The day a peanut nearly turned recess into a hospital run
I thought I had Dominican school lunches figured out—rice, beans, fried plantains, maybe a slice of avocado sneaked in for “saludable” points. Then, one Tuesday, my son Mateo came home pale as the foam on a morir soñando. Between bites of a classmate’s sándwich de crema de maní, his lips tingled and his voice rasped. Luckily the teacher recognized an allergic reaction and dashed for the infirmary’s antihistamines. That evening Mateo asked the inevitable: “¿Cómo le digo a mis amigos que soy alérgico al maní sin sonar pesado?” How indeed?
Thus began my quest to craft a pocket-size, bulletproof allergy card in Spanish so clear that even the cafeteria line’s doña who still calls me gringo would notice. Over months—and lots of feedback from Dominican and Colombian educators—I refined a template. The process taught me three universal truths: allergens hide everywhere (hello, mermelada de mani spread on lunch trays), Spanish label vocabulary shifts by country, and print alone isn’t enough—you need cultural nuance.
This post unpacks that journey so you can hand your child a card that says, in no uncertain terms, “These foods will hurt me—please keep me safe,” while still fitting neatly between their student ID and Pokémon sticker.
Why allergy language feels trickier abroad
Labels that swap meanings
In Bogotá supermarkets you’ll see maní; cross the Caribbean to Santo Domingo and packages declare cacahuate or cacahuete. Gluten, meanwhile, turns into trigo, proteína de trigo, or, in Dominican shorthand, bold “harina de pan” (flour from bread). If your card uses the wrong term, a well-meaning lunch monitor might misread risk.
Formality and politeness
Latin American school personnel value courteous phrasing. An English card that orders “NO PEANUTS” can appear harsh translated literally. Tone matters: “Por favor, evite darme alimentos con maní. Podrían causar una reacción grave.” The por favor softens while still underscoring danger.
Visual cues trump dense paragraphs
Many cafeterias rely on rotating volunteers—abuelas, older students—to serve food. Eye-catching formatting beats wordy explanations. Bold allergen names (MANÍ, LÁCTEOS, MARISCOS) paired with a red ❌ icon works across reading levels.
Step-by-step: from draft to durable card
1. Gather local terminology
Ask your child’s teachers for cafeteria menus. Circle recurring allergens and jot regional synonyms. In Colombia, maní rules; in the DR, cacahuate rides shotgun. Add them both.
2. Choose concise sentences
Latin American Spanish respects brevity in signage. Aim for sentences under twelve words. Example: “Ingiere epinefrina y llama al 9-1-1.”
3. Include pronunciation hints for staff
If you live where English isn’t common, write phonetic prompts under drug names: Epinefrina (eh-pee-neh-FREE-nah). Teachers later thanked me; it prevented mispronunciation panic during drills.
4. Laminate and translate on both sides
Front: Spanish. Back: English (or vice versa). My son attends a bilingual school; the guard speaks only Spanish but the Canadian science teacher speaks mainly English. One card, two audiences.
5. Attach emergency contacts with country codes
Dominican phones need +1-809; Colombian mobiles start +57. Foreign parents often forget the “+” symbol, leaving staff guessing how to dial internationally.
Spanish Vocabulary table
| Spanish | English | Usage Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Alérgico/a a… | Allergic to… | Adjust gender: alérgico (boy), alérgica (girl). |
| Reacción anafiláctica | Anaphylactic reaction | Use on card for seriousness. |
| Maní / Cacahuate / Cacahuete | Peanut | List all three to cover regions. |
| Frutos secos | Tree nuts | Blanket term: almonds, walnuts, etc. |
| Sin gluten | Gluten-free | Pair with wheat icon for clarity. |
| Epinefrina / Adrenalina | Epinephrine | Both terms accepted medically. |
| Inhalador de rescate | Rescue inhaler | For kids with asthma triggers. |
| Alergia severa | Severe allergy | Good headline phrase. |
| Etiqueta de ingredientes | Ingredient label | Use when teaching kids to read packages. |
| Contaminación cruzada | Cross-contamination | Important for kitchen staff. |
Keep this Spanish Vocabulary cheat sheet near your design software—or fridge—when drafting cards and rehearsing phrases.
Anatomy of an effective allergy card
LADO A (español)
MARÍA LÓPEZ, 3ºB
ALERGIA SEVERA A:
MANÍ / CACAHUETE / CACAHUATE ❌
ÁRBOL FRUTOS SECOS ❌
LÁCTEOS ❌
SÍNTOMAS: Dificultad para respirar, urticaria, mareo.
