Dining Out Safely With Food Allergies

In this episode, Dr. Alice Hoyt and Lindsay Levine discuss how to dine out safely with food allergies, emphasizing communication, restaurant practices, and supporting friends with allergies. They share practical tips, restaurant insights, and the importance of awareness for both food allergy families and the general public.

Resources

📖 Navigating Food Allergies: A Parent’s Guide to Care, Coverage, and Confidence by Dr. Alice Hoyt - order from Amazon and more 

For Parents ➡️ Office Hours for Parents 

For Providers ➡️ Food Allergy Pediatric Hub

For Schools ➡️ Code Ana

For Potential Patients ➡️ Hoyt Institute of Food Allergy

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This podcast is the official podcast of the Hoyt Institute of Food Allergy. Information on, within, and associated with this site and Food Allergy and Your Kiddo is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Transcript

Welcome And Why This Matters

Speaker 0:04

Hello and welcome to Food Allergy in Your Kiddo. I'm your host, Dr. Alice Hoyt. Excited to have Lindsay Levine back on. She works with us here at the Institute with Communications. And she came with me yesterday to a restaurant on Magazine Street in New Orleans in the springtime called Shaya. And it was absolutely amazing. And we struck up a really cool conversation about dining out safely with food allergies and how parents of kiddos who their kiddos don't have food allergies, but how all parents should really be aware of how to dine out safely. So, Lindsay, welcome back to the show. I really wanted to take our conversation we were having yesterday. I wish we could have just like hit a record button then because it was absolutely a very cool conversation. So welcome back. Thank you for having me.

Speaker 1 0:55

You're very welcome. Where should we start? Well, let's just start with Shaya because it's one of my favorite restaurants. Um, and Chef Ferries does such an incredible job just start to finish with every meal. I was very impressed by him.

Speaker 1:09

Yesterday was the first time I met him. I'd never been to Shia. I was very impressed, as you can tell.

A Menu Built For Allergy Clarity

Speaker 1 1:15

You were in for a real treat. And you know, we went to film some content for our upcoming partnership with Ochsner Eat Fit for Food Allergy Awareness Week, which is going to be incredible. And so we had some dishes out and we were talking through their menu. Um, and on their menu we saw the markings D for dairy, G for gluten, N for tree nuts, and and on and on. And then there was an asterisk that indicated which of those components could be modified. And I think we were all surprised to see that on the menu. Like I've not seen something so comprehensive on a menu before. And I know other restaurants do do it, but just because we were there and talking about it, that's what all of this is stemming from. So I was impressed by that. How about you?

What To Do Before You Go

Speaker 1:58

Yes. My comparison would be Disney. And when I was asking him questions, I mean, I got in the weeds on questions. And I purposely didn't go, I didn't do what I basically tell patients to do when they're going to dine out somewhere. Um, I didn't look at the menu ahead of time. I didn't call ahead to see what safe options were, how um, how comfortable are they with food allergies? Now, I was already told by the Ochsner team that, you know, they had already reached out to this great restaurant that they're already partnered with, specifically to see if they would be interested in having us to spotlight them about food allergies. And they were interested. So yesterday I definitely wanted to go in um was sort of with as little information as possible, because so many times when families are going to eat out, you know, they don't always have the luxury of calling ahead of time. It's a little bit more spontaneous. And of course, if you're a parent of a kiddo who doesn't have food allergies, but you have a kiddo who like happens to join you for dinner, right? Like, oh, can so and so come with us to dinner? Like, yeah, sure. Um, you already have reservations, you're going and you get there. And then how do you read the menu? And at Shaya, they really made it easy because they already in each dish, they denoted with exactly the letters like a D for dairy, a G for gluten, N for tree nuts. And I asked about peanuts, and he said, we do not have peanuts in the kitchen. If we ever were to do anything with peanuts, it would be like their menu changes, right? It's one of those paper menus. It's really lovely that they they print out. Um, and so they would they would denote that. But what they also had on that menu at the where they were explaining the basically the key, um, like the D and all that stuff, they had let your server know. But also what this chef instructs his team to do is ask first thing when they're sitting down, do you have any food allergies? And that's something that Disney took away recently. And I I wish they hadn't. I really wish they hadn't, because it, you know, it doesn't just signal or it doesn't just say, like, okay, well, you know, do you have any food allergies so that I can help guide you on your eating experience? But it signals something deeper. It signals that this restaurant, you are welcome here with your food allergies here at this restaurant. It signals that we take food allergies seriously, food intolerances, dietary preferences, we take it seriously and that we want to make this dining experience not only delicious, but also safe. And I remember the chef he's saying, you know, so you don't have to take your medicine later thinking, you know, if if somebody has a lactose intolerance and they want to be dairy free, but if if the restaurant weren't to denote what already has dairy in it, or have that asterisk on it, which I agree was so that's so nice. And it really, it really talks about hospitality from a restaurant where the asterisk signaled this dish can be modified to be made gluten-free or to be made dairy-free or vegan or nut free, whatever it was. And not every dish had had the modifier, which I also respect that because a a high quality restaurant wants to only put out high quality food. And if modifying a dish so much is going to make it not their standard, then like I, as a guest at a restaurant, I don't, I don't want to eat something that's not their high standard of food, right? So I really appreciate how how they did all of that. What and how they made it so easy.

