My take on eating out with deitary restrictions

As a member of the food allergy community, there is one thing that stands out significantly when ordering. Speaking out about something you can’t eat can be a bigger ordeal than the allergy itself.

Managing a food allergy goes further than notifying restaurants though, it can be a whole ordeal in which you have to plan, worry, and nag waiters and staff about the allergy. Let’s be honest: the last thing we want to worry about is what we can and can’t eat while trying to have fun.

Many others, of whom I’ve talked to, step back from eating out solely because of the drama, and the worry of attention associated with asking for assurance. This may not be the issue one on one with a server, however, with a large group it can be embarrassing to ask, and if the server doesn’t give the response you wanted, keep on trying to re-state the question and have the try to get them to understand the severity of it.

Imagine for instance, a Birthday dinner with 15 people. As you are ordering dinner, you scan the menu looking for a way to determine whether or not the dish is safe for you. Finding no way to determine this will mean only one thing: asking the servers about it. Nobody wants to get attention this way, especially when it’s someone’s special day. This could even go so far as to prohibit people from ordering. They don't want the hassle of annoying people and making the spotlight on themselves.

For me, the best way to reduce that pressure is to plan ahead. Checking the menu before arriving, calling the restaurant when necessary, and communicating your needs in advance can make the experience much less stressful. It allows you to walk into the restaurant with a better understanding of your options instead of having to figure everything out in front of a large group.

Planning cannot eliminate every difficult interaction, but it can give you more confidence and control. It may be hard, but this is something that must happen to feel comfort. There is never a 100% guarantee of anything, but by planning, it can reduce the stress, and potential for a health risk.

Until next time,

Bodhi Chinnaiyan