Many people who have food allergies try to keep it quiet so they don't feel awkward with their friends or co-workers when out to dinner or at a party. They simply don't eat the food and in many cases go home hungry because they are too shy or polite to claim their allergy in public.
However Sloane Miller in her new book "Allergic Girl" is encouraging people to put their concerns aside and be up front and open about their allergies. In some cases allergies can be so bad that contact with someone else who has touched the food with their hands or mouth can have dire consequences for the allergic. Sloane says, "If I’m out to dinner and someone, and it’s a guy that I want to kiss, and he’s about to order salmon, I will say, 'If you order that salmon I can’t kiss you later." I find that in my dating life, that people around me appreciate that level of clarity and communication."
The book has three main components: how to get an accurate diagnosis and understand it, how to create a support system and how to live a full life with food allergies. Most importantly if you suspect you are allergic to a certain food go and get tested by a board certified allergen doctor.
To read more about living openly with food allergies go to:http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/01/food-allergy-help-for-grown-ups/
