Eating away from home is always best done with advance planning when food allergies are involved.
Restaurants:
It is preferable to call the restaurant manager ahead of your visit, at a slow time (mid-afternoon perhaps). Explain your dietary limitations then discuss food options, preparation and prevention of cross-contamination. This relieves your anxiety entering a new environment and allows the restaurant to plan ahead as necessary for your visit.
Be sure to always tell your server of food allergies. If you are not satisfied with the response of the server, do ask to speak with the restaurant manager. Always put safety first, not making polite assumptions regarding the restaurants understanding of food allergy management.
You might consider presenting a chef's card, such as this one by FAAN.
Recognize restaurants willing to make accommodations with repeat business, letters of appreciation, and sharing them with fellow support group members.
Visit www.thelonelyplate.org a website cataloging food allergy friendly establishments nationwide. Please consider contributing great restaurants you've found there as well.
Birthday Parties:
Decisions here are dependent upon many factors, age of the food allergic individual, relationship to birthday celebrant, location of the event. Often with very young children, families may opt to leave before the party food is offered to avoid the emotional and physical stress this presents to the child.
Most families provide their child a "safe" cake and even ice cream. The resource section has links to products which make this quite easy. A batch of cupcakes can be frosted and frozen for a few months so being prepared is not too taxing with a little advance planning.
Keep in mind many birthday parties involve food beyond the cake and ice cream. Be aware of what will be served and provide your child with safe alternatives. Remember the risk for cross-contamination if your child will be partaking of the "safe food" offered at the party. It's best for the food allergic individual to be served first to avoid mixing of safe and non-safe foods.
Lastly, if you will be leaving your child at the party, be sure the host is prepared to act in case of emergency and knows how to recognize the signs of a reaction.
Other Gatherings:
As a food allergic individual a/o parent you suddenly become very aware that food and social gatherings and inexplicably entwined. At every turn there are risks, childrens playgroups, playing at the park, church, neighborhood get-togethers, civic organizations, family events.
Everyone handles these situations differently and quite frankly over time families comfort levels with different groups of people mature. Kids also mature and are better able to advocate for themselves.
Do your best to be prepared. Talk to the people in charge to know what to expect. Bring safe food alternatives for your child. Many families only allow "food from home", this eliminates confusion for the child and avoids hurt feelings among well-intentioned friends and family. If you don't follow the "only food from home rule", serve your child first to avoid cross-contamination of serving spoons. Check ingredients of anything you serve your child. Be prepared with your medicine, cell phone, and insurance information in case of emergency. And then, try to relax and have fun!
Back to Resources
The information contained on
our website and in our discussion groups
should not be construed as medical or legal advice. You should always
consult your physician on health matters.
