How do you deal with not eating out?

We are on day 5 of the elimination diet for Megan. For the most part it's going well. She still asks for things that she can't have and she gets that blank stare on her face when you explain to her she can't have it - like she just doesn't understand. This morning was particularly difficult because Kylie wanted chocolate syrup on her pancakes and Megan just stared at her like "THIS SUCKS!". I wanted to cry. It's so hard because we are trying to make it where NO ONE in the home eats the allergen foods and Kylie just is hating us big time for it, so I let it slide this morning and let her have the chocolate syrup. I should have thrown it out when I threw out all the other allergens but I hate taking everything away from here

Ok, so now that I've ranted about that , my real question is on not getting to eat out. This one is going to be tough on ALL of us. We usually eat out several meals on the weekends. It's a stress reliever for Dh and myself to be able to eat out because during the week we are rushing to get home from work, get a meal on the table, get dishes done, homework done, find some play time w/the kids, baths, etc, etc. So it's nice not to cook on the weekend and RELAX. Well, not anymore. I just can't seem to find enough info on foods in restaurants to feel comfortable w/eating out w/Megan's allergies.

Any insight into this struggle would be helpful. This weekend I'm sure we're all going to be crab monsters for not getting to eat out.

I call ahead and write the websites for different restraunts and ask for help finding things my kids can eat..
also we dont allow anyone in the home to eat the things jake cant in front of him.
I have found some places are more then happy to help and most places also have people that just deal with the allergy calls..
I can tell you we had great luck with bob evans, and perkins, whats that chicken place..chick someting..we couldnt eat there as it was all done in peanut oil..
but they were super nice.

the worst place was dennys' they lied..and jake had a bad egg reaction in the restraunt..

you can still go out..it diffently takes more though then just going out on the spir of the moment when you dont want to cook, which is what caught me off guard..

did your allergist give you any kind of guide as to a group in your area where people go who have similiar issues?
we have a group here and it was helpful to use the research they had spent so much time collecting..

rae just sent me some info on a group she says has been great...let me get that link for you..

You know I've searched high and low for any kind of online forum or in person group regarding Megan's allergies. Most deal with dairy, wheat, and peanut. Apparently Megan's allergies are rare, lol. Chocolate allergy is not, but the others are.

I guess I'm more afraid of going out during the 30 day elimination because you are right it's hard to trust these places to tell you the truth. I mean, I looked at Burger King's website on allergens and it clearly stated somewhere, can't remember that a lot of their stuff doesn't have sesame seeds on it. Almost every freaking bun they use has sesame seeds on it. Also, I'm not quite sure a lot of places know exactly what kind of hydrogenated oil they use. That type of oil is often made up of many different kinds like soybean, cotton seed, etc. So I'd be afraid of them telling me it's not in there and it really is.

Annoying is what it is! lol.

I wish I had more advice for you I REALLY hope that things get easier for you guys soon!!

I think if you give it more time you will find it becomes easier and more just a lifestyle that you will get used to! You will know where you can eat out etc. I am so sorry, but I am glad you have some answers.

I know what you mean... we eat out a couple of times a week too. It's nice not to have to worry about cooking and doing the dishes on those days. And, to be honest, sometimes we can eat out cheaper than we can cook at home.

Maybe for now, you can just bring Megan's dinner/lunch with you. I have a friend with a child that is allergic to what seems like just about everything,and she always provides his snack or lunch. She even brings his own version of cake and a drink to birthday parties.

Then, if you submit a written request for the ingredients of particular dishes to some of your favorite restaurants and explain why you need to know, I am sure they would comply. I used to work as a general manager of a restaurant when I was in college and that was not an uncommon request. They may even have cards with the ingredients available upon request.

We would pack a meal for Johnny if we were unsure of what they would have where we were going. He was so young that he never thought anything of not having food brought out like everyone else. Another friend who has a son with lots of allergies and she too will bring him food from home and give it to the waiter and ask it be brought out on a plate at the same time as the rest of the food. that is definitely the way I would do it now.

