Do you still eat out?
I was just wondering if anyone here still eats out even though they have PA or FA? I still eat out, but I'm learning more things about PA & restaurants. I've also noticed that when I say to the waitress or waiter that I have PA, they look at me like, "so what."
Thanks.
On Jan 22, 2007
[This message has been edited by momll70 (edited January 25, 2007).]
On Jan 22, 2007
We still eat out. I have started reading menus(ingredients lists) online before we go and have a bunch printed in our diaper bag. I never did before finding this site, I am trying to be more cautious. We've never had problems eating anywhere. I never mention it to the waitress, not unless I am asking about a specific meal...what's in it etc....or if they offer the kids something(they like to offer a dish of icecream at places, which 2 can't have)....but so far, honestly, no problems.
------------------ Chanda(mother of 4) Sidney-8 (beef and chocolate) Jake-6 (peanut, all tree nuts, eggs) Carso3 1/2 (milk, soy, egg, beef and pork) Savannah-1 (milk and egg)
On Jan 22, 2007
I find that because of dd`s milk allergy in addition to peanut it is pretty much impossible to eat out. There is milk cross contamination everywhere.....I am so tired of cooking. Even the websites that list ingredients or allergens in the foods don`t tell you about the cross contamination. If she were only pa and not milk allergic, I know there are chains that are peanut free, but with the milk allergy it`s just impossible.
On Jan 22, 2007
We still do... mostly chain restaurants that post ingredients online.
------------------ Cheryl, mom to Jason (9 MFA including peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish and egg) Joey (7 NKA) Allison (4 milk allergic, suspect shellfish, avoiding PN/TN for now) Ryan (1) nka *knock on wood*
On Jan 22, 2007
No for our family too. I don't have food allergies so sometimes when my parents come up I go out to eat without my dd (MFA). I find myself feeling terribly guilty about it. Cindy
On Jan 22, 2007
Would welcome any feedback on this -- we go to Chipotle, Taco Bell, Wendy's, and 2 local pizza places that have no nuts or peanut oil in the kitchen (one place has their sauce made offsite and read ingredients to me, but the owner is also calling the place where the sauce is made to double-check about cross-contamination). I call the pizza places before we go each time. They both sell separately packaged baked goods for dessert, but at one of the places they are baked offsite and just sold at the restaurant, and at the other place the mix is made offsite and the restaurant bakes them on designated days and is able to tell me if they've baked them on a day we want to go. (My son is PA and slightly positive to a couple TN so we avoid all.)
[This message has been edited by cam (edited January 22, 2007).]
On Jan 22, 2007
we eat out but always bring dd's food with us. she is PA, MA, and TNA. we wipe down the table and chair with antiseptic wipes and use a plastic mat for her space on the table. it used to seem like a big production, but now it's just second nature.
On Jan 22, 2007
Cindy (doofusclo): stop feeling guilty. You are entitled to a night out of the kitchen occasionally. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
On Jan 22, 2007
Quote:
Originally posted by cam: [b]Would welcome any feedback on this -- we go to Chipotle, Taco Bell, Wendy's, and 2 local pizza places that have no nuts or peanut oil in the kitchen [/b]
We get Wendy's all the time (too much!). A lot of posters here have Wendy's in their comfort zone [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] We also order from our local pizza place - ironically, PA son doesn't like pizza, but we order him chicken from there (they use veg oil).
On Jan 22, 2007
Only rarely. Less than once a month. We will occasionally do McDonald's or some other "safe" fast food when travelling.
Cathy
------------------ Mom to 7 yr old PA/TNA daughter and 4 yr old son who is allergic to eggs.
On Jan 23, 2007
It is hard with those of you who are dealing with milk allergies. I know there are a lot of recalls with packaged products and there must be butter and milk in all the restaurants. I think in the next few years there will be more awareness like peanuts because milk allergies are life threatening also and there are more and more children allergic to milk now.
I'm trying to find a local pizzeria that doesn't use nuts/peanut oil or sesame. If they don't have nuts they use sesame, if they don't have nuts or sesame, they use peanut oil. We only go to Wendys and a pizzeria that is not local.
On Jan 23, 2007
We're down to just bk for the kids now...with just PA it seemed more feasible...now we've got PA/TNA and crab. luvmyboys
On Jan 23, 2007
Eating out? What is that? [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/confused.gif[/img]
On Jan 23, 2007
Rarely. Almost always chains with allergen information websites. Just too scary most of the time.
On Jan 23, 2007
we do but not often, just because we dont have alot of money!
when we do there are local resturants around here that we have all ready checked out and know they are safe. and we go to the bigger chains.
we havent had any problems knock on wood.
son-- allergic to peanut, dairy, strawberry, blueberries and my mother in laws dog. erin
[This message has been edited by smudgesgarden (edited January 23, 2007).]
On Jan 23, 2007
Carefulmom, this may be over your comfort threshold but I did want to mention that Chipotle is milk-free as long as you avoid the cheese and sour cream. The one near us is very good about carefully preparing my son's meals and we haven't had a reaction yet.
