8 Holiday Allergy Tips

For someone who grew up in the 1950s there's an illicit thrill in digesting the Reader's Digest. No, not that kind of digesting. Well, the same root word. Making smaller. Like lactase digests lactose by cutting it in half, into glucose and galactose.

Anyway, the good gray RD, now in color, presented 8 Fall Holiday Tips for Those with Food Allergies, abstracted from a probably longer piece put out by The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

So here, slightly shortened even further, are tonight's Top Eight:

1. Tricks and treats: Purchase treats that your child can enjoy safely, and swap them for treats with allergens after trick-or-treating. Send candy your child can consume to school parties or send non-food goodies such as Halloween stickers.

2. Be the class baker ... to ensure there will be foods available your child can enjoy.

3. Inform your guests: Let guests know that you or your child have dietary restrictions, and offer to let them bring holiday themed plates, cups or napkins, rather than food.

4. Give your host a heads-up: If you'll be attending holiday festivities away from home, let your host know about your food allergy. Offer to bring safe foods for you and others to enjoy.

5. Don't overlook the turkey: Basted or self-basting turkeys can include common allergens such as soy, wheat and dairy. [A] turkey labeled "natural," ... should contain nothing but turkey and, perhaps, water.

6. Hang on to food labels: ... Keep the ingredient labels from the food you are serving for allergic guests to review before digging in.

7. Carry medications: Always have emergency medications on hand just in case.

8. Discuss strategies with your allergist: ... Your allergist also can help you and your child become "label detectives" so you both know what ingredients to watch out for.

For more information about allergies and asthma, and to find an allergist near you visit www.AllergyAndAsthmaRelief.org.