Places to Eat with Allergies

Picking a place to go out to eat is one of the biggest debates my husband and I had before we had kids. Most nights we would end up going to two separate places just because it made everyone happy.  Now that our son has a peanut allergy the debate has taken on a whole new meaning.  We always have to make sure it is safe for Gavin and then there is always that lingering fear if it is a new place.  We usually end up going to McDonald's just because we are POSITIVE it is safe.  Most restaurants have pretty good information on their websites.  You usually click on the menu and find where it says nutrition information or allergen information.  After we confirm online that it is safe, we go to the restaurant and speak with a manager.  It seems like most managers are aware of the severity of allergies and are able to speak with confidence about what is safe.  I never trust a waitress or hostess simply because they most likely have not been trained on food allergies.  Here is a list of our favorite places to go.  Remember every place is different and products can change.  Always speak to a manager or chef and make them aware that they are dealing with an allergy.  As always remember to bring your Epi-pens and Benadryl into the restaurant with you!

McDonald's
Burger King
Chili's
KFC
Subway

I am sure there are more, but having trouble thinking of them right now.  If you have safe favorites please comment!

~Stacey

Edit: I want to include a few places that are definitely NOT safe: (please comment about this list too!)

Texas Corral (peanuts everywhere)
Texas Roadhouse (peanuts everywhere)
Five Guys Burgers and Fries (use peanut oil and have peanuts in restaurant)
Chick-Fil-A (use peanut oil)

Disney with a Disability

Disney with a Disability

Visiting Disney with Gavin's Cerebral Palsy couldn't have been a more enjoyable experience!  They really take care of families with a disability to make it magical for everyone.  When you arrive at your first park of the trip, head straight to guest services.  We went to EPCOT's guest services.  It is located under Spaceship Earth to the left.  We spoke with a Disney Cast Member about his disability and without question they got us set up.  I was expecting to have to show proof because sometimes it is hard to tell that Gavin has a disability.  They give you a card to carry and if you are traveling with a stroller they give you a tag to attach to the stroller that says you are using it as a wheelchair.  My only advice is to make sure you attach it to the TOP of the stroller.  We got questioned a few times because they didn't see the tag right away.  The tag and card gave us the ability to go through the fast pass lines or through the handicap entrance, so there was less of a wait time and we were able to bring the stroller with us.  The only thing you couldn't do was use it for rides that he wasn't big enough for.  So if you want to do those be sure to get a FastPass. 

The one thing that got under my skin is how rude some people can be.  I had several dirty looks from guests in the park and even had a few say nasty things to me.  Unfortunately Mama Bear came out and I put them in their place!  People really should mind their own business sometimes! LOL!

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Day 5

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Fort Wilderness-Pioneer Hall

Disney Dining Plan: 2 Table Service meals each person

This was a PERFECT ending to our trip!  I HIGHLY suggest making your way to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.  It is a great interactive show with FANTASTIC food!  We were at table 62 and it was truly like we were guests of honor.  Our table was located in the middle of the floor with about 6 feet of space in front of us before the next table.  The actors spent a great deal of time directly in front of us and even sang a song to Gavin!  He is in LOVE!  The chef was the best one of the trip.  He gave us his business card.  His name is Jonathan Sanders.  His email is jonathan.sanders@disney.com.  He spoke to us about both allergens and made a special plate for Rick.  Instead of mashed potatoes he made him a baked potato and corn.  He also brought him a special salad.  Gavin was able to eat the corn bread and everything else, which he loved!  The dessert was strawberry shortcake.  Rick had just the strawberries and the shortcake, no cream.  Gavin had just the strawberries and cream.  It was great!  Although we had such a great table there really isn't a bad table in the house.  My husband and I went on our honeymoon and we were in the balcony and that was great too!  The actors are really all over the place.  The only suggestion I can make sure you leave plenty of time to get there.  It isn't the easiest place to get to fast.  There is a boat from Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness, but it was raining the night we went.  So we took a bus from our resort to MGM (because it was the closest park).  From MGM we went to Wilderness Lodge.  There is then 1 bus that goes to Fort Wilderness.  You do not want to take a bus to Fort Wilderness Campground because that lets you out pretty far away from Pioneer Hall.

Salad and Cornbread

A little bit of everything!

Gavin's girlfriend! LOL

Gavin clapping along

Strawberry Shortcake.  Sorry for the bad picture!

Les Chefs de France

Day 4

Les Chefs de France

EPCOT-France

Disney Dining Plan: Table Service meal

All I have to say is YUMMY!  We thoroughly enjoyed Les Chefs de France!  It could've been the DELICIOUS wine, but still it was good!  Chef Loic came to our table and spoke with us about Gavin's allergy.  He informed us that the Macaroni and Cheese was safe as well as the bread!  We were very excited because the bread was off limits everywhere else!  The Macaroni and Cheese was not on the kid's menu, but they made it for him anyway.  Gavin did not have dessert that evening.

Gratin de macaroni - Baked macaroni with cream and gruyere cheese. - $14.99

Demi poulet fermier roti Pommes rissolees et broccoli - Half of an all natural roasted chicken, rissole potatoes and broccoli - $18.99

Plat de cote de boeuf au cabernet avec pates - Beef short ribs braised in Cabernet with pasta, pearl onions and mushrooms. - $22.99 

Filet de saumon, pommes de terre ecrasees au beurre et ciboulette, sur coulis de tomate et poivron rouge - Broiled salmon, Smashed potatoes with butter and chives, served on a tomato and red pepper sauce. - $23.99 

Fraisier, sorbet et coulis aux fruits rouges - Strawberry cake with red berry sauce and sorbet. - $7.25 

Landscape of Flavors

Day 3

Landscape of Flavors

Art of Animation Resort

Disney Dining Plan: Quick Service meal

Picture Courtesy of disneyfoodblog.com

At the Art of Animation there are 4 different food stations ranging from Mongolian to Italian.  My husband wanted Italian for himself and Gavin.  He spoke with the chef about his lactose intolerance and Gavin's peanut allergy.  The chef made them their very own pasta!  My husband said it was delicious!

Rick's is on the left.  They both had chicken pasta, but different noodles.

Cosmic Rays

Day 3-Lunch

Cosmic Rays

Magic Kingdom-Tomorrowland

Disney Dining Plan: Quick Service meal

Picture courtesy of wdwinfo.com

We spoke with the kitchen manager who assured us everything was safe except the desserts.  I didn't take a picture, but Gavin got chicken nuggets, fries, applesauce, and milk.  The chicken nuggets were actually pretty tasty!  The adults got pulled pork sandwiches or half a chicken.  The pulled pork was delicious!  This was part of the quick service meal and there was ALOT of food!  I will definitely eat here again!

Biergarten

Day 2-dinner

Biergarten

EPCOT-Germany

Disney Dining Plan: Table Service meal

Chef Richard, from Hawaii of all places, came to speak with us at our table.  He explained that all of the regular food on the buffet line was safe for Gavin, but we needed to stay away from all breads and desserts.  He then offered to bring out a dessert made by Enjoy Life, which is a company that is free of the 8 most common allergens.  He brought Gavin 2 packages of cookies and a candy bar!  Gavin was in seventh heaven!  This was our second time at Biergarten and it did not disappoint.  We will definitely eat there again!

A sampling of the buffet from my husband's plate.  There was lots of other yummy foods that he couldn't/didn't want.

This dessert plate was NOT safe for Gavin, but it was yummy!

Here is a picture of the dessert from Enjoy Life.  He tried a brownie at one of the other food vendors and I have to say that was the BEST!