Megan Lavin stood in the grocery store in the Utah town, a sense of panic rising. She’d carefully planned this trip for her son’s soccer tournament to include some allergy-safe packaged foods. But where were they in this store?
The Allergic Living contributor scoured the aisles. No go-to Daiya pizza, free of dairy, wheat and nuts. No Udi’s muffins that she’d been expecting to find in a big box store.
In her Megan’s Minute series, Megan has shared videos on many travel wins. Her family with food allergies has safely visited Disneyland, Legoland, taken a cruise, and traveled for mountain biking, soccer and more.
But here she was contemplating a food allergy fail! Make that a near-fail, because like any good food allergy parent, she resolved to find a solution. Afterall, her son with multiple food allergies had to eat.
Soccer Trip Allergy Measures
Despite being tired and burned out from work and a road trip, she was determined to find a Plan B. But it wasn’t easy.
“Trying to pivot when you’re exhausted and in a new location is very unsettling,” she notes in the video. “My brain was going a thousand miles an hour.”
Then Megan remembered. Hadn’t they passed a boutique specialty grocery store? The family rushed there. With minutes to closing time, she found some good safe food options.
Relief washed over her, but that near-fail was scary. “Literally, wondering what I’d feed my son was so nerve-racking,” she says. Megan is thankful it all worked out, and has lessons to share from the experience.
Among her lessons:
– In advance of a trip, check out the local grocery store’s online shopping app to know what’s offered.
– Build in time to find a Walmart, her go-to for allergy-friendly brands.
Join Allergic Living monthly for a new installment of Megan’s Minute with Megan Lavin, the creator of the Allergy Awesomeness blog. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
More Megan’s Minute Videos:
How to Stay at a VRBO and Have Great, Safe Food
Video: Allergy Mom’s Dining Out Boot Camp to Prep Allergic Son
Allergy Mom Video: Our First Cruise with Food Allergies was a Hit
Easy School Lunches with Food Allergies [Allergy Mom Video]
Food Allergy at School: Self-Carrying Epi Matters
Allergy Mom Video: My Food Allergy Tween Masters School Lunch
Food Allergies Didn’t Put Brakes on Bike Trail Trip
Megan’s Video: Parent-free with Food Allergies on Soccer Trip