You know I've thought about doing this, but I just don't think she'd go for it. Seeing sissy eating things she can't, kwim?

On Monday's we have gymnastics and have no choice but to grab something out. This past Monday I fixed Megan's dinner, asking her what she wanted, etc. I grabbed Subway sandwiches for the rest of us. We go to gymnastics to eat and Megan was NOT happy that she had a "sack lunch" and we had Subway, although she hates Subway. It's just the thought of not getting what others are having, kwim? So I took her in the other room while DH and Kylie ate, and then I ate with her.

I totally hear where you're coming from. I remember when I was younger, around 9, I was in the hospital, sick from something and couldn't have any dairy products. My family thought it would be cool to go to Pizza Hut and get pizza with me there. I had to sit and eat a salad

No advice, I think people covered it as much as possible from my stand point, just wanted to offer support.

Thanks everyone for the support.

We struggled Friday night, but did pretty good eating at home. Saturday some of us started to get a little crabby and so Dh and I searched the internet more thoroughly to find somewhere we could eat out. Surprisingly enough Pizza Hut's hand tossed pizza dough doesn't have any of the allergens in it, as well as their pizza sauce and cheese so we got to go there Saturday night. The funny thing is Megan barely ate anything so we could have probably gone anywhere we wanted and been fine. You never know, sometimes she eats and sometimes she doesn't. She didn't eat hardly at all all weekend, so that was probably why.

I don't think we'll being eating out at Pizza Hut every weekend, though.

I'm exhausted from washing dishes and cooking meals all weekend, though. Now I know why we usually eat out.

we also can only eat pizza hut, and fudruckers and red robin also have allergen menu's.

Ya know it's funny. I will avoid eating out with my kids like the plague....serouilsy I would do anything NOT to eat out at all - now if I was able to go out without kids I would be thrilled, but with them - NO WAY!

If I did that I'd never get to go out to eat at all, lol. Sometimes they can be a handful when out, but it's worth it. Ryan and I get so tired of rushing every night to get dinner on the table after being at work all day. It's just one of our "things" we can do that gives us a relaxing weekend, I guess.

If I did that I'd never get to go out to eat at all, lol. Sometimes they can be a handful when out, but it's worth it. Ryan and I get so tired of rushing every night to get dinner on the table after being at work all day. It's just one of our "things" we can do that gives us a relaxing weekend, I guess.

Oh for sure....but I seriously don't remember the last time i ate out, other htan having pizza delivered

It is super rushed with dinner at our house, but to me going out is a terrible idea.

Karen, I'm sorry I haven't been around to read through all your other posts...I need to do so so that I fully understand what you're going through with Megan. But here's the website that I have found to be the most helpful. Unfortunately they do charge a membership fee if you want more detailed information, recipes, etc. But I don't pay a thing to get on their site and to receive their newsletter. The newsletter has very up-to-date information as far as KFA info.

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/

I have had trouble finding support groups in my area too - still haven't found one. Again, this website has been that for me. It will give you a list of resources in your area too.

We don't go out to eat much. I know McDonalds and Burger King fry in vegetable oil, but not sure how pure it is. Again, I haven't read what allergies Megan has...so let me get back to you with restaurant suggestions.

We do not buy anything that Wil can't eat. So if Wil can't have it, no one in the house can. DH sometimes sneaks in peanut-butter, but it stays on the top shelf and only comes out in the evening when the boys are in bed. It is tough, but when you're dealing with FA, it's like retraining how your family thinks about and eats food. Perhaps going shopping together and letting the girls pick from a list of "safe" foods may be a fun activity. I always bring along "safe" food wherever we go. I've bought Wil a bracelet and a shirt and other "cool" KFA items which fortunately have helped him to feel special. Maybe having Megan pickout a new lunchbag or some type of tote to carry her "safe" food in may help. Or new plates, etc. Good luck!

Thanks for the links in both posts.