How To Buy For Food Sensitivities

Buying for food sensitivities can be a challenge, especially if you don’t know much about the effects of a food sensitivity. Food sensitivities can range from minor upset stomach or aches and pains to full-on anaphylactic shock. Those with lactose sensitivities, gluten sensitivities, and more, have a difficult time finding sensitivity-conscious food while still getting the good taste and quality they’re looking for. Often, sensitivity-focused food is more expensive or difficult to obtain, because it can take special processes to remove things like lactose.

Luckily, there are ways to buy more consciously for loved ones. Here’s our guide on how to buy for food sensitivities.

Ask About Food Sensitivity

First and foremost, don’t be afraid to ask your friend or loved one about their food sensitivity. There’s no shame in asking, and you’ll not only learn something new, but you’ll also show that you’re being respectful of your loved ones’ troubles. There’s nothing more frustrating than having a sensitivity or allergy downplayed by someone you care about! Food sensitivities are very real, and can potentially cause dangerous complications if ignored.

It can also be helpful to send your loved one a list of the ingredients in the food you’re looking to buy. Sometimes, they can identify an ingredient you may have missed. It’s always better to be safe than to accidentally invoke an allergic reaction.

Read The Labels Carefully

Speaking of ingredients, you’ll need to be sure you’re reading your food labels very carefully. Look for allergen warnings, and keep a list of the foods that cause sensitivity. You might be surprised to learn how many foods are processed on the same equipment as nuts, or how many foods can potentially contain traces of nuts in them. It’s usually best to just avoid those foods that say “processed in a facility that uses nuts” or something similar. You just never know!

Ask For An Alternative

When you’re at the store, you might not find lactose-free or gluten-free foods with the regular stuff. More often than not, they’re lumped together with vegan/vegetarian items on a special shelf somewhere. If the food you want contains something you can’t eat, don’t be afraid to ask for an alternative. There are thousands of alternatives to everything from nuts to milk to even meat. While things like vegan/vegetarian are lifestyle choices, food sensitivity isn’t a choice, but rather a physiological problem.

Read Up On Food Allergies

The best thing you can do for yourself or a loved one with a food allergy is to read up on it. What kind of food allergy do they have? What are the symptoms? The more informed you are, the better you’ll understand the problem. To buy for food sensitivities is to be conscious of the ingredients in your food, and this is good practice for anyone. With so many processed options on the market, finding high-quality foods is something of a necessity these days.

Try A Gift Basket

At Bumble Bee Baskets, all of our baskets are completely customizable, so you can remove any potential allergens from the basket before you buy it. Or, you can use our build-your-own-basket feature to create the perfect allergen-free basket for you or your loved one. Our gift baskets are second-to-none, with the best ingredients and gifts you can find! We even offer same-day delivery within the Calgary area and others (depending on the distance).

The Bottom Line

Buying for food sensitivities means being much more conscious about the ingredients in your food, but this is something that goes beyond just being mindful. Paying attention to the quality of the ingredients in your food can make you a more conscious eater, which may help your health down the road. Remember that heart disease is still one of the main killers of adults across the world. It’s time we started taking our ingredients and our foods much more seriously!