The Perfect Valentine
Unfortunately for the food allergy community, holidays usually are connected to food. One of the worst, at least for me because of my peanut and tree nut allergies, is Valentine’s Day. Most people celebrate by going to dinner or buying chocolates and other candies for their loved ones. But this becomes difficult when you have to constantly read labels and check for cross-contact. This is my first year actually having a Valentine on Valentine’s Day. Having food allergies means you have to be more careful, but there are many creative ways to celebrate that don’t involve food and are 10 times more fun.
Luckily, my Valentine and I have been friends for a while. He already knew about my food allergies, and is completely understanding of them. Awareness of your allergies is one of most important things with not only a Valentine, but anyone who is in your life. You have to be able to communicate the seriousness of your allergies. Keeping it a secret is not an option! One thing that I find difficult is finding balance between keeping it too lighthearted (and having people think of it as a joke), or being so serious that I scare people away. Being friends and being comfortable with my Valentine ahead of time definitely made this part easy for me.
Valentine’s Day at my school has always been a big deal. I go to a small private school with many quirky traditions. For Valentine’s Day, our vocal groups deliver singing Valentines, while visiting various classrooms. Though a little embarrassing, this can be a great gift, and it doesn’t involve food at all. My Valentine bought me roses, and we ended up hanging out at home and playing board games. We weren’t disappointed about not going out to eat (I’ve never been comfortable eating out) because all that really matters is having fun together, and food definitely does not have to be involved to do that!
