Page 58 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

Caitlyn - I have found restaurants to be very helpful for the most part when I’ve called ahead of time. Once you are talking to the right person, generally, they are very cooperative and informative. They want your business and will work to make a safe eating experience for you.
Giulia - I have called a restaurant in advance before. You want to make sure that you’re not walking into a restaurant that absolutely cannot make accommodations for your allergens.
Mathew - I often don’t do this. But it is a good precaution to take. If I were to call, I would say “I have a nut allergy. Can you accommodate this?” Each person you speak to regarding your allergies is different in terms of culture and current knowledge of allergies and language. The level of care you take when you talk to them will always differ. I would engage them in a conversation and ask them things such as: “Have you dealt with this before and is there anything on the menu with (insert allergen).”
To wrap it up...
It’s great to see examples of restaurants accommodating allergies and having specific allergy-safe policies in place so that we can eat comfortably and safely. However, it is important to realize that situations can go wrong when wait staff do not grasp the severity of the allergy before recommending food items. Or, sometimes, there can be surprise ingredients in presumably safe foods. Knowing how to take the necessary precautions is essential to ensuring that you have a safe and fun time eating out.
Explaining your allergies to the server is a great first step. If you are trying out a new restaurant, it may be worth calling ahead to check if they are able to accommodate your allergies. When talking to a server, you can often tell whether or not they “get it.” Once you have told them your allergies, explain the risks of cross-contamination and indicate what you are hoping to eat. Many servers will respond by saying whether or not they think the food item will be okay and explain that they will relay the information back to the chef. Sometimes, however, a server may seem overconfident and say that everything is okay. They may brush off your allergies like they are no big deal, they may seem extra worried about everything or they may tell you that they can't guarantee anything. In these situations, especially, it is a good idea to ask to speak with the manager or the chef directly to ensure that your allergies are clearly understood by the person making your food.
At first, dining out without your parents can be a bit stressful or difficult. But, as you learn exactly what to tell the waiter, you figure out when you need to talk to a chef or manager. Dining out can be a lot of fun and an awesome experience!
Summary Tips
1) Plan ahead by either calling the restaurant or looking on their website for allergy information.
2) Tell the wait staff about your allergies and ask for safe food options.