Eating Out with Food Allergies

Eating Out with Food Allergies is a top fear for those of us with life threatening food allergies!

As many people with serious anaphylactic food allergies know all too well, are the challenges of finding safe food allergy-friendly food to eat.

Especially lately, there seem to be so many tragic stories of people eating out with food allergies and having fatal reactions/serious anaphylactic reactions.

From Jack Fowler’s recent reaction onboard Emirates Airlines to Disney personality Dominique Brown…far too many people are having serious reactions, even fatal ones. All tragedies.

Eating Out with Food Allergies – Missed Flight

A few weeks ago, my daughter Katie was traveling from Dubai, UAE via Mumbai, India to Vadodara, Gujarat, India when her flight was delayed, and she missed her connection.

Never having been to Mumbai or India before, with multiple life-threatening food allergies (#peanutallergy #treenutallergy #shellfishallergy…),

Katie started going thru her Traveling with Food Allergies Checklist:

• What food do I have with me in carryon & backpack cooler?
• When is my next flight?
• Is there safe food available & do I feel comfortable/safe eating it?

Taking stock of her carryon bag, Katie had:

Salmon jerky, MadeGood granola bars, @BetterBatterflour homemade cupcakes.

Additionally, Katie’s backpack cooler (A MUST HAVE for Traveling with Food Allergies!) was filled with pasta salad she made with EVOO & veggies (so a good, hearty meal) and a Sun butter & jam sandwich (great breakfast, lunch or even a snack).

Although specific to Katie’s trip to India, these #eatingoutwithfoodallergies travel tips work in the USA or (as you can see!) around the World!

Always, being aware of your food stash is a top travel tip!

Eating Out with Food Allergies – Your Trip Plan

So, when planning Katie’s trip, we used our Food Allergy Trip Planner (Travel Starter Guide).

Using this Planner, it’s easy to see this airline connection as possibly having high chance of being delayed/us missing this flight.

As luck would have it, the time difference between Mumbai, India and my home in Maryland, USA (EST) means the call I anticipate arrives after midnight!

Katie rocked on figuring out her best option is to stay the night at the (almost) on property Mumbai Marriott.

Travel Tip:

Higher end, Western hotels are usually better able to accommodate for eating out with food allergies.

Typically, it is cheaper to make hotel reservations online, especially for arriving ASAP stays. However, there is something to showing up if lots of availability (check online 1st) and asking for discounts.

Because we have done a thorough Trip Planner (THANK YOU Travel Starter Guide!), we have a list of possible hotels that maybe able to accommodate for our specific food allergies.

Eating Out with Food Allergies – Translation Cards

Especially helpful to be able to communicate in the local language, Food Allergy Translation cards are a necessity. We personally use, professionally recommend to our travel agency clients who have food allergies and our affiliates for popular Equal Eats Translation Cards and Select Wisely Translation Cards.

Use our code AnEasyJourney for a discount! And thank you – Your support allows us to maintain this site. 😊

We choose to personalize the Translation Cards as these are all of our Food Allergies:

• Peanuts
• Tree Nuts (formerly, we did OIT but still due to cross contamination with Peanuts)
• Shellfish
• Soy
• Legumes (Peas, Chickpeas)
• Dairy & Meat Intolerances

Yup. ALL OF THESE!!!

Travel Tip:

Put your translation cards on the restaurant table, next to food allergic person as an added visual reminder for the waitstaff, helping make sure the food allergy-friendly plates are given to correct person(s).

Join our Private Facebook Group Food Allergy Travels and Life

When eating out with food allergies, we recommend joining our social media groups:

😎 Our Private Facebook Group Food Allergy Travels and Life is SUPER helpful for this! We answer EVERY SINGLE QUESTION.

And our Instagram @aneasyjourney shows you where we’re able to eat out with our multiple food allergies!

