Healthy Habits: MyTealTicket

 Katie is a local hometown girl who is striving to make a difference for anyone with food allergies. May 9 - 15 is National Food Allergy Awareness Week and we would love to connect you with Katie! Her company even has a give back component. When you use MyTealTicket, you are protecting yourself, and you are raising money and awareness for food allergy research. Part of their proceeds go to FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education).
 

MyTealTicket is a unique restaurant order form created specially for those who have food allergies. A simple and convenient way to communicate your specific food allergies to the waiter/waitress and chef.

Eating away from home can pose a significant risk to people affected by food allergy. Research suggests that close to half of fatal food allergy reactions are triggered by food consumed outside the home.

For young kids and teenagers, communicating specific food allergies can be intimidating and stressful. With MyTealTicket, kids, teens, and adults can confidently communicate their specific food allergies. Not only does MyTealTicket make your dining experience safe; but it also allows the chef to prepare appropriate accommodations to your meal.

I had a chance to interview Katie to learn more.

Why are restaurants so challenging for people with food allergies?

I understand that restuarants want to help, but it is challenging to dine out because I cannot see if the waitstaff correctly notates my allergies and delivers them to the chef. Before MyTealTicket, I would always be nervous that the wait staff would mix up my allergies or not write them down accurately because a miniscule amount of an allergen can trigger an anaphylactic reaction.

Why does MyTealTicket make it easier?

MyTealTicket is a restaurant order form that alerts the staff of your specific food allergies.The front includes checkmark boxes next to the most common allergens. MyTealTicket also includes a box marked “other,” so you can personalize the form to your specific food allergy needs. The back includes space for your waitress or waiter to write down your order. This will assure that your allergens are properly noted, and makes placing your order easier for both you and your waiter. The teal color of the ticket stands out from the other order forms and provides a visual cue to the chef that the dish has to be prepared safely.

How does FARE support families with food allergies?

Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) is the largest nonprofit organization in the world for food allergy research. They offer numerous types of support, education, and events for new and experienced members of the food allergy community. FARE’s mission is to improve the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to provide hope through the promise of new treatments. FARE educates people about the truths of living with food allergies, raises money to conduct experiments to find possible cures to food allergies, and encourages others to raise awareness about food allergies and support each other throughout the journey.