Eating Out With Alpha-Gal Allergy
“Wanna go out to eat?”
That question can arouse great anxiety in someone with food allergies, especially someone with an anaphylactic allergy like Alpha-Gal Syndrome. But when a friend asks you out or you are road-tripping with Alpha-Gal, what do you do?
Eating anywhere with Alpha-Gal Syndrome can be terrifying, especially if you are somewhere that makes label-reading difficult. If you are a person with fume reactions, eating out is usually a firm no.
However, depending on how reactive you are, eating out is possible with caution and care.
Do Your Research
Before I eat out with someone, I research the restaurant or restaurants that are mentioned to see if there will be safe food options for me. I usually do this by looking on Tripadvisor, where you can get more direct access to restaurant websites and menus.
I go straight for the menu, looking for salads and chicken. If those are available, I know that it is hopeful. Next, I will look more closely to see if there are any other options. I also consider who I am going with and if they will mind me having to ask the server a good number of questions. I don’t want to cause anyone embarrassment.
Ordering the food
Once we have chosen a restaurant that appears to offer safe options for my Alpha-Gal allergy, I put on my brave and smiling face so that we can have a pleasant rapport with our server. The server is your key connection to your food, and can be your best ally. Kindness to your server can build a bridge between you and the chef.
Before you order, kindly ask any questions you have about how things are cooked in the back, explaining the severity of your allergy. It is very helpful to the server and kitchen both if you have the specifics written down for them.
When eating out with Alpha-Gal allergy, I recommend carrying a food allergy chef card with you that outlines foods you have to avoid. Click here for a free chef card template.
Make sure you give the server and chef the written information when you place your order.
Keep it simple
When eating out, keep your order as simple as possible. My go-to is either a Caesar salad or a green salad with an added protein like chicken or fish. I usually ask for dressings or sauces on the side. Of course, I always ask for no cheese.
Another easy option is chicken and a side.
Remember that even vegan menu items may be prepared using mammal products. For example, unless I know for sure that it is safe for me to eat, I usually avoid ordering potatoes when eating out. That’s because some places rub their potatoes down in lard or butter, so that’s not always the best choice. Once again, make sure to ask the server to confirm that each item you order will be safe for you to eat.
For your sake and your server’s, try to keep the order simple.
Once your food is delivered to your table, carefully check over your food for any obvious faux pas and kindly ask your server if he or she saw that your specifications were followed. Once you feel pretty confident, be gracious to your server and thank them for being so kind and helpful.
Enjoy your meal and the company you are with. Laugh, smile, and try to relax.
Keeping it real
In choosing to go out to a restaurant, remember that mistakes can happen even with the best efforts. With this in mind, be sure the folks you are eating with know that you carry an epi-pen and antihistamine with you at all times. Be certain that your friends know where you keep those items and how to administer if it would become necessary. Quite honestly, I only go out with my closest friends and family. They know my story and are kind and thoughtful of my well being.
Be mindful of your body and how you feel as you eat your meal. Relax and enjoy as much as possible, but also be self-aware. If you are like me, I keep a sort of running check system going on in my mind, probably all the time. Internal questions are always in the back of my mind. “How do I feel? Does anything hurt, tingle, feel like its swelling? How are my joints, feet, hands, skin? Does anything itch?”
Yes, this is how we roll with Alpha-Gal Syndrome!
Personal experience eating 0ut with Alpha-Gal
In my personal experience with Alpha-Gal Syndrome, there has only been ONE occasion where the server brought me the wrong thing. This was a Mexican restaurant, and they brought me a beef dish instead of a chicken dish. Thankfully, I cut into my food before taking a bite.
Always, always double check your meal before you eat it. If in doubt, let them throw it out.
Don’t forget to tip your wait staff generously. People with food allergies require extra time and consideration by the wait staff, so be extra kind. Bless their socks off so when you go back you are sure to have a friend.