Going Out to Eat with Food Allergies

Spontaneity goes out the window when you are allergic to foods.  So what does it take to go out to dinner or any meal when you have strict diet? Not much, frankly. But planning and calling ahead is key. Most people do not understand allergies, so a little explaining goes a long way.

Jahan, in your second year of life you have now decided to actually try pizza and you decided that you like it, (imagine that), well love it, we are venturing out to a local pizza spot. Taking a one and two year old out to dinner is a whole other adventure, but we are doing that too.

So what does it take?  So first off,  I found a restaurant that is "allergy-friendly" - they understand allergies (sort of) and offer items that are friendly, usually gluten-free (GF) and/or exclude the top 8 allergens (wheat, soy, eggs, dairy, nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish).  Next, I call them during non-peak times. 2pm is a good time. I ask for the manager. I explain your allergies, what I would like for you to eat and ask for them to read the ingredients to me off every single item you will be consuming or offered.  After ensuring all ingredients will be safe, then comes the risk of cross-contamination. That means that other items that may have touched items you are allergic to then comes in contact with your food. For example, a spoon. Or butter that a utensil went into that previously touched wheat for example. None of that can happen - big no no, since we already know you have reacted this way.  Okay, so by now, the manager is either completely freaked out and tells me he/she cannot guarantee safety OR the manager is willing to accommodate and guaranteeing safety.  We like safety. Anything other than 100% is no go for us.   If safety is guaranteed, I tell the manager my name, when we are coming and that's it. Then when we arrive at the restaurant, I ask for the manager and all communications and expectations are set. I literally do this for EVERY SINGLE RESTAURANT. EVERY TIME. EVERY TIME WE TRAVEL. We have to live and venture out and explore the world. We will NOT put you in a bubble, so we take risks. We mitigate these risks as best we can, the only way we know how.

Cheers to pizza...and hopefully wine for mommy!

A Glimpse into 2020

With the boys' school closed today, we opted to make great use of our time together and explore the local area.  First up, a farm. Pony ride, check. Petting zoo, check. Goat feeding, check. Now time for lunch. Jahan plowed thru his sandwich and fruit, the sun amps up his appetite for some reason.




After lunch, we hopped into the car to pay a visit to this restaurant I have been wanting to try for sometime. It's called One Dish Cuisine. The restaurant prides itself in being very allergen friendly and free of most things that could send Jahan into an allergic tailspin.

We pulled up and went inside and were greeted by the owner. After a short intro, I learned that his wife has many food allergies and he was inspired to create an atmosphere for people like Jahan, to eat safely. Freely. And be a normal kid and eat a damn cupcake or a cookie or both.

Jahan asked for a chocolate cupcake. This was a first, not the cupcake part because I cook and bake all sorts of things at home, but the part about ordering dessert in a restaurant and eating it at a table in the restaurant. Seems basic for most, but not for Jahan.  We all sat down as I placed the chocolate cupcake in front of Jahan. I smiled, watched and waited with joy and my camera of course. Jahan still is unaware of how his allergies impact him, so this moment really was for me. Jahan removed the frosting and ate one-third of the cake - then he was done.  The freedom I felt in not having to ask one question about what was in that cupcake, what is the risk of cross-contamination, what are the "natural flavors" was indescribable  - to my surprise, that is all I really got from this moment. There was no extreme exhilaration as I thought there would be. Jahan is not a "foodie" by any means. His appetite is very small, so he did not show the excitement I was expecting even when eating the cupcake. He just doesn't really care about food or even sweets. In a big way, this makes dealing with his allergies much easier.  The joy I was expecting will only come when I see Jahan excited with glee, usually while he is playing soccer or trucks with his brother or at the beach with friends or a backyard barbecue with a slip-n-slide.  Fun>food.

Jahan removed the frosting - his least favorite part

Jahan all finished with his cake

This moment let me take a glimpse into our future and feel what that freedom will be like when Jahan is completely cured, yes I said cured of his food allergies.