How to have an allergy-friendly Thanksgiving

The best part about Thanksgiving is spending time with family and feasting on delicious foods, but the holiday can be a challenge for individuals with a food allergy. An allergy expert at the Baylor College of Medicine offers advice on how to accommodate food allergies so everyone can have a safe holiday season.

Dr. Carla Davis, associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor and section chief of immunology, allergy and retrovirology at Texas Children’s Hospital, said first it is important to know the main food groups that can trigger allergic reactions:

  • Peanut
  • Tree nut
  • Egg
  • Dairy
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Wheat
  • Soy

“It is common to see allergic reactions after or during Thanksgiving because it’s often a new environment and there are many new foods,” Davis said. “Foods that can cause reactions are commonly used in Thanksgiving meals, so it can be a partially dangerous time for people with these types of allergies.”

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