Dining Out With Food Allergies

Do you have kids with food allergies? Preparing every meal at home for your kids can be a daunting task, but many parents prefer to do it to make sure the meal is allergen-free. But, can you get a break from slaving away in the kitchen by dining out at a restaurant? For most families, the answer is yes, as long as you follow these tips:

 

Be realistic.

Some restaurants will always be a hazard. A seafood restaurant will never be safe for kids with shellfish allergies and a Thai restaurant won’t be able to guarantee a peanut-free dish. When a restaurant specializes in a cuisine that’s based around your allergen, it’s best to just avoid it.

 

Look for restaurants that advertise allergen-free dining.

More restaurants are offering gluten- and wheat-free meals, non-peanut options, and other allergy-friendly dishes. To make the choice easier on you and your family, pick one of these restaurants for a night out.

 

Find menus online or pick them up to see what is offered. Do research prior to going to the restaurant by looking up the menu. There might be items flagged especially for different dietary needs. Consider chain restaurants where a corporate policy, special training and menu options might already be in place.

 

Do an online search for the name of the restaurant and your allergy.

If someone with allergies has previously written a helpful review, it may show up in the results.

 

Don’t use buffets or salad bars.

There is just no way to ensure that other diners haven’t cross-contaminated food and utensils at buffets or salad bars. Steer clear of this type of dining to avoid contact with allergens.

 

Call ahead during non-peak hours (2-4pm).

This way you can ask questions, get recommendations from the chef and give them a chance to prepare for your visit ahead of time. Be sure to ask about cross-contamination, trace ingredients like spices and staff training procedures.

• Two particular areas of concern are grills and fryers where multiple dishes are cooked. If allergen-containing foods are cooked on the same surface as other foods, you’ll know to choose menu items that aren’t prepared on those surfaces.
•  If you’re not comfortable with the answers or the chef won’t commit to providing an allergy-free meal, choose a different restaurant.
• Try to keep your questions open. Instead of asking whether the soup contains dairy, ask what the ingredients are. That way you’ll get a more complete and accurate answer, and you might spot a hidden allergen that goes by a different name.

 

Tell the restaurant staff about your allergies.

As soon as you arrive, let the staff know about the needs of your kids with food allergies. Even if you already mentioned this information when you made the reservation, it’s important to remind the staff once you arrive. Tell the host or hostess and the server who comes to the table to be sure that everyone knows and remembers your special requirements.

 

Bring a chef card with you to be handed to the kitchen.

Chefs know to expect cards from kids with food allergies, so don’t be shy. Passing along your kiddo’s card will help food preparers remember and understand which ingredients your kid cannot eat. Don’t have a restaurant card yet? Each of our peanut and tree nut allergy bracelets sold at select CVS Health locations comes with a restaurant card for your kiddo to carry!

Consider dining at off-peak hours.

An early dinner seating means that the kitchen is less busy. They’ll be better able to concentrate on your needs, clean surfaces and avoid spills or splatters that could cause cross-contamination.

 

Trust your instincts.

If your dish looks or tastes wrong, don’t eat it. It’s okay to send it back if you spot an allergen in the dish.

 

Be good to your allergy-friendly restaurants!

Those who go out of the way to serve you are wonderful and should be rewarded. Thank them, refer the restaurant to others, and tip generously to show your appreciation.

 

Talk about your experience online.

A post or recommendation on our website can help spread the word – good or bad.

 

Even if you follow all of these rules, it’s always best to be prepared at all times. Keep your kiddo’s allergy medicines close by with the help of our Allergy Medicine Case, designed to hold two Epi-Pens and more. These medicine cases are the perfect size to carry in your purse or your kiddo’s backpack so you always have easy access to allergy medicines in case of an emergency.

 

xo

Iris

Iris Shamus Wife, mother to three awesome kids and founder/CEO of AllerMates. Based in New York, Iris and her team create helpful content, answer emails, ship their products and obsess every day about keeping kids safe.