Speaker 1 5:38

And easy is not a word that you hear a lot when it comes to food allergy families dining out. So it made me realize that there's so much more that goes on behind the scenes. So, like you said, you might have to call the restaurant ahead of time and have this conversation with them. And and so, what is going on behind the scenes when our families are trying to do something fun and normal, like going out to dinner?

Speaker 6:04

I know. So, what should be happening from the family's point of view? Ideally, they are calling ahead, looking at the menu ahead of time to see is this even a place that is potentially safe for us. And then give them a call if you've never been there before to really get that vibe of, oh yeah, we we we accommodate this all the time. Like, yes, like that they're being welcoming and that they're competent in it. They're confident and competent, right? And you're not really gonna know if if if they're if if what they're saying on the phone is legit until you get there, right? And so you go, you read the menu, you do tell your server, and look, I'm talking to the adults out there too, who have food allergies, or a dietary preference. If you don't want to be served something that is going to that you just don't want to eat, you need to tell them that. And I get it. It's it's awkward to talk about your medical conditions when you're at a nice restaurant, right? Or any restaurant.

Speaker 1 7:03

And you're just kind of like, maybe I'll, maybe I won't say anything and I'll just deal with it later. I have my EpiPen, you know, whatever. That's so dangerous.

Speaker 7:11

I hate for anyone to have to do that. Okay, so it is dangerous, and that's how accidental ingestions and reactions happen. Trust me. I hear the stories. I hear the stories, y'all. So please don't do that. Please, if you're going to dine out, please tell the server, hey, I have a peanut allergy. What what what on your menu is is safe for me? And please let the chef know. And all of the things, right? And what was so cool about Shaya yesterday is the chef, when I'm like asking him a million questions, by the way, like I was like really going down the rabbit hole because there I wanted to really see how prepared was this restaurant for food allergies. And when he was saying how it's not just the the weight staff that needs to be prepared, they have to know how to tell the line cook, how to tell the sh how to tell everybody, right? So everybody is aware, which it's music to my ears, because that's exactly how it has to be. That's right.

Speaker 1 8:20

I could go on and on about this. I know. Well, I think this was this is a great segue because I feel like too, the conversation is about everyone else at the table. So how can non uh people who don't have food allergies that they're navigating, how can we be more supportive? Like I've I've definitely I'm guilty of being like, well, just like scooch it to the side with your fork and you know, just try to eat around it. I know, I know you can judge me right now because I am ignorant when it comes to to how that's a no judgment place, okay? Like it's just a safe space, safe podcast space.

Speaker 8:56

Um but it's probably because Lindsay, you don't you as a non-food allergy parent, you you genuinely you don't know, you know, and you don't know that risk of, oh, well, let me just put it on the side. I had a patient last week tell me that ordered avocado toast and it had egg, and they said put it on the side because they wanted to give some of the toast to um their child who has an egg allergy. Well, the child ate some of the toast but started having some reaction. And the mom's like, oh, it was probably because they probably put the toast on top of it and then remembered that I wanted it on the side, so took it off. And I'm like, yes, that very well is what could have happened, um, which is a big no-no. So if you tell a restaurant that you have a food allergy and you need to have this food very separate, because you can still share food, right? Some people are like, oh, she can't share food if you have a food allergy. You can. You just need to make sure that the food you're sharing has not contacted your allergen. And that's totally doable. That's totally doable by having sauces on the side, nuts on the side, but don't just ask for it on the side. Say, I have an allergy, but my husband would love to eat this that I'm not gonna eat. So can you please put it separate because I am allergic to it, but he's not, right? And so, like if you're sharing an app or something like that, he can still enjoy that on his plate, right? Or on his separate thing, but don't just say on the side. Don't just say like dressing on the side or whatever on the side. Dressing, you can usually tell if they end up not on the side.

Speaker 1 10:33

Give some context as to why you're saying that. Yeah. Right. Communicate it.

