I am allergic to nuts, and when I was younger in elementary school, I never really understood the sheer extent to how serious and life threatening food allergies were. I always thought that I just couldn’t eat certain foods, and that was it. But, as I got older and started to learn more about their severity and how to properly use an EPI-PEN, I started to deal with and control these allergies and fears differently. My perspective shifted, and I began to get very scared whenever it came to food. I started to eat at only a few restaurants that I had been to before and knew were safe. I also only ordered the simplest thing possible at a restaurant that I knew had to be nut-free, such as pasta with butter. I would not eat others’ homemade goods. And I especially would not try any new foods or ingredients as I was scared and constantly worried about having any potential allergic reaction. I was stuck in a constant cycle of what-ifs. “What if this had nuts?” “What if I had an allergic reaction?” “What if the server did not hear me?” “What if something went wrong?” I remember going to Playa Bowls, trying an acai bowl for the first time. However, I was extremely reluctant to eat this and put this off for 5 years, not trying an acai bowl until recently. This was because I thought, “What if I had a reaction to acai, the fruit I had never had before?” In reality, I thought this was not just for acai, but for every single new thing coming my way. For example, matcha as well, although it had nothing to do with nuts or was even in the same family. I was suffering from a severe case of the “what-ifs,” most would call it.
While, yes, I do still have this food anxiety today, accompanied by “what-ifs,” and it did not fully go away, I did learn how to manage it. Here are a few of these tips.
- Distractions
One tip I have learned is to distract myself, whether it be with friends or family, for at least 30 minutes after trying a new food. This is so that I was not thinking about potential consequences of reactions, or freaking myself out so much that I would mimic these same allergic reaction symptoms from my anxiety and fears alone, not because of the actual food. I realized that distracting yourself by especially thinking about something that makes you happy or is entertaining to you, whether it’s sports, watching a TV show, listening to music, or a new movie, can be a huge game changer..
- “So what?”
By saying this simple phrase, “So what?” In response to when these fearful, anxious thoughts creep up, I realized and began to reason about the possible responses. I came to the conclusion that “I’ve eaten here a million times before and been totally fine”, or “So what if it’s new?”I have my EpiPen, and know exactly how to respond.” This phrase really helps me break this cycle of fear and puts things into perspective. It reminds me that while my allergy is real, I don’t have to let it control every experience and my life. I am prepared, I am careful, and I am capable of handling whatever comes my way, even if it is a reaction, just like I know you are too.
- Talk to someone you trust
Whenever faced with an anxious panic, reach out to a friend, family member, or someone who “gets it” and may even have an allergy. Potentially saying things such as “Hey, I’m feeling anxious after trying a new food, can you talk for a second?” works wonders. Also, even just hearing someone say, “You’re okay, and you’ve eaten this before,” or just talking you through it can make a huge difference. Sometimes, especially just hearing a calming voice and a fresh perspective from someone outside of the dinner table, is all it takes to start calming down and really improve your food anxiety.
All in all, with the right mindset, tips, and support from the people around you, you can learn to manage both the actual allergy and the “what if” anxiety that comes with having a food allergy. We are all still learning every day, and that’s okay. Be proud of how far you’ve come, and know that every small step, whether it be just trying a new food, saying “so what,” or just reaching out to someone, is truly a big win. I hope these tips help you feel more confident, more supported, and most of all more free when it comes to food.
Behind The Label 
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