing this will ensure you always have a meal available your child can eat.

4) Always carry your medication on your person and if you can, get a duplicate and have your spouse carry the other one. Carry a copy of the prescription if possible. This will help in case of emergency and in case your medicine is lost.

5) Research before you leave for your destination. Find out if there are alternative food options or restaurants that might be appropriate in the area where you’re traveling. It’s good to have those places in mind when you’re searching for food at your destination.

Sometimes even the best laid plans go awry, and we have dealt with allergies and allergic reactions on a couple of our trips overseas. We tried to take all of the above precautions, but sometimes due to negligence of our own doing or of others our child has unfortunately suffered an allergic reaction. As you can imagine, panic set in and we were unsure what to do or where to go, that’s where a company like American Well would have been extremely useful to us.

SPONSOR INFO:

About American Well

American Well is the nation’s largest tele-health company, connecting users with board-certified, licensed doctors, dietitians and psychologists for immediate and live, online visits—day or night, on either mobile or desktop.

American Well doctors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are dedicated to keeping you healthy — all from the comfort of your home.

Signing up for the service is free; patients pay only when they use the services. American Well has partnered with many insurers, so your visit may be covered by insurance – you’ll need to check with your insurance provider.

Let’s face it – especially while traveling, moms don’t have time to be sick, let alone find a doctor’s office. With American Well, you can see a doctor immediately from the comfort of your hotel room. That means no more traffic, waiting rooms, or getting lost in an unfamiliar city—just you, your device (smartphone, tablet or computer), and a doctor. Better health is now in the palm of your hands – with American Well!

Save money. Save time. Save yourself. See A Doctor Now—On Us.

#TMOM & #AmWellMD Travel Well Sweepstakes

This post was sponsored by American Well