The Teal Passport Project Story….
In the summer of 2022, I was in Zermatt, Switzerland. I was sitting in a quiet mountain restaurant, explaining my list of allergies to a Swiss waitress. I spoke slowly, trying to make sure I was understood, doing what every traveler with allergies learns to do, advocate clearly and calmly, even when your heart is racing. A few tables away, a woman overheard the conversation. When I finished ordering, she came over to my table. She told me she was a mother to a young son with severe food allergies, and that she’d been too afraid to take him anywhere beyond home. She said that hearing me speak so confidently, so matter-of-factly, gave her the new perspective that maybe something like this could be possible for her son.
This moment has stayed with me. Because it was it was the first time I realized I could help others. It took me a while to conceptualize the perception of fear around travelling with food allergies. That you certainly need courage when travelling abroad and that goes for anyone. But for travelers with dietary restrictions you need to have certain type of courage, one that acknowledges risk and learns how to move within it. It was there, in that small restaurant overlooking the Alps, that I realized this journey wasn’t just about my experiences. It was about helping others find theirs.
The Teal Passport Project was born from that belief! That people with food allergies deserve not only safety, but the full experience of travel.
The joy, the spontaneity, the connection
Don’t think of this as just a collection of stories and experiences but moreso the platform to inspire you to take the leap you never thought possible.
The name itself carries meaning: teal is the color of food allergy awareness, and a passport is the symbol of exploration and identity. Together, they represent a world where having food allergies doesn’t exclude you, it empowers you to travel smarter, connect deeper, and live fully.
Through personal stories, cultural insights, restaurant guides, and practical tools, my goal is to educate and empower you to travel with confidence. Whether it’s your first trip abroad or your fifteenth, I want you to feel equipped not only with information, but with the mindset that you belong anywhere in the world.
My hope is that by sharing what I’ve learned, the wins, the mistakes, and the unexpected moments of kindness. You’ll find both the courage and the community to take your next trip with confidence.
Welcome to The Teal Passport Project.
Let’s change what it means to travel with food allergies together.
Hi, I’m Luke and I’ve lived with food allergies my entire life.
Ever since I was born, I have been allergic to all dairy, all nuts, wheat, fish, shellfish, and eggs. For as long as I can remember, food has been something I’ve had to think twice about. Growing up, every meal came with a mental checklist: what’s in this, how was it made, and who touched it last? I learned early on that awareness wasn’t an option, it was a necessity.
But as much as allergies shaped my daily life, I refused to let them define it. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) and had the honor of speaking at their national summit, sharing my story with others who, like me, know what it’s like to balance safety and the desire to live fully. My passion has always been to inspire people with food allergies to live life without fear. Not by ignoring risk, but by learning how to navigate it responsibly.
I luckily have had and continue to have an amazing support system of family, friends, mentors and doctors that empower me to live my life fully and confidently. Because of them they also helped me realize the balance between caution and courage, which became the foundation for how I live, and ultimately, how I travel. Now, I want to do the same for you!
There’s a lot of fear around traveling with food allergies. People talk about what could go wrong, how complicated it is, or why it’s not worth the risk. I used to believe that too. For years, I thought my allergies meant I’d have to experience the world from a distance — that travel was something other people got to do freely.
Then I started asking a different question that I want you to ask yourself: What if food allergies aren’t my limitation, but are a different way to experience the world?
That shift changed everything…..
Now, 24 years old with 30 countries under my belt and much more to come, I’ve learned that food allergies don’t have to hold you back, they can actually open doors. They push you to communicate more deeply, to slow down, to connect with chefs, hosts, and locals in a way most travelers never do. They teach you to approach each experience with awareness, gratitude, and curiosity. I’m excited as you continue to explore my page, the vision becomes clearer for you as the reader to feel ready to see the world smartly and safely!
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