With all of the season’s holiday festivities and massive amounts of food being made, it can be a horrible time for someone with one, or even multiple, food allergies.

Harsh crowds and expensive prices are hard enough for someone, but food allergies are no help, especially when it can lead to hospitalization, or even worse, death.

Dealing with a wheat/gluten allergy myself, I know it can be hard to deal with, especially when everything you can’t have looks so good.

A few of the reactions I have had to deal with due to my allergy are harsh bladder infections, limiting me from what I want to do because I am unable to stand up straight due to pain. It also causes brain fog and can lead to joint issues.

To avoid these harsh consequences, here are some of the actions and precautions I take.

First of all, know all of the little facts and details about your allergy; knowing a little can only get you so far.

Secondly, do research for recipes, ingredients, and anything you can have… looking for things you can’t have will only lead to cravings.

The next step is to shop for foods. The only way to know for sure what you can/cannot have is to check the labels on everything. This may seem like a total hassle and waste of time, but it’s the only way to know for sure.

Of course all of this depends on the severity of the allergy, but for some, these actions can be a lifesaver – literally.