‘Will you be my Valentine?’ a phrase we all want to hear this coming Valentine’s Day. But when you have severe allergies February 14 can be downright awkward. Chocolates, flowers, maybe a cheeky lil’ kiss – eeep!
Don’t be discouraged though, you can still celebrate love when you live with food allergy. You may just need to be a little more precautious.
Have some simple strategies in place to help you through the day.
- Don’t eat any chocolates or other food items you may receive unless you are able to read the ingredient list and warning statement or – if homemade items – find out exactly what is in them and the risk of contamination Yeah it may suck not to be able to eat the gift, but it’s better than going to hospital! You can keep it as a moment and treat yourself to something just as scrumptious!
- Take the lead. Ask someone out instead? You may feel less anxious if you’re the one in control and giving out the Valentines love. Plus, the act of giving can be just as exhilarating (if not more) as receiving.
- Disclose your allergy. So you landed a date – don’t forget to speak up about your allergies early on in the piece! For more information about dating with food allergies click here.
Dating someone with food allergy 101:
How do you be romantic, but also not send your Valentine to hospital? Well you’ve come to the right place.
Playing cupid to someone with food allergy doesn’t need to be as hard as it may sound. It simply means you may have to think a little harder, or be a bit more careful when buying them a gift. Let’s be frank, showing that you’ve taken their food allergy into consideration is only going to get you more brownie points (and their parents will love you too!)
Gift ideas for people with food allergy:
- A cute stuffed toy. You know, one of those little white bears holding a little red love heart?
- A hand written love letter. Much more sentimental than a flower!
- Jelly Belly’s (or other jellies). Jellies are generally safe for most with food allergy, however some contain wheat. If you intend on buying a food item always make sure you read the label carefully. It’s also a good idea to leave the confection in the packet so that your Valentine can also read the ingredients themselves.
“Okay, but I’ve been dating someone with food allergy for a while now – I think I’ve got gifting down pat. I want to take them on a date this Valentine’s Day.
What are some safe-date ideas?”
- A trip to the movies. You can take all your own snacks. This not only saves you some $$, but will help ease any anxiety your date may have.
- Mini Golf. Perfect, no food involved. If you decide to grab a cheeky ice-cream after, get one that comes in packaging so that your date can read the ingredients and find one that’s safe for them. Loser’s shout?
- Dinner date. Yes, that’s right – dinner. Eating out with food allergies can be daunting, but with simple strategies in place you and your date can enjoy the night. Read more about eating out with food allergy here.
Finally, if you’re hoping to go in for a kiss – try to avoid your crush’s allergens. Kissing can make those with food allergies quite anxious as allergens can remain in saliva for 2-24 hours after you’ve eaten. And no, brushing teeth just before kissing doesn’t always remove allergens effectively. When it comes to food allergy, you just need to think ahead. Not being spontaneous can take some of the fun away but hey, you have a date!