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May 14, 2015 by: DudeMom

Eating Out with a Food Allergy

Dude 3 was diagnosed with his first food allergy when he was two years old.

It was a long time coming, after years of gastrointestinal issues (yep, we’re talking about explosive diarrhea here, and gas, really intense gas), eczema, and upper respiratory complaints, we finally got the diagnosis we were expecting: nut allergy.

We got the epi pen we had to take every place with us. We were told to avoid nuts of all kinds for at least a year. We had to check labels, and remind grandparents, and warn friends and teachers and neighbors and babysitters. And remind grandparents.

It was a thing.

A thing that altered every part of our day to day lives.

And then, when it was nearly time for kindergarten to roll around, our doctor said he wanted to do some testing and really see where we stood on things. We needed to know his food allergy status so we could ensure his safety at school.

When all was said and done, we received the all clear for Dude 3 to enjoy nuts as he desired (for the record, he does not desire, because ew, gross), but we also discovered he has a mild allergy (probably more like an intolerance) to eggs (which goes to explain why he gets hives from time to time and continues to battle eczema during certain times of the year).

We allow him to enjoy eggs (because they are like top 5 on his list of favorite things to eat), but we try not to over indulge since when we do he has to struggle. And by struggle I mean rip his skin off with itching and wind up passed out, face down and part naked on the floor in the playroom from Bendaryl. (Don’t ask me why he’s naked, I never know.)

We’re fortunate that none of his intolerances are at the potentially fatal level anymore, but whenever possible, we elect to limit his exposure.

We love places that make doing so easy and we love it even more when one of those places is a venue our entire family enjoys.

Dear Allergy Families, meet Red Robin.

Probably many of you already have.

It is hands down DudeDad’s and Dude 1’s favorite place to enjoy a weekend burger, and a fun outing for family dinners.

But, best part is, they’re allergy friendly.

Allergy Eats (all parents of kids with food allergies know this site) has named Red Robin one of the “Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains” for the past three years in a row, making them one of the go-to choices for families with food allergic members.

As part of Allergy Awareness Month, Red Robin asked me and The Dudes to go out and test how easy and, dare I say, friendly, their interactive allergen menu is when it comes to allowing families like ours to enjoy a safe meal out together.

Y’all know we don’t turn down free food.

allergy friendly restaurants

Allergy Friendly Restaurants: 5 Things to Know About Allergy Friendly Eating at Red Robin

1. It’s easy. Their interactive menu makes it super easy to select options that are safe for your food allergic family members to enjoy. It’s even accessible from a mobile device (and it’s not one of those lame ones that takes forever to load. I loaded while we waited and knew what to order by the time we sat down at our table.)

red robin

2. The menu is comprehensive. Of course it doesn’t take into consideration every single potential allergen, but they do cover many. The interactive menu allows you to customize your meals in order to avoid 9 different allergens. You can choose to eliminate shellfish, gluten, peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, fish, treenuts, and soy.

red robin2

3. The menu is inclusive. Instead of focusing on what you can’t have, it tells you what you can. It provides you with suitable options based on your selections instead of focusing on the items you should avoid.

red robin4

4. The staff is trained. And there is a specific procedure. When you notify your server that your family has a food allergy, they have a special alert to notify the kitchen staff. Red Robin kitchens use a special allergen kit to prepare food for those with food allergies. The special alert system notifies them that they need to be careful and proceed with the kit to prevent cross contamination.

red robin allergy friendly

5. They want you to customize. It’s sort of a thing at Red Robin. Even those without allergies are encouraged to build burgers and other meals they crave. So, when it comes time to make something unique for the food allergic patron, doing so isn’t even that big of deal and it’s one of the few places that you and your allergy family don’t have to feel like “those people”. We all get sick of feeling that way.

Want to take a trip to your Red Robin and give their menu a try?!

Fine, fine, a meal on me (and by me, I mean Red Robin).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: DudeMom Parents, Sponsored



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Comments

  1. Ashley Morrow says

    May 26, 2015 at 3:00 pm

    We Love Red Robin! We have dinner there almost every time we go out.

  2. Zoe says

    May 24, 2015 at 8:46 pm

    We usually eat at home.

