Go Prepared to Eat
Before you leave for the restaurant, bring a few staples in case the restaurant does not have what you need or it is cross-contaminated. I always bring safe food in a thermos or a safe sandwich for my son. We often bring a little of his dairy-free margarine and some vinegar and oil for a salad. (Dressings and oils can contain potent nut or seed allergens.) Make sure you have your child’s EpiPens before you leave.
When you arrive, ask to speak with the manager or chef. Remind him or her of the allergens you are avoiding and, if possible, place your order with the manager or chef.
Do not ever use common sense to determine if a food is safe. Chili, chicken and egg rolls can contain peanuts or nuts; salad dressings can contain egg, fish, or nuts; fried foods can be cross contaminated with cheese, shrimp or fish and any other fried food, and the list goes on.
When the food arrives, ask again to make sure that it does not contain the allergen and visually inspect it. If you are served a food which appears to contain an allergen, ask for the dish to be prepared again but keep the first dish with you. You want to be sure that they prepare a new dish from scratch rather than removing the allergens leaving dangerous traces behind. One study showed that food preparers believed that simply removing nuts from a dish or cooking an allergen would make it safe. Our motto is “When in doubt, do without.”
Desserts are the trickiest part of a restaurant meal. The risk of cross contamination of dessert items is considerable and you may be safer bringing your child his own special ice cream or fancy cupcake. Although most restaurants will not allow your food into the kitchen, some will let you bring your own cake or pie to share at the table. Better yet, prepare and serve a treat for everyone at home!
Related Articles:
Spotting Hidden Food Allergens in Common Foods
Worry-Free Dinners: Eating Out With Food Allergies
Gina Clowes is the founder of the online support group AllergyMoms.com, serving thousands of families and professional members worldwide. She writes monthly for HealthCentral.com.
