Ep. 157: Dating, Kissing, and Intimacy with Food Allergies
Part of the series: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations Podcast
This podcast was made in partnership with Allergy & Asthma Network.
We thank Genentech and Kaléo for sponsoring this episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.
Food allergies and dating can feel like a lot. How do you bring up your food allergies on a first date? How do you kiss someone safely? And what happens when things get even more intimate? These are the questions most people are too nervous to ask out loud, and this episode answers them all.
Mia Silverman, food allergy advocate, joins us to talk about the real emotional and practical side of dating with food allergies. From what the research says about kissing risks, to setting boundaries, and why your allergies might actually be the best filter you have.
What we cover in our episode about dating with food allergies
When to tell someone about your food allergies. Mia shares why she brings up her allergies early and how she works it into her dating app profile without making it a big deal.
Fear of rejection. Mia opens up about being ghosted and bullied, and how she learned to reframe rejection as a filter rather than a failure.
The risks of kissing with food allergies. Dr. Gupta breaks down what the research actually says about allergens in saliva and what your partner can do to reduce the risk.
Intimacy beyond kissing. From latex-free condoms to body fluids, Dr. Gupta covers what food allergy patients need to know about being safely intimate with a partner.
Date ideas and setting boundaries. Mia shares practical tips for early dates, setting food-allergy rules, and keeping the conversation open without making it feel overwhelming.
About our guest
Mia Silverman is a food allergy advocate and content creator based in New York City. She lives with over 50 food allergies and is currently completing her master's degree in clinical psychology, with a long-term goal of specializing in food allergy mental health. She also hosts The Food Allergy Brain, a podcast exploring the mental health side of living with food allergies.
Follow her on Instagram! @allergieswithmia
More resources about food allergies
More resources
The Food Allergy Brain podcast
More episodes
More dating with food allergy info from Kortney
Awkward Dating Stories from Adults with Food Allergies
Intimacy with food allergies: kissing, dating, and sex (watch)
Timestamps
Our episode explores how to date, kiss, and get intimate when you have food allergies
03:18 Did your food allergies make you not want to date
08:10 Disclosing allergies on dating apps
10:20 Dating tips for teenagers
14:10 Navigating kissing with food allergies
17:50 How to kiss safely with food allergies
22:10 Tips for early dates
26:23 Setting food allergy rules with a partner
29:30 Intimacy and food allergies
32:42 Alcohol and allergic reactions
37:06 Marijuana and allergy tolerance