  3. AmieJo says

    May 24, 2015 at 6:09 am

    Dude. We don’t go out! Just kidding. IF we go anywhere when we have all off them is CiCis pizza unless we have too many protests and they want taco bell. Yes, seriously, taco bell. Which I of course LOVE but it always surprises me when they want tacos over pizza.

  4. Margaret says

    May 24, 2015 at 5:08 am

    My daughter and I love Red Robin. For $25 we can get a meal and a treat each, a kid shake for her and a gluten free hard cider for me. ;)

  5. Carla G says

    May 24, 2015 at 3:55 am

    We like to go to Applebees or Chilis

  6. Lorina Padgett says

    May 23, 2015 at 7:02 am

    We like to go to Carabbas’s or Leroy Selmon’s.I

  7. John Herman says

    May 23, 2015 at 6:28 am

    We like Incredible Pizza.

  8. Jennifer Herman says

    May 23, 2015 at 6:22 am

    We like to eat at Olive Garden!

  9. james jenkins says

    May 23, 2015 at 5:26 am

    Great idea to use the trend to computerized, inter-active menus for customers with allergy concerns! I like to eat at places that don’t over-salt their food.

  10. Diana May says

    May 23, 2015 at 3:37 am

    This is awesome!

  11. Susan Smith says

    May 23, 2015 at 3:19 am

    We like Applebees and Olive Garden

  12. Lee McKeon says

    May 23, 2015 at 2:53 am

    Red robin Is our favorite that eight year old loves the fish and chips

  13. Daniel G. says

    May 22, 2015 at 7:15 pm

    Applebees

  14. Seyma Shabbir says

    May 22, 2015 at 6:30 am

    My sons love Red Robin, Chick Fil A or pizza!

  15. liz l says

    May 22, 2015 at 3:14 am

    Fastfood- chickfila, sitdown- ohanas!

  16. Gina M (Wild Orchid) says

    May 22, 2015 at 1:24 am

    We love going to a local italian restaurant, but we love burgers too!

    Entered the Rafflecopter as “Wild Orchid”

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com

  17. brittani adams says

    May 21, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    McDonalds is honestly the only place we make it “out’ to eat. We have gone to Friendlys once a few years ago.

  18. Lynn R says

    May 21, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    we go to Ruby Tuesday

  19. Noura A says

    May 21, 2015 at 5:04 am

    I love to try different foods, from around the world, but my family likes to eat at different burger joints once a week x

  20. Marcia Goss says

    May 21, 2015 at 3:58 am

    We like Red Robin and Olive Garden.

  21. crystal says

    May 21, 2015 at 2:41 am

    WE like to eat out at sushi restaurants.

  22. Heather Cowin says

    May 20, 2015 at 9:59 pm

    Johnny Carino’s is one of our favorite places to go out and eat, but I’m not sure if that is a more regional place or not!

  23. Heather D. says

    May 20, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    We enjoy eating out at Cheddar’s.

  24. Jen S. says

    May 20, 2015 at 3:00 pm

    We’re a Chipotle kind of family. We also love anything Mexican or Japanese.

  25. Catherine Wooster says

    May 20, 2015 at 3:44 am

    Red Robin’s is a great place to enjoy a good burger with the family!

  26. Stacy D. says

    May 20, 2015 at 2:31 am

    We mostly stay home and eat. We rarely go out because we don’t have much money right now

  27. Erin Hussman says

    May 19, 2015 at 11:09 pm

    Anywhere with burgers!!
    I love Red Robin or Fudruckers

  28. Monica says

    May 19, 2015 at 10:50 pm

    We love eating at all the local burger joints – Bad Daddy’s is a fave!

  29. Jessica Rose says

    May 19, 2015 at 9:41 pm

    We usually go to a buffet like Hibachi Grill!

  30. Bridgett Wilbur says

    May 19, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    We and sometimes boston market.and applebee’s and red robins.

  31. Bethany Kreiter says

    May 19, 2015 at 7:23 pm

    My family likes going out to Panera or Noodles & Co.

  32. Laurana H says

    May 19, 2015 at 5:34 pm

    We like Red Robin, Alcapulco’s Mexican, Cracker Barrel, etc.

