This household loves football season—well, mostly Jaxson does! One of his Christmas presents this year was tickets to the Pro Bowl in Orlando, FL. It was largely my Husband’s idea, as he’s all about giving experiences rather than toys or games.
It sounds amazing until you factor in managing food allergies on a flight, at a football game, and in a hotel room. Oh, and I’m not going—so the entire responsibility falls on Dad. Traveling with allergies is never easy, even when I’m there to plan everything, so Franck is very brave to take this on solo.
To set him up for success, we had our usual food planning meeting. Yes, we do this before every trip! It includes a detailed spreadsheet that outlines each day, meal, and snack. I’m working on making it blog-friendly so I can share it—it’s been my go-to tool, and I can’t imagine planning a trip without it.
Jaxson, thankfully, is super flexible and low-maintenance when it comes to food. He doesn’t mind eating the same thing every day. Case in point: the snack he’s taken to school since kindergarten—a Nature Valley Gluten-Free Fig Bar and a Strawberry Applesauce Pouch or sometimes GoGo squeeZ. I asked him this morning if he wanted to try a new flavor of fig bar, and his response? “No way!” So, it looks like this snack will be joining them in Orlando, too.
Back to the Pro Bowl trip! Aside from the excitement of seeing Justin Jefferson, here are the key considerations Franck and I planned for:
Duration
They opted for a quick overnight trip to keep things simple and reduce the number of meals Franck has to prepare. Definitely a smart move—less stress for Dad!
Timing of the Game
Jaxson will need to eat before the game since many stadiums in the U.S. restrict outside food. The most accommodating stadium we’ve encountered was Parc des Princes in Paris, where they let us bring a thermos with hot food, and Jaxson was able to eat right at his seat. That’s rare here. Typically, U.S. stadiums require clear, small totes and carefully inspect everything, including his EpiPen case. Our workaround is usually sneaking a small snack in our pockets, which works most of the time!
Hotel Microwave
This is a non-negotiable for me. Franck needs access to a microwave to heat Jaxson’s safe food and prepare hot water for his thermos.
Proximity to a Grocery or Retail Store
Finding a nearby Whole Foods or Target is always a win—they carry plenty of gluten-free options and our favorite brands. If those aren’t available, a Chick-fil-A is our next best option. Failing that, we rely on a grocery store for charcuterie-style lunches with cheese, turkey pepperoni, and Jaxson’s favorite Gatorade.
Flight
Short flights like this one worry me less than long-haul trips like France. When Jaxson was younger, flying was more stressful, but I’ve learned to manage it better over time.
Franck will need to watch out for row-mates eating peanuts, but we’re prepared with masks if needed for airborne particles or nut dust. A fancy blood test two years ago confirmed Jaxson’s nut tolerance is 1/5 of a peanut, and he’s now on Xolair, which helps. Still, they will take precautions: wiping down his seat, seatbelt buckle, and tray, using a seat cover , and slipping long socks over the armrests. A little extra effort goes a long way for safety and hygiene. When Jaxson was younger, our flying routine was much more involved—I’ll share more flying tips in another post!
Here’s to Franck pulling off a successful Pro Bowl adventure and to Jaxson enjoying every moment! 🏈
Living Allergy Aware: Life & Travel Beyond the Label 
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