How can you cope with food allergies and still explore the world? We chat with Kirsten Maxwell from Kids are a Trip for ideas on traveling with allergies. Kim's daughter and Kirsten's youngest son both have severe food allergies and they both share tips on how to travel internationally and domestically.
ON THE PODCAST
:30 Tamara chats about recent visits to Portland, Maine and the Saybrook Point Inn in Connecticut
7:12 About Kirsten Maxwell from Kids are a Trip
9:40 Seasonal allergies
11:10 Ways that allergies can present
15:00 Tips for flying with allergies
18:12 What to bring with you
19:16 Traveling internationally with food allergies
23:00 Dealing with allergic reactions when traveling
31:25 Kirsten's favorite travel gear
33:00 Tip of the week
35:32 Next week: luxury Disney World
ABOUT KIRSTEN MAXWELL
Kirsten is the founder of Kids Are A Trip, and writes for TravelingMom.com as Teaching Traveling Mom focusing on the educational aspect of traveling with children. A former teacher, she truly believes travel is an education and feels fortunate she can teach her children about different cultures as the family has traveled to 25 countries and counting. A native Phoenician, Kirsten currently lives in Chicago with her husband and three boys.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH ALLERGIES
- Wipe down travel tables and seats
- Avoid airlines (like Southwest) that serve flights
- Call ahead to airlines to have them make a note on the travel record
- Let them know when you check in that you have a food allergy
- Delta will let you pre-board so you have a chance to wipe down everything in your row
- Go to the bathroom with them and wipe everything down
- Don't allow kids to touch other seats when walking through the aisles
- Pack extra Epipens and Benadryl
- Alaska Air serves soy nut mixes instead of tree nuts
- SelectWisely.com provides allergy translation cards for travel
- Food labels in Europe are usually in three languages and are clearly marked
- Scandinavian countries don't have many nuts in things
- Research local hospitals and clinics in advance and map them out on your phone for quick access
- Always bring your EpiPen and Benadryl for all outings
- Teach your kids to remember to bring their medical bag/kit
- Pack your own food and snacks
- Don't always trust the brands you eat in the U.S. when traveling internationally, you always need to check the packaging as they will be made in different factories with potentially different ingredients
FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR
Kirsten likes to wear a cardigan, blouse, J.Crew jeans and Coach loafers with her Cinda B bag.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Most theme parks and water parks will allow you to bring in your own food if you have a family member with a food allergy. Just call ahead to make sure or speak to a manager if the gate agent gives you a hard time.
MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST
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