Dining Out With Food Allergies

Eating out is a social activity — we dine out to celebrate special occasions, try new restaurants with friends or simply take a night off from cooking. Yet, this pastime can be a daunting activity for people with severe food allergies. When on the road, communication can be especially difficult. Consider these tips to make dining out an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Research the menu. Although this takes some of the spontaneity out of dining out, it is much better to know ahead of time than aimlessly wander from restaurant to restaurant hoping their menu will suit your needs. Consider calling ahead and asking questions — depending on the severity of the allergy, cross-contamination could provoke a reaction — it’s better to play it safe than suffer an allergy attack on the road.

While they may not advertise them, many restaurants offer special allergen-free menus. Large chains, such as Dominos, now offer gluten-free pizza crusts, and smaller restaurants may be able to make special modifications if given advance notice.

Utilize resources, such as Chef Card, a printable card that wait staff can deliver to the chef to inform them of your allergy. Consider getting them in different languages if English is not the predominant language in your destination.

When it comes to dining out with food allergies, your best defense is to stay informed and plan ahead. When in doubt, leave it out — there are still plenty of attractions and activities to enjoy even if you can’t partake in the exact same meal as everyone else.