The holidays can be stressful enough without having a strange allergy. Personality conflicts, traffic jams, and flight delays alone are enough to make tempers flare. But your Christmas can still be merry and bright with a little planning and thoughtful consideration. Here are a few things you can do to prepare for a happy holiday.

Communicate your allergy clearly to your family and friends well in advance.

Keep in mind that people who don’t understand your allergy might not understand your objectives either. Sharing food with someone is a personal activity, and people can get offended or disappointed quickly when we don’t appear enthusiastic about digging in. Be sure to express appreciation for the other person, but also know your boundaries. Decide ahead of time what your personal requirements will be (i.e. “if you cook ham, I won’t be able to stay for dinner,” etc.) and leave the rest to them. Understand that you might not be able to attend a meal, or at least will probably need to bring your own food.

Along the same lines, don’t be offended if someone refuses to make accommodations for you–they may be afraid they’ll make a mistake and don’t want to be responsible for making you sick. Others may have erroneous views about allergies–some people “don’t believe in them” or think they’re psychosomatic responses. The holidays are no time for debates. Agree to disagree, bring your own food, and move on.

On the other hand, be cautious with those who want to cook for you. If they’re unfamiliar with the guidelines you need to follow, they can easily overlook an important ingredient. Talk in depth with them about the ingredients they intend to use and how to avoid cross contamination. Or just request that you make the dish together. Explain that it’s taken you time to learn how to cook for yourself and you don’t expect them to get the hang of it overnight.

Research area restaurants and have a list of places at which you feel safe to eat (sensitivity permitting).

If you might eat out while shopping and seeing the sights, have some safe spots to dine in mind. For more information, check out my tips for eating out, or see if any of these reportedly AG-friendly restaurants are in your area.

Pack your own snacks.

Don’t get caught hungry in a traffic jam or on the tarmac while everyone around you munches on their favorite goodies. Keep some granola bars and/or candies in your carry-on bag. Keep in mind that some foods may count toward your liquid allowance on a plane flight.

Arrange to visit a grocery store when you arrive.

If you don’t want to check a bag and lug a week’s worth of groceries around with you, locate a good local market at your destination. Pick up your favorite necessities when you arrive and enjoy the peace of mind of having safe snacks and meals available. Some progressive stores allow you to order groceries and have them delivered to your hotel room. Remember to take note of holiday hours and plan accordingly.

Consider getting a hotel room with a mini-fridge or suite with a small kitchen.

I know. It’s not the same as waking up to the smell of bacon cooking on Christmas morning in your Grandma’s house–and it’s not as cheap. But let’s be honest, those fumes don’t give you quite the same warm-fuzzies as they used to. And trust me, if you find yourself having a mild reaction to some mystery ingredient, you’re going to want your own bathroom! Having your own space will also give you greater control over how your food is stored and handled.

Bring your meds and pertinent information.

Don’t leave home without your anti-histamine, nasal sprays (if you have them) and Epi-Pen! Make sure you have enough of each and that they’re all in good condition. (Expired Epi-Pens with solutions that aren’t cloudy are still good, but are best used as back-ups.) If you have one, don’t forget to wear your medical alert bracelet and/or keep descriptive allergy papers or a medical history jump drive handy, just in case.

Know where to go in an emergency.

If, God-forbid, you start reacting to something, do you and those around you know how to use an Epi-Pen and where to take you? Be sure you’re not the only one who knows what to do!

Don’t let your allergy ruin your holiday fun. While some of these tips might feel like major inconveniences, they’re far less troublesome that a trip to the ER–or worse. With a little planning ahead, you’ll be able to safely enjoy the company of your family and friends–and that is something worth celebrating!