  33. Kathy E. says

    May 19, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    We love Red Robin, Applebee’s and Champps!

  34. Wilma P says

    May 19, 2015 at 3:06 pm

    Our favorite place to eat out is Ichiban…a Japanese steak house where they cook at your table….kids love it

  35. Tina W says

    May 19, 2015 at 9:08 am

    I usually get something spicy, since no one else likes hot food. And always, always I get fries, they are just never the same at home.

  36. Birdiebee says

    May 19, 2015 at 6:44 am

    Our family likes Red Robin and The Mustard Seed at our local mall.

  37. Julie matek says

    May 19, 2015 at 2:53 am

    My family loves Red Robin, Olive Garden & Texas Roadhouse

  38. Pamela F says

    May 19, 2015 at 12:46 am

    Our favorites are Red Robin, Fridays, Texas Roadhouse and any good Tex-Mex!

  39. ashley w says

    May 18, 2015 at 11:28 pm

    We love red robin since we always get great food and great deals!

  40. Arielle says

    May 18, 2015 at 10:21 pm

    We love going to Red Robin! There isn’t one in our town so we drive 20+ minutes away to get to the closest one.

  41. breanna pollard says

    May 18, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    We love Applebee’s!

  42. Cathy French says

    May 18, 2015 at 8:07 pm

    We love to go to Golden Corral the most

  43. jeremy mclaughlin says

    May 18, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    Love applebees.

  44. richelle bowers says

    May 18, 2015 at 5:50 pm

    we actually love going to red robin. love their spinach wraps

  45. Lyndsey G says

    May 18, 2015 at 5:36 pm

    We like olive garden

  46. ARSENIO ALFARO says

    May 18, 2015 at 4:36 pm

    The place is secondary to the company!!!

  47. LaShawn says

    May 18, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    As a mom of a child who is allergic to wheat and now peanuts( but we think that might be an intolerance since its new) I am always on the lookout for new places for us to eat out as a family. because it’s hard. REALLY hard to find a place that we all like that has a gluten free menu. There are THREE red robins near us and i’ve been meaning to check out the closest one!

  48. ken ohl says

    May 18, 2015 at 12:51 pm

    We do love Red Robin or Outback Steakhouse

  49. Sarah Cool says

    May 18, 2015 at 10:27 am

    We love the cheesecake factory and red robin but we dont go very often

  50. J.B. says

    May 18, 2015 at 7:05 am

    It’s good to see restaurants starting to become more allergic person friendly.

    • J.B. says

      May 18, 2015 at 7:06 am

      Red Robin’s a great restaurant, too.

  51. Arik Issan says

    May 18, 2015 at 6:08 am

    I am okay as long as I can have a salad … no cheese no meat … the rest of the family can decide on the place.

  52. Katherine Riley says

    May 18, 2015 at 5:49 am

    We like to go to locally owned restaurants, but Big Boy’s is a favorite because that is where me and my husband first met.

  53. Katie Bellamy says

    May 18, 2015 at 5:27 am

    We have a favorite diner around the corner from where we love we like to go to!

  54. bn100 says

    May 18, 2015 at 4:53 am

    anywhere

  55. Kathy K. says

    May 18, 2015 at 1:48 am

    We like to eat at our local IHOP. They know about our daughter’s allergy and know how to make it safe for her.

  56. Gabrielle says

    May 18, 2015 at 1:43 am

    We are fond of Smoky Mountain Pizzeria Grill.

  57. Whitney Lindeman says

    May 18, 2015 at 1:31 am

    We love to support local places. Our friends own a deli downtown that uses almost exclusively local ingredients, and everything is delicious! Chain restaurants can be great, too, of course (we love Red Robin), but we have seen too many local places we love close down because no one supported them. So we try to do that first! :)

  58. Marilyn Nawara says

    May 18, 2015 at 12:09 am

    Fridays, Applebees, Red Robin and Logans are our favorites.

  59. sandra says

    May 17, 2015 at 11:20 pm

    I think the family’s favorite is ihop

  60. Lyz S says

    May 17, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    We like to go to Chipotle together.

