Skip to main content

This blog post was published under the 2015-2024 Conservative Administration

https://food.blog.gov.uk/2021/03/16/managing-your-allergy-anxiety-when-eating-out/

Managing your allergy anxiety when eating out

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Allergy

Daniel Kelly - May Contain

Cymraeg

As part of the #SpeakUpForAllergies campaign, Daniel Kelly, podcast host and founder of allergy awareness blog, May Contain, shares his experience of managing anxiety when eating out with a food allergy.

At May Contain, one of the topics which gets regularly brought to us is that people don't feel confident eating out with their allergy. With lockdown looking to ease up over the next few months, and food businesses set to reopen, I wanted to share my advice and tips for managing your allergy anxiety when eating out, and why the #SpeakUpForAllergies campaign is important.

A lot of people feel anxious about eating out with an allergy because they don't know whether the staff are going to take their allergy seriously, or whether the food may contain their allergens. Managing your allergy anxiety can be hard, but it shouldn't stop you from living your life, especially when it comes to eating out at different restaurants.

Checking reviews online

I did a poll a few years ago on my Instagram and over half of people with allergies will look online to see if they have an allergy menu. I always try to google the restaurant beforehand and use review sites such as TripAdvisor to see how well they have dealt with customers who have a food allergy.

Most sites allow you to use the search feature on the reviews, so I usually type in ‘allergy’, or a specific allergen, to see if any customers have had a bad experience eating there beforehand. It usually gives me a good indication of whether they have catered for people living with allergies in the past.

The most important step is always to give them a ring beforehand to make them aware of your food allergy. Even after the phone call, you should always bring up your allergy straight away when you arrive at the restaurant so they are aware. If I feel like they don't take it seriously, this gives me a very clear indication that I don’t trust that they will cater to it.

Always go with your gut feeling and never eat somewhere if you feel they’ve not taken your allergy seriously - you should never feel embarrassed about leaving an establishment if you're not feeling safe.

Managing allergy anxiety

I have personally struggled with allergy anxiety when eating out at different restaurants, especially when it's a new restaurant I’ve never eaten at before. I’ve found it helpful to welcome my allergy anxiety when it happens, rather than trying to forget it's there as it can make it worse. By welcoming it I understand that it is there and it stops my anxiety from getting worse.

I find it hard to be able to know whether I’m having an allergic reaction or an anxiety attack. In the past I have found it helpful to take myself outside to get some fresh air with a friend to calm down and check myself, to see if I have any hives. Usually 9 times out of 10 I’m just worrying myself.

Always speak to your friends about it and never struggle in silence. It makes a massive difference to be able to speak to someone about it as your friends should always be supportive of what you're going through. Knowing that I’m always carrying my two auto-injectors with me helps my anxiety. I have everything with me in case I might have an allergic reaction.

Being part of the allergy community

I understand first-hand what it's like living with a severe allergy and the different emotions you go through when eating out with an allergy. Even though managing your anxiety can get the best of you sometimes, it does get easier the more you talk about it with others. Being part of the allergy community, there are so many different blogs and pages you can look up for inspiration and help.

For young people coming to terms with how to manage their allergy in different situations, remember to speak up for your allergy. Ingredients, recipes and chefs can change, so always speak to the restaurant before you order. Never assume it will be safe just because you’ve eaten the meal before.

 

If you’re new to my allergy blog make sure to check it out over at @_maycontain on Instagram. I also have a weekly podcast where I interview different people around the world in different fields dealing with their allergies. Listen to May Contain on iTunes and Spotify.

Rheoli dy bryder am alergeddau wrth fwyta allan

Fel rhan o'r ymgyrch #CodiLlaisDrosAlergeddau, mae Dan Kelly, cyflwynydd podlediad a sylfaenydd y blog ymwybyddiaeth alergedd ‘May Contain’, yn rhannu ei brofiad o reoli ei bryder wrth fwyta allan gydag alergedd bwyd.

 

Yn ‘May Contain’, un o'r pynciau sy'n cael ei godi gyda ni yn rheolaidd yw nad yw pobl yn teimlo'n hyderus yn bwyta allan gyda'u halergedd. Gyda’r gobaith y bydd y cyfnod clo yn dechrau llacio dros yr ychydig fisoedd nesaf, a busnesau bwyd ar fin ailagor, roeddwn i eisiau rhannu fy nghyngor ac ambell awgrym ar gyfer rheoli dy bryder alergedd wrth fwyta allan, a pham mae'r ymgyrch #CodiLlaisDrosAlergeddau yn bwysig.

Mae llawer o bobl yn teimlo'n bryderus am fwyta allan gydag alergedd gan nad ydyn nhw'n gwybod a yw'r staff yn mynd i gymryd eu halergedd o ddifrif, neu p’un a yw’r bwyd yn cynnwys eu halergenau. Gall rheoli dy bryder alergedd fod yn anodd, ond ni ddylai dy atal rhag byw dy fywyd, yn enwedig wrth fwyta allan mewn gwahanol fwytai.

