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Thread: Food allergies and attending Air Venture

  1. #1

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    Question Food allergies and attending Air Venture

    I have a dilemma on my hands about dealing with food allergies while attending Air Venture. I would love to bring my 7-year old daughter with me to Oshkosh, but I’m concerned about getting her appropriate food to eat. She is allergic to dairy (anything made with milk, cheese or eggs), nuts, and potatoes. This restriction cuts out just about all the food that is available on site. For example many items that you would assume not to contain dairy like a hamburger bun, may actually have dairy ingredients. My wife and I spent a lot of time reading the ingredients list when we food shop. We have done a number of day trips in the plane recently, and my daughter really wants to go with me to the 2012 Air Venture. We pack a lot of our own food for these day trips, and we will get her a plain burger if we happen to stop in an airport restaurant. This is fine for a day, but what to do for 4-5 days?

    I was wondering how other people with food allergies deal with attending Air Venture. I will be flying into the field, and staying at the U of W dorms downtown. I have attended Air Venture 3 times in the past, and I’m well aware of the food choices to be had both on the field and around the immediate area.

  2. #2
    steveinindy's Avatar
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    For example many items that you would assume not to contain dairy like a hamburger bun, may actually have dairy ingredients.
    Just out of curiosity and at the risk of sounding snide, how does one not suspect that a standard baked good would not contain milk or eggs?

    We pack a lot of our own food for these day trips, and we will get her a plain burger if we happen to stop in an airport restaurant. This is fine for a day, but what to do for 4-5 days?
    My suggestion would be to bring a cooler with as much safe food as possible. We do this already (mostly due to cost, not food allergies) but normally come up by car rather than aircraft so weight isn't as much of an issue as it might be for you.

    The other option is to invest in a disposable cooler once you get to Oshkosh and have someone take you to Walmart or one of the groceries stores to stock up. If you need a ride and we're available, we would be happy to assist you by providing a ride to the store. My theory is I always try to help folks who are in need because folks have helped me in the past (namely this year at Oshkosh) when I was the one in need.

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    Mike Switzer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by steveinindy View Post
    Just out of curiosity and at the risk of sounding snide, how does one not suspect that a standard baked good would not contain milk or eggs?
    This is why people with food allergies need to have a pretty good understanding of how food is prepared. Wheat gluten does a number on my digestive tract, and many items that I make at home without any wheat do contain wheat as they are supplied to the restaurants by their suppliers (such as Sysco) as it is cheaper than the alternatives. I just have to be careful to not order anything that may be prepared with wheat (which makes eating on the road difficult as 99% of fast food offerings contain wheat, same thing for most foods available at fairs & events like Oshkosh)

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    steveinindy's Avatar
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    This is why people with food allergies need to have a pretty good understanding of how food is prepared.
    That was my thinking so it kind of surprised me that someone in that situation might not realize such things.

    My fiancee is also sensitive to gluten although she's thankfully gotten over it for the most part. Dairy is not my friend but at the same time I love cheese so much that I'm willing to put up with the occasional side effect. Speaking of that....time to raid the fridge.

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    Iko, can't you just by a burger or other food at EAA and her not eat the bun?

    As for gluten sensitive people, one thing I wonder about is that I never even remember hearing anything about this until the last few years. Certainly growing up as a kid,I never heard of anyone who got sick from eating a normal hamburger or even hot dog with bun.
    Why has this condition or alergy developed? Is bread different now or is this just a fad?

    Nowadays, you go into some restaurants that cater to a higher price customer and there is much fuss about gluten free this and that.
    I think some people might be alergic to gluten in the same way that they are alergic to having any kitchen counter that is not granite.

  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by steveinindy View Post
    Just out of curiosity and at the risk of sounding snide, how does one not suspect that a standard baked good would not contain milk or eg. gs?
    Food manufactures are required to list all ingredients. A careful inspection of the label and list of ingredients is the only sure way. My wife is very good (much better than me) at taking the time to read everything on the label to be sure that it does not have any dairy, nuts or potatoes.

    Quote Originally Posted by steveinindy View Post
    My suggestion would be to bring a cooler with as much safe food as possible. We do this already (mostly due to cost, not food allergies) but normally come up by car rather than aircraft so weight isn't as much of an issue as it might be for you.
    Yes, this was my first thougth, not sure how mcuh I could bring in my C172 with her and two others. It would be tight.

    Thanks for the kind offer for driving us to a food stores, I just might take you up on that!

  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Greenwood View Post
    Iko, can't you just by a burger or other food at EAA and her not eat the bun?

    Why has this condition or alergy developed? Is bread different now or is this just a fad?
    Yes, we have gone with just getting a plain burger with nothing else, and that's worked out OK.

    My daughter, who just turned 7. has had problems with dairy since she was just a few weeks old. It's mainly a digestive problem, upset stomach, diarrhea, and gas. We had tests run and that's when we found out that she also has issues with nuts and potatoes. I look back on my childhood, and my mom told me that I had digestive issues with milk also that I grew out of over the years. I think that in today's world more kids are being tested, so more cases of alergies are being reported, nothing to do with the food itself.

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    Mike Switzer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Greenwood View Post
    As for gluten sensitive people, one thing I wonder about is that I never even remember hearing anything about this until the last few years. Certainly growing up as a kid,I never heard of anyone who got sick from eating a normal hamburger or even hot dog with bun.
    I think it was just something that wasn't diagnosed until recently. As for me, Gluten doesn't make me sick, no major allergic reaction like some people have to peanuts or shellfish, but I have had a problem with acid reflux for years, no doc found a solution other than meds, and I also had lots of sinus problems. A little over a year ago I had some major intestinal distress that I don't really want to describe here, but long story short after some research I decided to stop eating wheat products. Abstaining from wheat my plumbing is regular, the sinuses are better and no more acid reflux. Being of partial Sicilian descent this pains me as I like pasta & pizza, but there are some decent gluten free pastas out there, and while we do eat pizza once a week, I just stay close to a bathroom the next day & take allegra to cover the sinus issues.

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    Jim Hann's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by steveinindy View Post
    The other option is to invest in a disposable cooler once you get to Oshkosh and have someone take you to Walmart or one of the groceries stores to stock up. If you need a ride and we're available, we would be happy to assist you by providing a ride to the store. My theory is I always try to help folks who are in need because folks have helped me in the past (namely this year at Oshkosh) when I was the one in need.
    Exactly what I was thinking. If you are in the North 40 camping, you can either ride the bus or walk over to Target and Pick n Save. My friends with four kids do this (a lot) now that their #1 son is a teenager and is hungrier than an IO-540 at full throttle!

    My other advice is to bring documentation of her medical issues, that way if you are challenged by somebody, you can prove the necessity. Might not be a bad idea to talk to folks at HQ (hint for Hal or another MOD to chime in) before the show and see if they might have any other suggestions. The show obviously wants to sell food, etc. but not at the expense of her safety.

    Side note, here are my kids (7, 4, and 2) at #OSH11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Switzer View Post
    Wheat gluten does a number on my digestive tract, and many items that I make at home without any wheat do contain wheat as they are supplied to the restaurants by their suppliers (such as Sysco) as it is cheaper than the alternatives.
    I work with a woman with ciliac (sp?) and she is worried about down the road as she is hoping to be a commercial pilot (her Dad was one of my Chief Pilot's in a previous life). She is worried about long trips and finding food, ever looked around an airport for "Gluten Free" labels?

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    We're at OSH every year with the 5th wheel. We've always got at least one vehicle to go to town in. Heck, we've even let folks use it to go on their own somewhere if we can't or don't want to go. We stay in Sleepy Hollow campground.

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