If you have food allergies, being careful while eating out is vital. This is because unless we inquire, we never know the ingredients that go into the food which is served. Eating a food to which you are allergic to can be dangerous and can ruin a pleasant time with your family. Hence, it is always better to be prepared and cautious while eating out.
Many hotels are nowadays prepared to deal with food allergies. Hotels are taking initiative to train their staff regarding food allergies. This is because about 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies. The most common foods which cause allergies are eggs, wheat, milk, tree nuts, tree nuts, and fish.
Even though the restaurants are prepared to deal with food allergies, we should be careful. The responsibility to be safe from food allergies while eating out lies with us.
Ways to be Careful while Eating Out with Food Allergies
Here are a few ways to be careful while eating out with food allergies:
- Know your allergies: By getting tested for food allergies by an allergist, you can know the foods you are allergic to. This will help you to avoid these foods. You should also know if you are allergic to the other variants of the foods you are allergic to. For example, people who are allergic to peanuts can be allergic to cashew nuts
- Inquire about the restaurant: Before going to a restaurant, call them up and find out about their policy towards people with food allergies. Make sure you go to a restaurant which can be trusted and is experienced in welcoming people with food allergies
- Have a list: Make a list of food allergies you have. You can give this list to the server to make sure he does not serve the foods you are allergic to
- Communicate: Discuss with the server regarding your food allergies as soon as you enter the restaurant. Make sure the server is informed about the foods you are allergic to. Also, ask about the ingredients used in the food. If the server is not sure about the ingredients, he can ask the chef and clarify the ingredients used in the food
- Carry an emergency medication: Carry an emergency medication such as self-injectable epinephrine to prevent anaphylaxis. This will help you to deal with an unexpected reaction to food
Eating out with food allergies can make you anxious or worried. However, being well informed about your allergies and communicating well with the hotel staff can make your eating out safe and enjoyable.
