EpiPen, check. Read the menu and nutritional information in advance, check. Inform the server, check.
Going out to eat may seem mindless to many, but it feels like a burden for someone with an allergy. That someone is me, managing my frustrating and borderline embarrassing relationship with peanuts.
I’ve had to deal with my peanut allergy since I was 6 years old. Always checking the ingredient list on every food label and ensuring my EpiPen is with me as I leave the house has become a part of my daily routine. Though I love going out to dinner with friends, I always dread the question, “Does anyone have any allergies?” because I wish I didn’t.
My allergy causes me even more trouble if I try to order anything with other common allergens. When others assume they understand my allergy, I always have to explain that I’m allergic to peanuts, not tree nuts. Once, after simply asking for a Nutella banana crepe that contained hazelnuts, I received a lecture from the waitress about how my order contained an ingredient she assumed I was allergic to. I understood her concern, but I just wanted to enjoy my crepe without any hassle.
The absolute worst feeling is when a teacher announces to the class that no one can bring in food because “someone” has an allergy. I always feel bad because I understand what it’s like to be prevented from eating something you want. The situation becomes even more embarrassing when my classmates make remarks like, “Why can’t the person just suck it up?”
These comments make people with allergies even more self-conscious. They make me feel misunderstood and disrespected. Allergies are not just minor inconveniences, they are life-threatening.
The obvious yet unfortunate reality is that I can’t “just suck it up,” no matter how much I wish I could.I’d love to be able to go out to eat without having to be cautious of my allergy. Rather than dismissing someone’s allergy, we should remember that some of us have to carry the constant embarrassment and difficulties that come from having one, along with an EpiPen, just in case.