Eating out is one of life's greatest joys, especially when you're a parent. Whether you've put in eight to ten hours at the office or eight to ten hours just being a full time mom or dad, there are days when you just don't have the energy to swap out your hats and make some magic in the kitchen. That goes double when you've got a child with food allergies.
Juggling food allergies with the need to create well rounded meals two to three times a day can be exhausting, but trying to find a restaurant that serves kid friendly fare without wandering too far into allergen land can be almost as bad. The good news is, with a little preparation you and your child can enjoy eating out with food allergies without having to worry about all the nasty side effects.
1) Whenever possible, check out a restaurant's menu before you go out. Many restaurants now put their menu online, making it easier for parents to quickly identify which offer allergy friendly entrees. A quick glance through what they have to offer can help you make the right choice for your family, and letting your kids know ahead of time what they can order and what they can't before they get to the restaurant can save you a half hour of arguing-or worse, having to throw in the towel and go home when they decide they're not going to eat at all.
2) Call the restaurant ahead of time. Managers and chefs usually encourage customers to contact the restaurant before they come in to see if they'll be able to accommodate their needs, especially if your child has multiple food allergies that might make food preparation difficult. When the chef knows you're coming they can thaw a steak without marinating it, create a pasta dish without the extra seasoning or clean out the fryers to make sure your food is cooked in clean, seafood free oil.
3) Try to dine out during off hours. You can't always choose the time and place your kids are going to be hungry, but carrying allergen-free snacks with you can help you time your visits for when the restaurant isn't packed. When the cooks, chefs, servers and management aren't busy they'll have a much easier time checking ingredient lists and preparing special dishes without leaving you sitting for hours waiting for a lull in the dinner traffic.
4) Talk to your server about your child's food allergies right when you walk in-and don't take the horrified, 'deer in the headlights' look on their face too seriously! They don't want your child to go into anaphylactic shock any more than you do, so giving them a heads up from the very beginning can help you make the right choices for your child. And because your server is your last line of defense before your food hits the table, knowing about your child's allergy lets them make a last check of your meal for any potential hazards before you eat.
5) Know all the terms and derivatives for your child's allergy, and share them with your server. Many of the prepackaged mixes, soups and sauces used by restaurants come with warning labels about potential allergens, but if your allergy doesn't fall in the top eight (dairy, egg, soy, wheat, peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish) it might not show up. Many parents keep an allergy card handy for their child listing their allergy in all its forms they can hand over to their server and the chef when they eat out.
6) Avoid menu items with multiple ingredients. Soups, stews, marinades, breaded meats and sauces come with a plethora of ingredients, making them a ticking time bomb for children with food allergies.
7) There's only so many times you can eat at Red Robin or IHOP in one lifetime, but becoming a repeat customer at your favorite restaurant is a great way to make sure your food comes prepared just the way you need it. After a couple of visits the servers and kitchen staff get to know you, and while you still want to remind them about your child's food allergies repeat customers are well known, well loved and well taken care of by restaurant staff.
Even after taking all of these steps make sure you never, ever travel or eat out without your child's allergy medication. Mistakes do happen (for example, the presence of a lectin the chef wasn't aware of), even at the most conscientious restaurant, and the last thing you want is to be caught unprepared.
Food allergies can take some of the spontaneity and fun out of eating out, but with a little bit of preparation you can still enjoy a night out of the kitchen 100% guilt free.
Comments
RR puts a disclaimer on their allergy / gluten free menu (which is apparently all the same in their mind) and it states that RR cannot control cross contamination, “that is just the way their kitchen is set up”. Apparently this is meant to put the onus on the consumer for offering an attractive nuisance, in hopes that they do not get sued. I am anaphylactic to egg and dairy. I have an accute medical condition, a real IgE class VI+ food allergy, and I do not ask my restaurant server to treat it. I go to a MD and I cook. Anyone who holds themselves out there as someone who can accommodate me, yet offers some kind of “waiver” of liability (which is no shield from the law, frankly), is merely hoping to cash in on a trend, without making the investment in a dedicated facility. When these places go 8 allergen free, I will be enticed. Until then, I assume people who wish to entice me are either working for them or co-opted AND simply do not understand how high the stakes are.
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