?? for mom's of kids with food allergies...

Makinroom4baby

What do you do on vacations? Wednesday night we are going to Destin. Jayden has to avoid dairy, casein, soy, and gluten so just about all fast food places are out. I think I've read that Red Robin is a safe place to eat, but I don't even know if there is one in or near Destin, so we are trying to figure out what to do about Jayden for the trip. We are bringing an ice chest and I'll have some rice milk for him to drink and I can add rice cereal to it or his protein powder so he *should* be okay on the ride there and just eat on his snacks, but he will have to eat once we get there. I can bring a pack of his turkey dogs and make sure that the hotel will provide us with a micro/fridge. The hard part is going to be when DH and I need something to eat and we have no choice but to eat out. I am thinking we'll order alot of take out and eat at the hotel, but as soon as Jayden gets tired of eating turkey dogs, I have no idea what else to do for him. Dealing with food intolerances is so difficult and I just wish he (we) didn't have to deal with this. How do you ladies handle vacations and eating for your DC?

Kersbear

Could you go to sit down type restaurants and order veggies or a fruit for him and then some sort of protein (chicken, hamburger without the bun, etc)?

Zenya

I am dairy, soy, egg free for my baby.  I have to go to a sit down place and order something special or get a baked potato at Wendy's. 

shelleyannr

Hi -

My son is also allergic to dairy, soy, egg and peanuts.  When traveling I always bring plenty of okay snacks with us and always call ahead to make sure that the hotel provides a fridg. and microwave in the room.  I have only had one hotel that was unable to provide us with a fridg. but they offered to keep DS things in the main Kitchen and I could get it 24/7.  When eating out I bring rice milk with me in a sippy cup and always speak to a manager at the restaurant that we are eating at.  I explain DS allergies and ask for plain chicken or pasta (or whatever your child likes) and ask to that it be cooked with NOTHING other than olive oil.  In many restaurants, the manager closely guards my DS's meal and will bring it to our table.  If someone else brings it to the table I confirm with that person that the item is dairy, egg, soy and peanut free and that it has not been cross-contaminated.  It is a lot of work but as long as you are diligent you can eat out fairly safely with your son.  If your son is like mine, he too enjoys eating out and I would hate to deny him that and limit him anymore than I have too.  That being said, I never leave home (ever) without our epi-pen b/c you never know...

mamarazzi

Red Robin is NOT dairy-/soy-free.  I learned the hard way that their seasoning has dairy in it.

I'd just ask to speak with the cook/chef.  At Applebee's, they brought the packaging so I could check the ingredients myself.  Most restaurants are aware of food allergies and can accomodate if you ask.  Panera has ingredient lists on their website, so you can check to see if there are any foods on their menu that will work for Jayden. 

Have a good time!

Makinroom4baby

Thanks ladies. The restaurant tips really help. mamarazzi, we've taken him to red robin before and all I had to do was tell the waiter Jayden's food intolerances and she told me what he could have and how they could prepare it. He loves chicken and fries, so they served him the steak fries with NO seasoning on them and a grilled chicken breast with olive oil. I've just been hesitant to ask for these accomodations at all restaurants. I like the idea presented by the PP of speaking to the restaurant manager about his meals, so we will try that in Destin.

mamarazzi

Makinroom4baby:

Thanks ladies. The restaurant tips really help. mamarazzi, we've taken him to red robin before and all I had to do was tell the waiter Jayden's food intolerances and she told me what he could have and how they could prepare it. He loves chicken and fries, so they served him the steak fries with NO seasoning on them and a grilled chicken breast with olive oil. I've just been hesitant to ask for these accomodations at all restaurants. I like the idea presented by the PP of speaking to the restaurant manager about his meals, so we will try that in Destin.

Good to know.  My family loves that restaurant and I explained the restrictions I had to the waiter and he assured me they could accomodate, but DS2 was so sick for days after and then I later learned about the seasoning.

Makinroom4baby

Oh that's horrible!! They have an allergen menu on their website and it strictly says to get fries without seasoning so the waiter should have known better!

Zenya

looks like outback steakhouse has a GF menu.

 

marchbaby

I have several food allergies that were diagnosed this year.  So this summer is the first time we're going to have to accomodate those on vacation.  I plan on bringing as much food as I can.  I am also debating spending the extra money renting a condo verses getting a hotel room.  That way we'll have full kitchen capablities.  It will be a little more money but we won't have to eat out so we'll save some there.  And it will be less stressful, I have been out to eat four times since being diagnosed.  The restaurants have messed up two out of the four times!  The first I didn't realize and ate it and had a reaction, the second time I noticed before I ate it thankfully...

good luck!