Otherwise, for us, it's McDonalds, Max & Erma's (plain salad, pasta without cheese) or Wildfire, a very expensive steak house where the manager has a nephew with food allergies and attaches a ticket everyone has to sign for food-allergic meals.
My husband and I have started checking out other restaurants though because we know those teen years are coming. I'd like my son to have at least one other option for going out with friends. (After which, of course, I'll sit by the phone endlessly and worry...) Hopefully a few more options can make the limitations seem less limiting...
On Jan 23, 2007
Disney restaurants a few times a year. Ritz Carlton - Christmas eve and a few times a year. I used to bring in our pots and pans. I always bring bread and desert. I always call ahead and talk to the chef and talk to the chef when we arrive and the servers. One of the chefs sister is actually pa and wheat allergic. The Little Nell in Aspen. They are upscale. I think the upscale restaurants are more likely to be trained regarding food allergies and contamination. Mcd's - a few times a month.
On Jan 23, 2007
Quote:
Originally posted by BriandBrinasmom: [b]Carefulmom, this may be over your comfort threshold but I did want to mention that Chipotle is milk-free as long as you avoid the cheese and sour cream. The one near us is very good about carefully preparing my son's meals and we haven't had a reaction yet.
Otherwise, for us, it's McDonalds[/b]
I checked out Chipotle about two years ago. The milk cross contamination was really bad. I don`t recall if it was spoon sharing or if it was an employee cutting cheese and then touching other items. I remember I had dd with me, and they basically told me it was not safe for her. It probably depends on which actual Chipotle restaurant you are in. You are very lucky if they are cross contamination aware. About McDonalds, I witnessed the cross contamination myself with my own two eyes. I saw the employee stick cheese on a hamburger and then touch about five other milk free items. I also saw her use the same tongs for Chicken McNuggets which have milk and then use those tongs for the Chicken Strips without milk. That was how Sabrina Shannon died, by shared tongs that were milk cross contaminated. Needless to say, we left McDonalds without eating. I called several other McDonalds and they all cross contaminated for milk.
On Jan 23, 2007
Wow--yes we do--to a lot of places. I speak with the manager, call ahead, too. If I don't like it, we leave.
I have more problems eating out with my shellfish allergy than we do for DS' peanut.
We're very careful and don't go to places that present an obvious risk.
On Jan 23, 2007
I am with McCobbre. We eat out lots of places, except for those with obvious risks. (My son is PA with no other known allergies).
Kelly
On Jan 23, 2007
We very rarely eat out. Sometimes we will go to a chain fast food restaurant w/ an ingredient list but we do not go to "sit down" restaurants. It's hard to find anywhere I would trust other than our food at home. I was a server for too many years when I was younger--I was thorough but it's amazing how many others simply ARE NOT! Call it ignorance, stupidity or laziness on their part, but I do not trust the word of others to keep my dd safe. I've seen it first hand. But we do miss the days we did go "out" to eat. Still looking for a nut free restaurant around here.
On Jan 24, 2007
We do, and at least 3x or more a month. There are a few places that we consider "safe" and have spoken with the owners and the chefs, and we are repeat customers here bc we are comfortable and have felt comfortable with their responses. Two are italian places, one is a greek restaurant and another is a Mexican place.
On Jan 24, 2007
We eat out...but not very often and not without planning ahead of time. We have a few restaurants that are within our comfort zone. However, I don't enjoy eating out because I always feel on edge waiting for the sneezing and coughing to begin... I would rather spend my money on making a meal at home that we can all relax and enjoy.
On Jan 24, 2007
I travel a lot because of my occupation, and have no choice but to eat in restaurants.
I carry a chef card. It is printed on brightly colored paper - about 5 x 7 - and then laminated.
If I don't know the restaurant, I'll show the card before I'm seated, and ask if they're comfortable with me eating in the restaurant.
Sometimes, I'm told 'NO'! Often I'll be told to stay away from a specific food item. When I'm seated, I show it to the waiter and ask for recommendations. When I place my order, I ask that the Chef Card accompany my order in the kitchen.
I almost always get the comment, 'great idea! I wish more people with FA would carry these.'
This is my chef card: ------------------------------------------ CHEF CARD
To the Chef:
WARNING! I am allergic to peanuts. In order to avoid a life-threatening reaction, I must avoid all foods that might contain peanuts, including:
PEANUT OIL ARACHIS OIL PEANUT FLOUR PEANUT BUTTER PEANUT NUT PIECES MONKEY NUTS MIXED NUTS MANDELONAS GROUND NUTS ARTIFICIAL NUTS GOOBER NUTS MARZIPAN NOUGAT
If any of the above are served in your kitchen, please ensure any utensils and equipment used to prepared my meal, as well as prep surfaces, are thoroughly cleaned prior to use. Thanks for your cooperation.
On Jan 25, 2007
Yes. BUT, we have just a select few.
-MccyDs -BK -Pizza Express -Buddies -Local pub (fab about TNA!) -Nut free restruant in Norfolk.