Speaker 10:37

Communicate it. Exactly. Communication is critical from the restaurant's perspective, how they're communicating with each other, with you. But you as the guest also have to communicate that as hard as it is. I I get it. It is hard, it is unpleasant. The more you do it and the more you have like your line down, the more you practice it, the more you do it, the more natural it will it will become. Okay. It's it's it's not fun, right? I I guess it's not. But please don't.

Being A Better Table Mate

Speaker 1 11:08

I think it's such an important thing to reiterate. And also, you know, for for the rest of us at the table, how can we be be better table mates? I like how you're saying you can share, and these are ways you can share. But how can I be a better table mate, Alice?

Building Empathy And Teen Safety

Speaker 11:21

Okay, so I heard super nanny. She posted something about this. Um, about when she was young and her parents helped her with her food allergies. But she also had friends who helped. And this is where it can be so it's it can be a learning experience for the friends. It can be an opportunity for leadership, an opportunity to really bless somebody else, is how I also think about it, by just one, not always making the friends say, Hey, I have a peanut allergy. But as soon as you sit down, say, Hey, Jessica has a peanut allergy. So we're not gonna order anything with peanuts. Because even though somebody else at the table could have some something with peanuts and it not affect Jessica, right? As long as Jessica doesn't eat it, it is really nice, I will say. Like, especially if you're going to dinner, you're sharing apps, things like that. Like, you want to be able to share and everyone participate family style. And that's how Shia is family style restaurant, which I thought was really cool. A lot of their dishes are family style because it goes back to their vibe of having that shared experience. Yes. And so being an advocate for your friends who have food allergies, um, helping them remember to say something, you know, because chances are they are thinking about it, but it's just like maybe you're in the middle of conversation when the when the server comes up and like it's kind of awkward to say, Oh, I have a dairy allergy or whatever the or whatever it is, right? Yeah. Um, and so being encouraging, also trying to select restaurants where they can go. Um, that's helpful, especially if someone who has a shellfish allergy. Sometimes going to seafood restaurant can be hard. Now, sometimes seafood restaurants can do like a really good steak, or if you're allergic to shellfish but not fish, they can do some really great fish, right? Depending on the seafood restaurant, right? So just taking a look ahead of time and just trying to be mindful. And it's very hard to be mindful and to walk in the shoes of somebody who has a food allergy if you don't have one. Um, I I volunteer with a group called the Alice and Rose Foundation. I've talked about them before. I've had Mike and Becca on the podcast before, amazing, amazing humans. And they do this Alice and Rose challenge where when they go into the schools, they'll have the kids pick an allergen and then they avoid it for three days and they report back. And let me tell you, once you actually have to start avoiding something like dairy, light eggs, I mean, even nuts sometimes can still be hard to avoid. Um, I definitely hear from patients, heard it this morning. Like, it's one thing to avoid a peanut, but man, I really wish my kiddo didn't have to avoid egg or didn't have to avoid milk. Like those are the ones, those are the ones, because they're staple foods, right? But once you start, once you actually somewhat live it, then you just have a whole different perspective. And then carrying your medication, you know, making sure people have their medications, making sure you as a friend know how to recognize an allergic reaction and know how to use their emergency medication. And also like teens, making sure that teens, if they are starting to feel sick or something's going on, like don't just let them leave. Don't just let them get in an Uber, right? Like, don't leave them alone or at school, don't let them walk to the nurse by themselves. That is a big no-no as well. It's scary.

Speaker 1 14:50

I'm just listening to all this and taking mental notes about what as a parent and as a friend I can do to support others who are dealing with food allergies. And it actually, the Allison Rose challenge reminded me of how, you know, we read in our household your children's book, Wally, the Seafood Allergic Walrus. And we always stop at the page where his friends are all, you know, when he accidentally ingests something, his friends are all helping him and encouraging him and it's gonna be okay. And like, that's what I hope that my kids can do for their friends who have food allergies. And you're absolutely right. As we get to the teenage years, um, which we are absolutely not ready for, um, having them understand and be empathetic uh to their friends and supportive, I think this is just such an important conversation to have.

Speaker 15:33

I agree. Um, and I know your kids and they're fantastic and they're absolutely gonna be fantastic friends to all their food allergy friends.

What Restaurants Can Implement

Speaker 1 15:41

They absolutely will, because if they're not, I'm just kidding. So speaking of important conversations, I guess using Shia as an example. And again, we know there are other restaurants in New Orleans and and beyond that do a great job of this too. We're just talking about Shia because we were just there yesterday. But what do you wish that restaurant um owners and and executive chefs and everyone in the restaurant industry, what do you wish they knew and could implement to get us closer to this being standard?

