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You have a serious food allergy. Are you concerned that your request to your server may be misinterpreted or miscommunicated to the chef?

Good news! At Food Allergy Research & Education (F.A.R.E.), you can download an interactive pdf file that can be your food allergy alert “chef card.” The link is: http://www.foodallergy.org/managing-food-allergies/dining-out The card is available in English and 10 foreign languages for those who are travelling abroad.

Rather than repeat your food allergy concerns to wait staff who may only be half listening, too busy to note the details or forget before they reach the kitchen, present your “chef card.” This small card can outline and contain the specific foods you must avoid. This card can then be carried by your server to the manager and chef. In this way, the key information is communicated clearly to the person who needs it most.

Bonus: If you have latex allergy, include this fact on your “chef card” in addition to those foods that commonly cross react with latex such as banana, kiwi and avocado. This will also alert the kitchen staff who is preparing food to avoid wearing latex gloves.

At Family Allergy & Asthma Care of Montana, we provide access to tools to assist patients in advocating for themselves in a clear manner. It is important to catch the attention of cooks and chefs when dining out if you have food allergy. Make the dining out experience a celebration. Bon appetit!

This information is solely for informational purposes and not intended as a substitute for consultation with a medical professional.