Know More, Fear Less

FAACT has a mantra that we live by. It’s short and sweet, but it is the heart and soul of navigating food allergies: “Know More, Fear Less.” These four words are the secret to living the most amazing life with food allergies.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Knowledge is the antidote for fear.” Have you ever been worried about flying with a food allergy, starting a new treatment, sending a family member off to school or college, or starting a new job? You’re not alone! Sometimes, we feel scared or overwhelmed until we explore our fears to determine if real danger exists. Then we can logically tackle and work to solve the issue. If we discover that the fear is perceived, we can also work to solve it by learning more.

First and foremost, if you or a loved one feels any form of food allergy-related fear that interferes with your daily life or mental well-being, work with your doctor and/or a mental wellness professional. They have information and coping tools to help.

Let’s explore a few common areas where food allergy knowledge can help:

Flying With Food Allergies: You can take steps to fly safely. Learn the value of preboarding, eating only the food you provide, and why carrying hand wipes during travel is critical. Follow food allergy airline or travel blogs, download FAACT’s Airlines and Food Allergies handout, and talk to people who often travel with food allergies to learn their tips.

Oral Food Challenges: It can feel confusing and scary to have someone tell you eat a food that you had been avoiding because it could cause a life-threatening allergic reaction. Speak to your doctor and download FAACT's Preparing for Your Oral Food Challenge Kit to learn about food challenges, how to prepare for one, and what to expect. Understanding the purpose and process can help everyone stay calm.

Dining Out: Address concerns and fears by understanding how food service works and how to order food while staying safe with resources on FAACT’s Dining Out section. With younger children, you can role play using “FAACT’s Restaurant Play at the Allergy Cafe“ to help them feel comfortable ordering out and discover potential areas of concern.

Life with food allergies can be scary for different reasons for each family member or friend. Working with a therapist or mental health care professional can be life changing. They can guide you through exploring fears while moving toward solutions and empowerment for the entire family.

Your food allergy community understands and supports you with knowledge, unconditional love, and encouragement to learn more and fear less! You are never alone with your FAACT family.