One of the best things about the holidays is the abundance of delicious treats that seem to be present at every home and business, not to mention the elaborate holiday feasts that many families prepare. Kids and adults alike enjoy nibbling on the various cookies, pies, cakes, and savory delights that come along with the season, but for people with food allergies, things aren’t quite so sweet (pun intended).
The problem is that many of these holiday morsels are made in the home kitchens of friends and family. While making things from scratch requires real effort and shows true care for others, it is also highly unregulated. Cross contamination with allergens is common in home kitchens, and this can lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis for food allergy sufferers.
You may also be surprised at the number of holiday foods that contain common allergens as part of their recipes. That’s why we’re trying to help people with food allergies navigate the holiday buffet and avoid foods that might cause allergy symptoms with our list of the top holiday foods that can trigger an allergic reaction.
Food Allergens to Look Out For This Holiday Season
The top food allergens over the holidays are the same ones that many food allergy sufferers must avoid all year, including:
- Dairy
- Nuts and peanuts
- Wheat
- Soy
- Eggs
- Fish and shellfish
Top Holiday Foods to Avoid if You Have Food Allergies
Here we’ll break down the top holiday food allergy culprits by allergy type. This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are many, many other holiday foods that contain common allergens.
Dairy
- Hot chocolate
- Icings
- Cakes
- Pies
- Cookies
- Steak
- Gingerbread
- Cocktails
- Eggnog
- Coffee drinks
Nuts & Peanuts
- Hot chocolate
- Breads
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Pies
- Gingerbread
- Cocktails
- Beer
- Eggnog
- Coffee drinks
Wheat
- Hot chocolate
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Pies
- Breads
- Sauces
- Gingerbread
- Cocktails
- Beer
Soy
- Hot chocolate
- Breads
- Sauces
- Steak
- Gingerbread
- Cocktails
- Beer
Eggs
- Hot chocolate
- Icings
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Pies
- Breads
- Sauces
- Salad dressings
- Dips
- Gingerbread
- Cocktails
- Beer
- Eggnog
- Coffee drinks
Fish & Shellfish
- Sauces
- Salad dressings
- Dips
How to Avoid Holiday Food Allergens
It’s not as easy to stay away from food allergens during the holidays because there are so many family and friend gatherings, holiday parties, and gift exchanges, all usually laden with tasty fare. Since avoiding all these food items is nearly impossible, here are our top tips for staying safe from food allergies during the holiday season:
- Eat before you arrive
This one isn’t always popular with pushy grandmothers, but eating before you arrive and avoiding the holiday spread entirely is a great way to make sure you don’t accidentally ingest a food allergen
- Bring your own dish
Another way to be sure you have something allergen-free to eat is to just bring something you cooked or prepared yourself to the event
- Bring your allergy medications, especially your epinephrine auto-injector
You should always bring your emergency allergy medication with you everywhere, but it’s even more important during holidays meals and gatherings
- Learn to say no
No one wants to make someone feel bad around the holidays, and one area where many people feel quite sensitive is their food. However, when you have food allergies, you have to learn to politely but decisively decline an invitation to try new foods. Your life could literally be at stake! Usually, a quick explanation about your food allergies is enough to satisfy compliment-seeking cooks.
Food Allergy Treatment in Tampa Bay
Are you worried that you’ll have an allergic reaction to holiday foods this year? Are you unsure of how to identify foods that contain your allergy triggers? Allergy, Asthma & Immunology of Tampa Bay can help guide you through holiday food allergies, so you know what to avoid and what is okay. Contact us at (813) 971-9743 to schedule an appointment today, and we’ll arm you with the knowledge you need to face any holiday feast with confidence!
