Families and Food Allergies :: Tips for Dining Out with A Food Allergy {Series}

NoSesameMy husband is allergic to sesame seeds, so I know first hand how difficult it can be to manage a food allergy. Thankfully he has never had a life-threatening reaction, but the effects are still very unpleasant (hives, itching, nausea, vomiting). He began noticing his food allergy when he was in his early 20’s. It took several years of trial and error to pinpoint the offending food.  He ate sesame seeds growing up without any problems. Why he developed his food allergy is anybody’s guess, but it certainly has changed the way we eat.

It’s a good thing I enjoy cooking because dining out at restaurants can be a gamble for my husband and anyone with a food allergy. Even after specifically informing the waitstaff and restaurant manager of his allergy, he has had reactions. Sometimes I’m sure it’s due to cross-contamination, and other times I don’t think that the kitchen staff knew all of the ingredients in their menu items.

PlazaOne of the more memorable times he had a reaction was on our one-year dating anniversary. Dylan and I both love sushi, and for our first official date we went to a sushi restaurant on the Plaza in Kansas City. We decided to recreate our first date for our one-year anniversary and went to the same restaurant for dinner. Even though there were no sesame seeds on the sushi, the sauce that covered our food contained sesame oil unbeknownst to us. Since we thought everything was safe to eat, we enjoyed our meal without reservation. Before leaving the restaurant, I went to the restroom and asked Dylan to watch my purse while I was away. When I returned to our table a few minutes later I saw my purse sitting all alone. Anyone could have easily grabbed it so I was immediately upset. However, once I saw Dylan’s red and swollen face I knew something was wrong. The poor guy had just thrown up our expensive anniversary meal in the restaurant bathroom! He took some Benadryl that I always carry in my purse and began to feel better, but the rest of our evening plans went out the window. Thankfully we still managed to snap an anniversary picture to commemorate the evening. He also posed for a special picture to remember the adverse reaction. What would life be without a little humor?! (By the way, he totally gave me permission to share this story and post this picture on the blog.)

DylanSick

Restaurants are becoming more aware of food allergies, but it’s still up to the customer to ensure a safe dining experience. There is currently no law requiring restaurants to disclose information regarding the use of allergenic foods, so it’s important to know how to avoid an allergic reaction. Below are tips for dining out that we have learned through the years:

  • Call the restaurant ahead of time to make sure they can accommodate your requests.
  • Ask to speak directly with the person who is responsible for preparing the meal. It’s better to inform the cook or manager of your food allergy instead of simply trusting the waitstaff to relay the message. If there is a communication barrier or you get a “deer in the headlights” look when discussing your concerns, it may be best to go somewhere else.
  • Clearly state that you have a food allergy rather than just an intolerance or distaste for a certain food. Mention what could happen if you accidently eat the allergen.
  • Carry a supply of pre-printed cards with allergy information and give one to the chef and/or restaurant manager. You can make your own cards through various websites such as tinyprints or zazzle, or you can print some for free here.
  • Avoid fried foods if possible. Frying oil is not changed between every item that is fried so it can easily become contaminated from previously cooked foods.
  • Avoid salad bars and buffets as they are often a source of cross-contamination.
  • Choose a chain restaurant. Large chain restaurants often have tighter controls over their menus and ingredients than independently owned restaurants.
  • Always be prepared for an allergic reaction. Carry your medications wherever you go (injectable epinephrine, antihistamine, etc.)
  • Report any allergic reaction to restaurant staff immediately.
  • If you have a good experience at a restaurant, write down the name of the restaurant and what you ordered. That way you can compile a list of relatively safe places to eat. (Keep in mind that even though you may not have had a reaction to a specific meal in the past, it is still possible to have a reaction due to cross-contamination and/or changing menu ingredients.)
  • If there are any doubts as to whether the food is safe to eat, don’t eat it!  It’s not worth the risk.

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[box style=”rounded”]This post is part of our Families and Food Allergies Series. Read more posts from this series…[/box]

Melanie Senn
Melanie grew up in Salina, KS and currently lives on the east side of Wichita with her husband of 5 years and their 1 year old son. They also have an energetic Pomeranian who is still adjusting to not being an only child. Melanie works full time as a Physician Assistant, but her background is in nutrition and she is also a Registered Dietitian. Even though she has degrees from KU, K-State, and Wichita State, she bleeds purple and cheers loudest for the K-State Wildcats. When she isn't working, she is usually making a huge mess in the kitchen trying new recipes or snuggled up on the couch with her boys.