Speaker 16:11

I wish I think the restaurants who are doing it, they're doing it because they, you know, they genuinely want people to come and enjoy their food from a very like it all comes from love. That's really the vibe I got from Shia yesterday. And restaurants who aren't doing it, I think sometimes it's because it does seem very scary. It's it can potentially seem like overly burdensome. Um, but it's totally doable. It's doable if you know your ingredients, if you know the safe practices and you know how to communicate. And there's no doubt in my mind that any restaurant that is passionate about food is able to do that. Um, and you know, I should also highlight that I have the free course, the dining out safely course, for families to take to learn really how they can dine out safely because it's a two-way street, right? Like you, as a guest at a restaurant, you need to know what your allergies are and how to treat an accidental ingestion reaction and how to communicate. But also you need to know how to recognize if the restaurant is a safe restaurant, if they are practicing these things that we're talking about. So you should totally check that out. Um, but really those are sort of those are the things is that if a restaurant knows their ingredients, if they have good techniques in the kitchen to avoid cross contact, which they should, because whenever you're preparing anything, like you don't want ingredients to mix, right? You want to have clean, fresh um utensils and and um cookware, all the things, right? And so if you if you have good practices, you can do this. You absolutely can do it. Um, and what I think a lot of restaurants will find is that it it really helps them clarify like what are their ingredients and how are they preparing foods and what really is their communication strategies with their or what are their communication strategies with their teams, um, which is all just gonna help improve the restaurant as a whole, not just regarding food allergies, but just improve it as a whole. And I love what Shaia is doing. We need we need more.

Speaker 1 18:18

Absolutely. And I think I think all of this it really does come down to clarity and communication. And like you said, that's stuff you go over in the dining out guide in course. Yeah. Um, so let's just to have the biggest takeaway, how do we make this practical for food allergy families and non-food allergy families?

Speaker 18:40

So really just the first thing I would say is if you're not a food allergy family, then still consider that whenever you are dining with someone who has a food allergy and take it seriously. Sometimes people make jokes because like they that's kind of how like they deal with kind of maybe situations that they're not comfortable with. Try not to do that, you know. Um, most of the time it's not, it's it's not malicious. It's just them trying to like deal like, oh, I could never live without peanut butter or something like that. Like trying to have a conversation about it. Just like kind of tone that down. Let's don't don't do that. Instead, say something like, okay, like let's well, let's definitely go somewhere that that you really enjoy that that we know can accommodate you. Or if you're already at the place, then don't be shy to tell the wait staff, like, oh, hey, we we are dealing with some food allergies here. Um, what can you tell us about your menu? You know, you don't have to call out the other person, but it sets the stage for that other person to to volunteer, like, oh, hey, I have an allergy to egg or whatever the case may be. You know, and just don't assume things. Like, definitely you want clarity you from your your server if if someone's about to, you know, serve you food. You want to make sure that they know what's in that food, that you know what's in that food. And that's not just from an allergy standpoint either, right? There are other reasons to have um dietary uh needs, dietary restrictions, dietary preferences. Um, and so those are sort of the big things. I would say, you know, take definitely take it seriously and and ask them to have conversations with your friends who have food allergies, say, hey, you know, how can we make this easier for you? Because we love spending time with you, you know, we want to go to fun places with you. Um, and so in that, you know, ask them and don't assume like that, that, that how you think you would handle a food allergy is how they're handling theirs, right? Um, and so I think just having open, honest conversation, um, friend to friend, heart to heart, just like you would about any other topic, right? And and really leading with, you know, you love your friend and you want to do cool stuff with your friend.

Speaker 1 20:47

For sure. I love that. Well, thank you for creating your dining out guide and for sharing these wonderful resources and tips with families. Um, it's really, it just sounds like such a great way to bring less stress and more joy even to the journalists.

Closing Guidance And Reminders

Speaker 21:03

That's what it's all about. Yeah, no, I'm I'm glad that we could hop on and talk about this because I'm I'm hopeful that, you know, if you're listening to this and you you have been struggling with, you know, how do I tell people or how do I tell restaurants, like, go take that course, you know? Or if you want to share this with your friend who does come and dine out with you, then like go for it, right? Hit the share button. Um, but just please, like, if you have a food allergy or your kiddo has a food allergy, then make sure whoever is preparing food is aware of it and make sure you're teaching your kiddo how to how to start doing that too, right? Set age appropriate goals. That's right. Well, thank you. Thanks, Lindsay. That's the episode. Thanks so much for tuning in. Remember, I'm an allergist, but I'm not your allergist. So talk with your allergist about what you learned today. And like and subscribe and share this with your friends. God bless you, and God bless your. Family