"Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction when a person is exposed to an allergen. The most common allergens are eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (e.g. cashews), cow's milk, fish and shellfish, wheat, soy, certain insect stings and medications."
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FEATURE ARTICLE: Top 8 Tips for Eating Out with
Allergies
From Victoria Groce, former
About.com Guide
Eating out can be daunting with food allergies. Ceding
control of what goes on your plate can be intimidating,
especially when the kitchen is behind closed doors and you
can't be sure whether your waiter understands exactly what
you mean by "allergic to dairy". Still, though, learning
how to eat out with food allergies can greatly expand your
social possibilities and give you a much-needed break from
the kitchen. Read on for eight tips that can help you
safely negotiate the rough-and-tumble world of
restaurants.
1. Do Your Homework
Most national chains include nutrition information on their
websites. These sites often include allergy information. If
the restaurant you're thinking of visiting does not have
any allergy information available, you may be able to speak
to the manager outside of peak business hours to see if
they have any allergy information available. Some
establishments have separate allergy menus.
2. Avoid Peak Times
You'll be likely to get more attentive service, especially
on your first few visits to a given restaurant, if you
avoid lunch and dinner rushes. An already harried waiter or
waitress will find it more difficult to check on
ingredients and answer questions.
3. Make The Wait Staff Your Ally
- The wait staff is your liaison with the kitchen, so
be sure to strike up a good rapport.
- Explain your condition thoroughly and let your waiter
know that you will have some questions.
- Be polite and acknowledge that you understand that
you're requesting additional work on the waiter's part. The
implied (or even explicit) promise of additional gratuity
may help.
- Make the waiter aware of unusual names your allergen
might lurk under. Printing out a list (links below) might
be prudent.
- While a pleasant manner is generally the best approach,
don't be a pushover. If the waiter is not helpful, ask to
speak with a manager.
4. Find Multiple Options
You'll make your life -- and your waiter's life easier if
you find a few options on the menu so the waiter can ask
the kitchen about all of them at once. Allergy-friendly
options on menus fall in two categories: dishes that
include no allergens, and dishes that include an allergen
as a condiment or side that can be easily removed. In many
restaurants, the second category predominates, so consider
"what if"s” to suggest to your waiter. ("What if the chef
made the risotto without cheese?"). Restaurants are not
always willing to make accommodations, but in general, the
finer the restaurant, the more you can demand.
5. Be Aware of Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination occurs when food is prepared on a
surface or using a utensil that has touched an allergen.
You should mention the possibility of cross-contamination
to your server so that the kitchen will know to clean
utensils and pans thoroughly. However, two avenues of
cross-contamination are difficult to avoid. The first is
grills. Ask whether a food marinated in an allergen is
cooked directly on the same grill as any grilled dish you
might order. The second is frying oil; if you are allergic
to something that has been fried in a vat of oil, you
should avoid eating anything else fried in that
oil.
6. Treasure a Good Relationship
Some restaurateurs will amaze you, even touch you with
their willingness to help you. I've frequented restaurants
that would happily create wheat-free versions of daily
specials and restaurants that would go off menu to create,
as much as possible, authentic versions of ethnic dishes
that I could eat safely. Treat these sorts of
establishments like you would dear friends or family. Bring
them as much business as you can; tell friends about them;
thank them sincerely for the service they provide. It's a
great pleasure to be able to walk into a café where you
know that your medical needs will be attended to.
7. Trust Your Instincts If you have doubts
about your order after you've received it, politely ask
your waiter to double-check. Don't be shy or embarrassed
about sending food back if indeed a mistake has been made
in the kitchen, and be adamant that in the event of a
problem like an incorrect side dish that could contain an
allergen, you be given an entirely new meal. Simply
removing offending items from your plate isn't sufficient
to keep you safe. And if at any point you feel that your
concerns aren't being taken seriously -- that neither the
wait staff nor the manager are willing to address your
concerns -- walk out.
8. Be Prepared Even under the best of
circumstances, it's smart to be prepared for the
unexpected. If an allergic reaction would be life-
threatening, or even just uncomfortable, bring along
whatever treatment your doctor recommends.
Also in the category of being prepared, many restaurants
are tolerant of bringing snacks for toddlers and very young
children (though not for older children or adults),
especially those with medical needs. This can expand your
options greatly, as a side dish and a few packed snacks
might be sufficient for many children.
REMEMBER to always protect your EpiPen® or AnaPen by
using an insulated Auto-Injector case such as the
Activeaide EpiPen® case.
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