Anyone who has an allergy to peanuts or tree nuts definitely knows that it can get annoying, difficult and flat-out exhausting to deal with. Anywhere you go, it seems you can never catch a break, making it a struggle for your friends, family, coworkers and, most importantly, you. Here is a list of 10 struggles that all of us with nut allergies have to deal with.
1. Feeling insecure at dinner.
Whether you're spending some family time around the dinner table or dining out for the night, dinners often feel uncomfortable for you. You tend to pick at your food, pretend you're just "not hungry," explain your very detailed order to the waiter or prepare days for that very moment you sit down to eat with anyone else. Yeah, pretty embarrassing.
2. Holidays weren't so jolly.
Holidays have never been extremely pleasant for you. Halloween? Gotta sort through all of your candy only to give the half that you can't eat to your undeserving sibling. Easter? Another year of getting coins instead of chocolate. Valentine's Day? You might as well skip the box of chocolates and head straight for the roses. Christmas? The only safe choice is the candy cane. As you watch everyone around you taunting you with their festive foods, you sit in the corner next to your sleeping grandfather. Gotta love traditions!
3. Carrying around your EpiPen everywhere.
Everyone can name off a list of necessities they need to have on them at all times. For you, that includes your favorite accessory, your EpiPen. You feel like a mom always having it on you in case of an emergency because, let's face it, having an anaphylactic shock doesn't really fit into your schedule today.
4. When people tell you to just "pick off the nuts."
No. That's simply not how it works. If even a crumb of any nut touches your food, it's game over. You know the routine of specifically asking if there's any extra pastries in the back of the bakery or if the chef can make your salad for you but to 86 the pine nuts; it's just the norm. And yes, telling me to just "pick off the nuts" is offensive.
5. Looking on the ingredients list for everything you eat.
When you have a nut allergy, the ingredients list is your best friend. You tend to skip even looking at what you're holding and go straight to the ingredients list to ultimately see the dreadful words "contains nuts" half the time. Ingredients and recipes are ever-changing, and your best bet is to triple check the ingredients list, just to be sure.
6. When friends offer you nuts.
You constantly question if they're your real friends when they offer you anything clearly with nuts in it. Your nut allergy is basically another personality trait of yours, and you feel they should know this by now. You understand, they were just being a good friend and offering you food. On the other hand, you can't help but feel a mix of emotions rushing through you, from temptation to frustration. Thanks for the offer, though.
7. Nuts and chocolate.
Hearing those two words together almost make you feel broken inside. You don't get to experience the true beauty of a Reese's cup or the luxury of a Snickers bar. The endless combinations of nuts and chocolates keep you awake at night, jealous of anyone that has the privilege of enjoying delicious treats like a crunchy piece of almond bark or a silky spoonful of Nutella.
8. Your obnoxious friends threatening to kill you with nuts.
This annoying joke gets old way too fast. Your buddies all gang up on you and joke around about how they can easily kill you off by giving you nuts. This joke may sound ridiculous, well, because it is. Grow up, people!
9. Potluck dinners.
Potluck dinners are usually deemed as a gift, but to you, they're a complete nightmare! There are too many different food options that it can get overwhelming, and when you do end up coming to terms with what you want to eat, you have no idea what ingredients are in it. You feel like you constantly annoy everyone in the room by asking what ingredients they used to make a dish, and even then it's questionable. Best advice: Remember to eat before you arrive.
10. Death.
The ubiquitous threat of death lingers in your mind whenever you eat. You just never know. Now, there's no reason to live in constant fear of dying from performing a simple necessary function such as eating, but remember to stay safe when dealing with your nut allergy. Be smart and use your best judgement when it comes to food.
Even though we deal with all of these struggles too often, we never feel pressured to change ourselves and be someone we're not. Dealing with a nut allergy only makes us stronger, wiser and prepared for anything that comes our way. Please remember to always be cautious with your nut allergy, don't forget your EpiPen at home, always consult your allergist with any questions concerning your allergy and never forget the numbers 9-1-1.
