One of the hardest parts of having a food allergy is being able to eat out. Especially as a working momma of 2; I don’t always have the energy to or time to cook. And sometimes it is just a nice treat to go out as a family to eat. In this post, I will go over some restaurant tips and some restaurants that I have found that are very accommodating to food allergies and/or have a great online allergen menu.

The key to eating out successfully is preparation. Grabbing a bite to eat is usually the quick route, however, when dealing with food allergies, it does take a little upfront work. Start with restaurants that you know you enjoy. Search online for an allergen menu, most large restaurants will have this available and will update the menus frequently. Be prepared with what you want to eat before you get there.

There are still some things you have to think of when reviewing menus for potential allergens. Restaurants typically will only list an allergen if it is present in the item. You may get lucky with some restaurants that will also list possible cross contamination. Be prepared with some questions to ensure that you are truly steering clear of your allergen. It is good to always ask how things are cooked, is butter used on the grill (for a dairy allergy)? Are nuts used in the kitchen? If so, are they separated from the other food prep? Can things be substituted on the menu to help avoid an allergen? Are veggies cooked in butter or oil? Is butter added to veggies after being steamed? Can the cook prepare your food on foil to avoid butter on the grill? These are all things that you can ask your server or a restaurant manager.

I like to always call a new restaurant before venturing out. Most restaurant managers and cooks are willing to let you know their cooking practices to ensure your safety. They may even review ingredient labels for prepared foods, such as dressings, sauces, etc. I have learned, if the staff isn’t willing to answer your questions, it isn’t worth eating there. There are plenty of options out there that will help and be friendly about it.

With that being said, here are some restaurants that I found to be very accommodating to our allergies (note: this is not a sponsored post, I will receive no compensation for these recommendations):

Sit-Down Restaurants:

• Red Robin
• Applebee’s
• Stone Creek Dining
• Bru Burger
• Cracker Barrel
• Red Lobster
• Chili’s

Fast Food:

• Chick-Fil-A
  • They don’t exactly have an allergen menu, however, in their app, each menu item lists the allergens and as you add and remove items it’ll update the allergens as you go
• KFC
• Burger King (be cautious of possible cross contact with fryers, if you have a very sensitive allergy)
• Taco Bell
• Wendy’s
• Chipotle – They are exceptionally great with allergies. They will get new food items and change their gloves upon request

Pizza:

• Papa John’s
• Dominoes
• Blaze Pizza
• Mod Pizza

Ice Cream:

So, I have really only had experience with Dairy Queen, here. I will say they have a good allergen menu, and they are great about getting fresh toppings to avoid possible cross contamination, if you just ask. Just from experience, I would avoid places that do mixing in front of you, like Cold Stone, only because all products are mixed on the same cold plate and there isn’t much cleaning in between. This is a big red flag for cross contact. I haven’t seen where these kinds of places have a dedicated plate for things like nuts.

Bakeries/Donut Shops:

I can only speak to this on a personal level. Bakeries are hard, because so many sweets contain multiple allergens just to be baked (milk, eggs, butter, flour, nuts, etc.) There is typically no separation in preparing the baked goods, even if the bakery may claim a particular product doesn’t have a specific allergen. I would recommend finding local bakeries that specialize in allergen free food. I’ve lived and visited a few big cities and have always been able to find a niche bakery like this.

Many different regions of the country have all different kinds of large chain restaurants and smaller restaurants. Always use your discretion and knowledge to determine whether a particular restaurant is safe for your family. If you want to try somewhere new, call ahead and get as much information as possible. Dining out doesn’t have to be taken off the table just because of food allergies. Take this time to try new things, explore, and of course, stay safe and have fun!