Don’t be shy! Ask people with same food allergies, if:

• They have been eating out with food allergies in a specific place.
• What do they suggest?
• Is it easy or more difficult than expected?
• Anything specific to be aware of?
• Do they live in this location or spend a lot of time in this place?

Danger, Danger Ahead!

Note: Can be Danger ahead.

Not that long ago, I received a call from Italy from a super distressed Mom, whose 11-year-old son was just released from the hospital in Florence, Italy after having an anaphylactic reaction. (THEY WERE NOT OUR CLIENT).

This family had used a popular food allergy app to plan where to eat out in Italy with food allergies and were absolutely shocked at this happening. (We weren’t shocked at all).

Note:

All too often in the last 8 years, at our Travel Agency, An Easy Journey, which specializes in helping thousands of people with Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions, we hear people blindly go to Food Allergy Apps & without further vetting, think it’s fine to eat at places listed.

I cannot tell you how many times we hear:

“BUT the __App said they ate there & so I thought it’s safe & ate there, and we ended up in the ER with an anaphylactic reaction!!!!”

Up until writing this post, in 8 years, our travel consulting agency has had exactly:

0 food allergy reactions

Now, we cannot promise/guarantee this to anyone but it’s a pretty good record, right?

We are only mentioning this because it’s a statistic we work very, very hard for are very proud of…and obviously, we may know a few things about safely eating out with food allergies!

 

Eating Out with Food Allergies – Finding Safe Places to Eat

So, after asking a lot of questions in very active Food Allergy Groups, like ours 😁 & take the list of places that has been suggested and start emailing those restaurants.

Specifically, ask how they handle food allergies, cross contact/contamination and if they can accommodate for your specific food allergies.

Look at the restaurants online menus but be aware, many places change their menus seasonally.

Travel Tip:

After emailing restaurant, make a reservation for a less busy time and note ALL of your food allergies on reservation. Reconfirm on arrival at restaurant & bring your printed email with you to show to manager/chef stating that they will be able to accommodate for your food allergies.

When in doubt, don’t eat at a place. Always trust your gut. No pun intended.

Politely tell the restaurant that you don’t feel this is a good fit/you feel safe eating there.

Then, go to your Plan B. If you are following our Travel Starter Guide, you know you will need backup options!

If you are staying at a vacation rental, maybe a dinner picnic, safe leftovers or some charcuterie on your terrace!

Hotels that May Be Able to Accommodate Your Food Allergies

Many higher-end hotels have chefs/food staff who understand food allergies. Some places that we find we can eat out with our specific multiple food allergies are:

• Four Seasons
• One & Only Resorts
• Aman
• Marriott full-service hotels/vacation clubs/resorts
• Ritz Carlton
• W Hotels
• Six Senses
• Belmond
• The Luxury Collection

Eating Out with Food Allergies – Our Story Continues

To finish our story above, when my daughter Katie missed her connecting flight in India, she assessed her food.

Speaking with Mom (me!), we book her into the nearby Mumbai Marriott. Usually for us, Marriott resorts are a good place that may be able to accommodate for Katie’s many serious food allergies.

Note: International and USA hotels maybe run by different organizations. You must still vet thoroughly for your specific food allergies.

As backup, her Plan B is to eat the food she brought with her.

Did I mention that Katie is only 23-years old and is traveling alone?

A little concerning to me, if I am to be honest, but Katie is a world traveler and is used to advocating for her food allergies.

She is able to get room service at almost midnight in Mumbai and the kitchen staff was extremely thorough in asking questions about her many serious food allergies.

Yeah @Marriott!

Tired and hungry, Katie eats a yummy avocado toast with egg sandwich and a fresh orange juice.

Heading to bed, she feels satisfied and happy!

In a completely unfamiliar country, Katie was able to travel with food allergies and #eatoutwithfoodallergies!

And you can too.

Did you find these Eating out with Food Allergies tips helpful?

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This post is 3rd in a series! See: Dubai With Food Allergies & Eating Out in Dubai with Food Allergies for more!

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