Amanda Orlando

Learning to navigate love and dating as a teen is difficult enough, but throw in food allergies and it takes it to a whole other level. The discussion for parents can be an awkward one; how do you bring up the topic of kissing and allergic reactions without getting shrugged off? How do you broach topics like allergens in birth control pills, ordering at a restaurant alone, and not kissing your significant other if they’ve had an allergen? Teens are known to hide the fact that they have food allergies, making them a high risk group for reactions. This topic is a jumping point to dive into not only the practicalities of dating as a person with food allergy, but about teaching your teen or young adult to manage their food related anxiety (towards eating, restaurants, and social situations), how to communicate, preparing for new events like meals with their family, that mistakes can happen (but how you manage them is key), and that having food allergies should not prevent you from finding love and companionship.Attendees will learn how to talk about love and dating with their allergic teen/young adult. From practical tips, to navigating new social situations, to instilling confidence.