“What if I told you I said ‘yes’ to sending my food-allergic teenager on a three-day wilderness trek?” Megan Lavin says in her latest video. There was to be limited cell service and someone else would prepare the meals.
As a food allergy mom, she knows the prospect of this will sound nerve-racking to other allergy parents. But in this episode of the Megan’s Minute series, she explains why, after doing her homework, she agreed to this ultimately successful adventure.
First, the event was called Trek, a church-sponsored re-enactment in which teenagers pull handcarts through the Idaho wilderness. The intent is to give them an understanding of what pioneers experienced on their westward journey. Megan’s son really wanted to join this popular outing.
While the description of this wilderness journey gave her many reasons to hesitate, Megan didn’t simply say “no”. Instead, she decided to investigate.
Her big discovery: the longtime head cook for Trek has a daughter with celiac disease. She met him and he immediately explained his separate cooking equipment to avoid allergenic triggers and more of his process to avoid cross-contact.
“The moment I heard someone naturally use the words ‘cross-contact,’ I knew we were starting from a good place,” she says in the video.
Food Allergy Setback on Wilderness Trek
Now, there was one early food issue. Her son forgot his bagged lunch, his initial food. But he and the Trek leaders found a workaround. He didn’t starve, but he did learn. And he came home describing a wonderful experience.
Megan did also send a few food allergy-safe items along. And she shared with the cook her own recipe for allergy-friendly, gluten-free pancakes. (Get the recipe here on her website.)
She is extremely grateful to the cook (Mr. Dunbar) and other leaders. She notes that people who provide room at the table for those with food allergies “make experiences like this possible”.
She’s also describes the learning moments for her teenage son with multiple food allergies, as college looms in the not-distant future. “Every successful overnight camp, church activity, or school trip builds another block of confidence for my son to build upon.”
Megan hopes other food allergy families will see that, with preparation and caring adults, “our kids don’t have to miss out.”
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:
Allergy Mom’s Dining Out Boot Camp for Allergic Son
How to Stay at a VRBO and Have Great, Safe Food
Visiting LEGOLAND with Food Allergies
How to Host or Attend Big Summer Gatherings
Allergy Mom’s Crisis over Summer Camp Menu Options
My Allergy Family’s Trip to Universal: the Good and Bad
Putting Dairy-Free Whipping Creams to the Test
Megan’s Video: Top Kitchen Gadgets for Allergy-Aware Cooking
