Never let food keep you from an adventure.
As with any new food allergy situation, navigating sports events can be a challenge for kids and parents alike. Whether it is the rotating snack assignment, sideline or dugout staples, (like sunflower seeds) team dinners, or even the post-game celebration ice create – food allergy kids can feel very isolated or self-conscious if these situations are not properly managed.
When Kevin first started playing hockey, we had what I like to call “doughnut dread.” Well-meaning parents would bring hot chocolate, colorful frosted doughnuts, and muffins to serve post-game - which is great. And while we always brought something for Kevin, he usually felt left out and hated having to explain to his teammates and team parents why he could not eat what they were eating. As with most food restrictions, though, it was more about feeling alienated than the food itself. This is also when food allergy bullying reared its ugly head but we’ll address that in another post.
Fortunately, as food allergy awareness increases, coaches and parents are usually more than happy to accommodate and participate – they just need a little education on how to support you. Here are a few things we have done to make the journey easier:
1. Start by contacting the coach(es) and explain your situation. For older kids who you may leave at practice, the coach will need to be aware of allergies regardless in the (unlikely) event your child has an allergic reaction and how to administer epi pens.
2. Ask the coach(es) or team manager to let the other parents know there are allergies on the team and to be sure to include appropriate options. In the past I have received texts from several parents asking me what Kevin could have – that made Kevin feel included and special.
3. A lot of sports teams now use apps with a chat feature – use this to take the lead and set the example for other parents. When it’s our turn to sign up for the team snack, for example, we send a note to the effect of “please let us know if there are any food allergies we should be aware of so we can have an option for your child.” Keep it simple, straightforward, and friendly and others will follow.
There will still be challenges along the way. It is common that our team books dinners at restaurants that simply cannot provide a safe option for our child, and that’s okay. In those situations, we bring in what he can eat, even if it is from another establishment. Now, some of you may not be comfortable with that option but I can tell you I have never had a manager tell us Kevin could not eat food brought in from the outside given the situation.
So be brave and confident and remember – never let food keep you from an adventure.
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