Eating Out With Confidence

As the weather turns warmer, most of us may be more tempted to get out of the kitchen and dine al fresco with friends and family. For a family with food allergies, this can be a daunting and anxiety provoking task. Here are some things you can do to ease your mind.

• Internet is Power:  Most restaurants these days have a website where you can look up the menu. Websites of popular chain restaurants are more likely to have an updated menu posted where you can find allergen information. I find these are generally limited to wheat and nut allergens. Independent restaurants with more seasonal menus, may be a little more difficult to navigate. Try visiting http://www.allerdine.com/, they have a list of over 170 metro-Detroit restaurants that lets you know such things like if allergens are listed on the menu, willingness to custom prepare meals, allergy-friendly kitchen layout, and if a book with ingredients is available.
• Call Ahead: Ask for the manager to be sure you are getting correct information. Some restaurants may rely solely on peanut oil for deep-frying. This is valuable information that may not be clearly advertised unless someone asks. Although we like to think that our meals are all made fresh to order, this is often not the case. Many restaurants complete food prep long before meals are assembled. Marinades, sauces, salads and other items that are made ahead of time may prove to be difficult when trying to adjust menu orders due to allergies.
• Speak up from the get-go: If you have not called ahead, make sure to let your server know about your food allergies right away. I would suggest also informing the manager to be sure the word gets to the chef and food handlers immediately.
• Consider a Chef Card: These can be carried with you every time you dine outside of your home. These cards are designed to alert restaurant staff to the ingredients that need to be avoided.  Visit http://www.foodallergy.org/page/chef-card1 for a blank chef card template courtesy of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.