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One of the most important time to discuss food allergies is when looking at colleges. This may be the first time one will be out on their own and it can present challenges if they are not openly communicating their food needs. Schedule a tour of the dining hall and let the director and the executive chef know your needs to be sure they will be able to accommodate them. If you are reading this and do not have a food allergy, I hope you learned a little about the precautions one must take when they have food allergies. Advocating for themselves will help them stay safe and healthy. If your friends or family have food allergies, it’s okay to ask them questions about it. They may appreciate you going out of your way to make sure they are safe when they are eating in your home. For those that know me, I am known for being sure my friends and family are safe from their food allergy or intolerance, as I have one myself. I am also an advocate for college students at my place of work that have food allergies to be sure their home away from home is safe for them while they are studying here. Whether you have a food allergy or not, it’s important to remain active, wash your hands with soap and water frequently, eat healthy foods and get quality sleep to keep that immune system of yours at its peak. Looking for more information: • my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21196-immune- system • kidswithfoodallergies.org/food-intolerances • eatright.org/health/allergies-and-intolerances/food- allergies/reducing-the-risk-of-food-allergies • health.harvard.edu/allergies/food-allergies-and-food- intolerances • acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergy • atlantaallergy.com/posts/view/33-what-is-an-epipen- and-who-needs-it • f oodallergy.org/our-initiatives/awareness-campaigns/ living-teal/teal-pumpkin-project 1 acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergy 2 f oodallergy.org/our-initiatives/awareness-campaigns/ living-teal/teal-pumpkin-project Carrie Gerencher, MA,is a Registered Nutritionist and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist. She works as the on-campus Dietitian at Lehigh University, and co-owns Sleepy Cat Urban Winery in Allentown, PA. Nutrition Quarterly · 2021 – Volume 3 7