The following post is courtesy of Star Allergy Alerts, creators of a bright, fun range of kids food allergy and medical awareness products that your kids will love to wear!
http://www.starallergyalerts.com.au/
Food allergies can take some of the spontaneity and fun out of eating out, but with a little bit of preparation you can still enjoy a night out of the kitchen 100% guilt free.
We have put together a few tips for Eating Out with kids with food allergies:
1. Whenever possible, check out a restaurant’s menu before you go out. Many restaurants now put their menu online, making it easier for parents to quickly identify which offer allergy friendly meals. That way you can also discuss options with your child and save time arguing what they can or can’t have.
2. Call the restaurant ahead of time. Managers and chefs usually encourage customers to contact the restaurant before they come in to see if they’ll be able to accommodate their needs, especially if your child has multiple food allergies that might make food preparation difficult.
3. Try to dine out early. When the staff aren’t busy they’ll have a much easier time checking ingredient lists and preparing special dishes without leaving you sitting for hours waiting for a lull in the dinner traffic.
4. Talk to your waiter about your child’s food allergies as soon as you arrive, as your waiter is your last line of defence before your food hits the table… knowing about your child’s allergy lets them make a last check of the meal for any potential hazards before you eat.
5. Avoid menu items with multiple ingredients. Soups, stews, marinades, breaded meats and sauces come with a plethora of ingredients, making them a ticking time bomb for children with food allergies.
6. Becoming a repeat customer at your favorite restaurant is a great way to make sure your food comes prepared just the way you need it. After a couple of visits the servers and kitchen staff get to know you, and while you still want to remind them about your child’s food allergies repeat customers are well known, well loved and well taken care of by restaurant staff.
7. Now even McDonalds are making things a little easier for parents of food allergic kids… So before you visit for a meal or birthday party, you can visit their website and read all ingredients and nutritional information regarding everything on their menu!
Even after taking all of these steps make sure you never, ever travel or eat out without your child’s allergy medication. Mistakes do happen even at the most conscientious restaurant, and the last thing you want is to be caught unprepared.
Please visit the Haggus and Stookles E-Store. We sell educational Allergy Books, and some other high quality products which you may find very useful when dealing with kids having food allergies!
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Thanks for this tip, I agree if kids only have healthy options then they will eat it, especially if as adults we are good role models and they see us eating it too! Even if they don’t try something straight away, if we enjoy it they will try it eventually. (and may even like it!)
I remember when I was a kid, how I hated vegetables (organic or non-organic, there was no distinction yet back then). But now, towards college, I fell in love with gardening and love vegetables and herbs the most.
One good tip I learned is not to force children to do something they don’t want. Because the more we do, the more they will repel it. Instead of pushing, leave them with no other choice. If they don’t want to eat veggies or any organic foods, let them be. But don’t give them something else to eat either. And of course, make sure that everybody else is eating and enjoying the food so they might consider trying it out.
I don’t know, but this worked for my kids.