Darllen adolygiadau ar-lein

Fe wnes i arolwg barn ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl ar fy Instagram a bydd dros hanner y bobl sydd ag alergeddau yn edrych ar-lein i weld a oes gan fusnes fwydlen alergedd. Rydw i bob amser yn ceisio gwglo’r bwyty ymlaen llaw a defnyddio gwefannau adolygu fel TripAdvisor i weld pa mor dda y maen nhw wedi delio â chwsmeriaid sydd ag alergedd bwyd.

Mae'r rhan fwyaf o wefannau yn gadael i ti ddefnyddio'r nodwedd chwilio ar yr adolygiadau, felly rydw i fel arfer yn teipio 'alergedd', neu alergen penodol, i weld a oes unrhyw gwsmeriaid wedi cael profiad gwael yn bwyta yno o’r blaen. Mae fel arfer yn rhoi syniad da i mi a ydyn nhw wedi darparu ar gyfer pobl sy'n byw gydag alergeddau yn y gorffennol.

Y cam pwysicaf bob amser yw eu ffonio nhw ymlaen llaw i roi gwybod iddyn nhw am dy alergedd bwyd. Hyd yn oed ar ôl yr alwad ffôn, dylet ti bob amser sôn am dy alergedd yn syth wrth gyrraedd y bwyty fel eu bod nhw’n ymwybodol. Os ydw i'n teimlo fel nad ydyn nhw'n ei gymryd o ddifrif, mae hyn yn rhoi arwydd clir iawn i mi nad ydw i'n ymddiried y byddan nhw'n darparu ar ei gyfer.

Dilyna dy reddf bob amser a phaid byth â bwyta rhywle os wyt ti’n teimlo nad ydyn nhw wedi cymryd dy alergedd o ddifrif. Dylet ti byth deimlo cywilydd am adael busnes bwyd os nad wyt ti'n teimlo'n ddiogel.

Rheoli pryder am alergedd

Yn bersonol, rydw i wedi cael trafferth gyda phryder am alergedd wrth fwyta allan mewn gwahanol fwytai, yn enwedig pan mae'n fwyty newydd nad ydw i erioed wedi bwyta ynddo o'r blaen. Mae croesawu fy mhryder pan fydd yn codi yn fy helpu i, yn hytrach na cheisio anghofio ei fod yno. Mae hyn yn gallu ei waethygu. Trwy ei groesawu, dwi’n deall ei fod yno ac mae'n ei atal rhag gwaethygu.

Rydw i’n cael trafferth gwybod os ydw i'n cael adwaith alergaidd neu pwl o banig. Yn y gorffennol, mae codi a mynd allan i gael mymryn o awyr iach gyda ffrind wedi fy helpu i dawelu fy meddwl a chael cyfle i edrych ar fy nghorff i weld a oes rash neu hives. Fel arfer, 9 gwaith allan o 10, dwi ond yn poeni fy hun.

Siarada â dy ffrindiau am y peth bob amser a phaid byth â dioddef yn dawel. Mae'n gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr i allu siarad â rhywun am y peth gan y dylai dy ffrindiau di bob amser fod yn gefnogol o’r hyn sy’n digwydd i ti. Mae gwybod ’mod i bob amser yn cario fy nau auto-injector gyda mi yn helpu fy mhryder. Mae gen i bopeth gyda mi rhag ofn y byddai’n cael adwaith alergaidd.

Bod yn rhan o'r gymuned alergedd

Rydw i’n deall o brofiad sut beth yw byw gydag alergedd difrifol a'r gwahanol emosiynau rwyt ti’n eu profi wrth fwyta allan gydag alergedd. Er y gall rheoli dy bryder gael y gorau ohonot ti weithiau, mae'n mynd yn haws wrth i ti siarad mwy am y peth gydag eraill. Gan dy fod yn rhan o'r gymuned alergedd, mae cymaint o wahanol flogiau a thudalennau y gelli di eu darllen am ysbrydoliaeth a chymorth.

Ar gyfer pobl ifanc sy'n dod i delerau â sut i reoli eu halergedd mewn gwahanol sefyllfaoedd, cofia godi llais dros dy alergedd. Mae cynhwysion, ryseitiau a chogyddion yn gallu newid, felly cofia siarad â'r bwyty bob amser cyn i ti archebu. Paid byth â chymryd yn ganiataol y bydd bwyd yn ddiogel dim ond am dy fod wedi bwyta'r pryd o'r blaen.

 

Os nad wyt ti wedi darllen fy mlog alergedd o’r blaen, gwna’n siŵr dy fod yn cael cip arno yn @_maycontain ar Instagram. Mae gen i bodlediad wythnosol hefyd lle dwi'n cyfweld â gwahanol bobl ledled y byd mewn gwahanol feysydd sy'n delio â'u halergeddau. Gelli wrando ar ‘May Contain’ ar iTunes a Spotify.

Sharing and comments

Share this page

Leave a comment

We only ask for your email address so we know you're a real person

By submitting a comment you understand it may be published on this public website. Please read our privacy notice to see how the GOV.UK blogging platform handles your information.