How to enjoy dining out when your toddler has a food allergy
Dining out with a toddler can be an adventure in itself, but when your little one has a food allergy, it adds an extra layer of complexity (AKA stress). However, with some preparation and know-how, you can still enjoy meals out as a family while keeping your child safe. We recently took a trip to the mountains to get in a last spring weekend of snow boarding and ate out afterward at a restaurant far away from medical care. Was this anxiety provoking? Yes, yes it was. Did we do it anyway? Yes, yes we did. Let me tell you how…
Dine During Non-peak Hours
I like to dine at times the restaurant is not experiencing their breakfast, lunch, or dinner rush. This seems to work well for us. We are early risers so getting to breakfast early is not a problem. We can plan around lunch times, either 11am or after 1pm. And an early dinner is never an argument for us. 4pm, yes please!
Call Ahead
Before we arrived at the restaurant I called ahead to ask what precautions they take for peanut allergy (this is the allergy we deal with). We learned that they have almonds in the kitchen but no peanuts.
Communicate Effectively
When we arrived, I asked again about their allergy policies. I informed them of my son’s food allergy letting them know he can not eat peanuts or any peanut containing products. I asked if they use any peanut oil in making pizzas and if they share the pizza oven with any desserts or other items that may contain peanuts. (Some places make peanut butter cookies in pizza ovens, FYI). Oils can be mixed so this is another big item I ask about, especially if they serve fried foods.
I asked the staff to cut our pizza with a clean pizza cutter so that there would not be any potential cross-contact with tree nuts (not willing to take that risk miles away from an emergency room).
Scan the Menu
I do this ahead of time if I can find it online. For me, I prefer not to go somewhere that serves our allergen as a frequent item on the menu. For example, peanut butter and jelly on the kids menu. Everyone has different thoughts on this but for my family, we do not want this risk while dining out. If the menu has foods we are not comfortable with, we pick a different place.
Once arriving to the restaurant, I scan the menu again since it may have been updated since it was posted online.
I pay attention to hidden allergens that could be in sauces, dressings, and seasoning blends. I ask if not sure. This happened when our salad was brought out with a homemade dressing- I asked about the ingredients. Some restaurant staff even show me products and labels.
Pack Essentials
I bring a bag with our emergency essentials and extra snacks. Our bag includes hand sanitizer, wipes for the table, antihistamine, epinephrine, and our emergency plan. If there is something that ends up not being safe, then he has a safe alternative to eat.
I carry a list (on my phone) of the closest emergency room with the address, time, and route (if service is spotty).
I also carry the Food Allergy Professor’s Restaurant Allergen Card in our medication bag for the staff to take to the kitchen staff. Please contact me if you’d like to use this resource for your child.
Advocate for Your Child
When we ordered an appetizer, before eating it, I ensured AGAIN that it did not contain our allergen.
While trying not to be annoying, I kindly ask any questions that may impact the safety of my child. Most people are understanding!
Feel free to connect with me for help on advocating for your child.
Communicate with Your Family
My child is too young to explain what foods to avoid so it works best for us if everyone dining out avoids his allergen. This keeps him safe, especially in areas where medical care is not close. My husband and I are on the same page and my 4 year old daughter is learning to advocate for her little brother.
As my son gets older, I will be able to explain his allergy in more detail and encourage him to ask questions and speak up for himself.
It is not always easy.
We recently went to another town far away from medical care with additional family members and the restaurant appeared to be safe according to their online menu. It was a hole in the wall, three person ran saloon in an quaint mountain town.
Once we sat down and received waters and everyone used the bathroom, I had the chance to talk with our server. She informed me that all foods are fried in a mixed oil that includes peanut oil. This could have been a scary situation if we didn’t know this ahead of time. So, we packed up and left. Luckily, we found a pizza place nearby as pizza typically is a safe option for our allergen (however, one pizza place I have called makes a peanut marinated chicken pizza).
You never know, unless you ask. So don’t be scared to ask. I also had a backup lunch packed, just in case!
Even with preparation, I’m still on high alert during a meal that was not prepared at home, especially when we are in remote areas. This is normal. Without being mindful that a reaction could happen, you may be unprepared to deal with a potential reaction.
Connect with me if you need help navigating these situations.
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