PASOS DE EMERGENCIA:
- Administrar EPINEFRINA (inyección en muslo).
- Llamar a 9-1-1 y a mi papá.
MEDICINA EN MORRAL
Contactos:
James López (papá) +1-829-xxx-xxxx
Laura García (mamá) +57-301-xxx-xxxx
LADO B (English)
Severe allergy to PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, MILK.
Administer EPINEPHRINE IMMEDIATELY → Dial local emergency number.
Medicine in backpack.
Note the balance of capital letters for emphasis, Spanish accent marks for clarity, and simple bullet steps—yes, bullets are acceptable on the card even if we avoid listicles in prose.
Role-playing with kids before the first lunch line
Equip children to advocate for themselves out loud. Practice in the kitchen:
Parent: “¿Qué dices si te ofrecen un postre de misterioso color café?”
What do you say if you’re offered a mysterious brown dessert?
Child: “Lo siento, soy alérgico al maní. ¿Tiene información de los ingredientes?”
Sorry, I’m allergic to peanuts. Do you have ingredient info?
Repetition cements confidence. Teens may resist rehearsing, but remind them that speaking up once is easier than itching through Math.
Example conversation: Colombian cafeteria scenario
Niño (utiliza usted con adultos, Colombia)
“Disculpe, profesor, soy alérgico al maní. ¿Este almuerzo lo contiene?”
Excuse me, sir, I’m allergic to peanuts. Does this lunch contain it?
Profesor
“Creo que no, pero confirmemos con la señora de la cocina.”
I don’t think so, but let’s confirm with the kitchen lady.
Cocinera (informal “tú”, Caribe)
“Tranquilo, mijo, esto es arroz con gandules, sin maní ni ná.”
Don’t worry, kid, this is rice with pigeon peas, no peanuts or anything. (Dominican coastal slang)
Niño
“Muchas gracias, aquí está mi tarjeta por si acaso.”
Thank you very much, here’s my card just in case.
Notice the shift: the child uses formal usted with a teacher in Bogotá but receives Caribbean informality from a visiting Dominican cook. Including both registers in practice dialogues prepares them for real-life switches.
Teaching teachers: cultural diplomacy with staff
The “tía” factor
In Dominican public schools, lunch monitors are affectionately called tías (aunties). Addressing them respectfully ensures they’ll champion your child’s safety. Start with:
“Tía Maritza, quiero explicarle la tarjeta de alergias de Mateo.”
Offer to demonstrate epinephrine use; many have never held an auto-injector.
Print-friendly resources
I emailed PDFs in both letter and A4 size because Colombian printers default to A4 while Dominican shops stick to letter. A minor tweak that avoids margins cutting off emergency steps.
WhatsApp photo backup
Teachers love snapping card pics for quick reference. Encourage it, but remind them to blur phone numbers if shared in group chats. Data privacy may not be top-of-mind everywhere.
Reinforcing vocabulary at home—games and stories
- Play “Label detective” during grocery runs: whoever spots “puede contener trazas de frutos secos” wins a mango smoothie.
- Translate favorite snack labels together; compare ingredient orders between countries.
- Storytime with allergy-themed books in Spanish—“Omar no quiere nueces”—exposes synonyms like nueces (nuts) vs frutos secos.
These micro-activities normalize allergy lingo, lessening stigma when peers ask questions.
Travel tip: cards double as restaurant cheat sheets
Weekend getaway to Cartagena? Slip the same card to waiters. Colombian servers respond well to concise laminated notes—they often trust printed words more than foreign-accented explanations. I add: “Por favor, confirme con la cocina. Gracias por su ayuda.” Politeness still rules.
Reflective advice: turn vulnerability into empowerment
A well-crafted allergy card is more than stationery; it’s a passport to independence. My greatest reward was overhearing Mateo tell a new classmate: “Esto es mi tarjeta. Si ves algo con maní, avísame.” He wasn’t embarrassed—he was prepared.
Switching countries sharpened my Spanish ear; writing safety language sharpened Mateo’s self-advocacy. Share your region-specific terms—maybe your child’s school says “alergias alimentarias” instead of “intolerancias.” Drop them in the comments so our collective phrasebook grows and fewer kids face lunchtime roulette.
