Business Cards for Food Allergies
May 26 2009 in All Site Articles, Food Allergy News by Ruth LovettSmith
Every summer my family and I look forward to late night trips to the drive-in. There is nothing like a warm summer night, food and drinks, kids playing ball, and the start of a big screen movie outdoors just as the sun sets. Last Friday was an unseasonably warm night and the second week our drive-in theater was open. We packed the car with chairs and blankets and headed out for an evening where the kids get to stay up extra late and the hubby and I get a date night of sorts.
If you’ve ever been to a drive-in as an adult, you’ll realize it’s also a great social event. Kids find other kids to play with and adults chat to the adults parked next to them. Only teenagers sit in their fogged window cars. It wasn’t long after we had set up our spot that I started chatting with the mom parked next to us. It wasn’t long after the conversation started that I found out she had multiple food allergies and her son had some too. Talk about a small world.
She recently left her job and started work as a special education advocate so we got to talking about food allergies, advocating for our kids, and how difficult it can be. Then she proudly whipped out a business card for me. I glanced at it. It wasn’t your everyday business card. The top header said “Our Family Food Allergies” followed by “….please be sure to check ALL food”. The card listed the allergies and at the bottom a single line “Accidental Ingestion: Benadryl, Epi-Pen if SEVERE”.
“Wow, what a fantastic idea,” I marveled.
She explained to me that there were so many allergies it just became easier to give the server a card. She further went on to explain that as a single dating mom, it was also much easier to be able to hand the card off rather than start a date listing 8+ allergies. To top it off, she ordered the cards from VistaPrint.com and they were free!
I’m always amazed and in awe of the wonderful people I meet when I take the time to just stop and breathe. Take a moment to chat with the people around you in the grocery line, at the playground; and you might just be surprised as well.
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sara said on June 17, 2009
How can I find out how to sell an alternative product for people with peanut alergies?
Ruth LovettSmith said on June 24, 2009
Sara-Thanks for stopping by! The best thing you can do is research the peanut allergy community. Visit web sites, allergy forums, ask questions, etc. If you currently have a product-you can write a press release, advertise on food allergy sites, and blogs, and of course-submit your website/product to Best Allergy Sites using the Submit a Site tab.
Heather said on January 16, 2011
I love the idea of a card! I’m very allergic to tree nuts and while traveling abroad I was in a resturant where the servers didn’t understand English or my rusty French (I think this was in Belgium). I tried to explain NO NUTS and wanted one of the steaks cooked sans-walnut-coating. Of course due to the miscommunication, my meal came with EXTRA walnuts. I had to switch plates with my collegue. So, a card with multiple languages explaining this allergy would be very helpful indeed :)
Ruth LovettSmith said on January 17, 2011
Thanks Heather for stopping by and for the comment! You can make your own cards and now there are also several websites you can visit to have them made. Ck out our directory of listings!