Control Your Allergies with the Select Wisely Card

Imagine having a serious, life-threatening food allergy and trying to communicate the seriousness of that allergy while in a foreign country, ordering from a waiter or vendor in a language you don’t understand. Sounds frustrating, frightening and even a little risky. You may even avoid unfamiliar foods altogether, just to be sure you won’t accidentally ingest something that could send you rushing to the hospital. When this situation arose for one family, whose daughter suffers from a severe nut allergy, they decided to do something about it and founded SelectWisely.

SelectWisely offers various laminated, wallet-sized cards that thoroughly explain different allergies, diet restrictions, and medical conditions. They’re meant to be given to your waiter or chef before ordering, so you can make an informed decision as to what you can or cannot have from their menu. SelectWisely produces 35 different cards in more than 60 languages. They cover food allergies ranging from shellfish and soy to wheat and MSG. Cards are also available that address allergies caused by smoke, drugs, skin contact or animals such as bees or cats. They make cards for special diets as well, including vegetarian, vegan, low-salt, sugar-free and lactose intolerant. If you have medical conditions that sometimes cause issues while going through airport security, there are cards available for insulin pumps, auto-injectors, and inhalers as well.

While traveling with severe food allergies and medical conditions can be scary, it doesn’t have to be with SelectWisely. Regardless of language barriers, this simple and brilliant idea can allow you to travel and experience new flavors with confidence, and for $14.99 each, they’re definitely worth the small investment.