  61. Terri Quick says

    May 17, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    My family likes buffets

  62. doug gerard says

    May 17, 2015 at 10:27 pm

    We like to eat at The Virginia Cafe 820 S.W. 10th Portland Oregon

  63. Mary Czerczyk says

    May 17, 2015 at 9:59 pm

    My family’s favorite place to dine out is Red Lobsters.

  64. Nicole Given says

    May 17, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    We love Red Robin and Olive Garden

  65. lissa crane says

    May 17, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    We don’t get to eat out often, but when we do our favorite place is OutBack Steak House! We would be super excited to try Red Robin since one just opened up near us!

  66. Stephanie says

    May 17, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    we love Fridays

  67. michelle k. says

    May 17, 2015 at 3:20 pm

    We like a local restaurant named Durbins

  68. Alanna says

    May 17, 2015 at 8:20 am

    I love eating out for Dim Sum! Red Robin is one of my favorites too!

  69. DeAnna Keller says

    May 17, 2015 at 7:24 am

    We like Applebees!

  70. Lisa Kubin says

    May 17, 2015 at 7:24 am

    We eat out at Red Robin almost every Saturday!

  71. Sarah says

    May 17, 2015 at 5:06 am

    My husband and I love to eat out at places we have gift cards to. :) That’s the only time we can afford it!

  72. Emily Smith says

    May 17, 2015 at 4:11 am

    There is a Chinese restaurant about 10 minutes from our house. We love eating there!

  73. Tiffany S says

    May 17, 2015 at 3:55 am

    We like to go to Red robin or Applebees.

  74. Brynn says

    May 17, 2015 at 3:40 am

    Chili’s, Red Robin and Olive Garden are our favorites :)

  75. jessica edwards says

    May 17, 2015 at 3:31 am

    A local rest. called Rico’s World Cuisine.

  76. Tina says

    May 17, 2015 at 3:12 am

    We like to go to a food truck called Rocket J’s.

  77. brenda white says

    May 17, 2015 at 2:42 am

    brocks bbq, a local bbq place in my town.

  78. Jennifer H. says

    May 17, 2015 at 2:34 am

    My kids love to eat anywhere, but Red Robin is a favorite.

  79. Christina says

    May 17, 2015 at 2:16 am

    My husband and I love to eat out at local restaurants. We do cheat and drive 30 minutes every few months just to get those bottomless fries though.

  80. Kimberley Thomas says

    May 17, 2015 at 1:47 am

    We LOVE RED ROBIN !!

  81. Thomas F says

    May 17, 2015 at 1:45 am

    A good steakhouse.

  82. chris z says

    May 17, 2015 at 1:25 am

    we like applebees

  83. Rachel Mauffray says

    May 17, 2015 at 12:59 am

    We can never afford to eat out. So I don’t really have a favorite place to go.

  84. Natalie says

    May 17, 2015 at 12:58 am

    We love to go out to Applebees or Red Robin!

  85. Tara L says

    May 16, 2015 at 11:28 pm

    Me and my family Love everything. I don’t think we could pick just one hahah. We love eating out but sometimes we have to chill out because it wastes $$$ I can’t help it though I need to learn to cook dinner meals better I guess or maybe just hire a chef from each of our restaurants, but we like PF Changs and The Cheesecake Factory

  86. Donna L says

    May 16, 2015 at 11:23 pm

    We like to eat at Smokey Bones.

  87. Elle P. says

    May 16, 2015 at 11:08 pm

    We like Outback Steakhouse.

  88. Kristen says

    May 16, 2015 at 10:44 pm

    We like Red Robin, Chevy’s & Elephant Bar.

  89. Shane R. says

    May 16, 2015 at 10:41 pm

    I wish all restaurants had one of these allergen menus! I like to eat out at sushi restaurants. There’s a local one, called Samurai that is my favorite.

  90. Denise C says

    May 16, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    My family loves mexican food — we often go to local chains here in SoCal.

  91. Stephanie Phelps says

    May 16, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    We love to enjoy a meal out on birthdays and most Friday nights!

  92. Megan A says

    May 16, 2015 at 8:31 pm

    my family likes to eat a local place called Liberty Tavern :)

  93. Amanda Sakovitz says

    May 16, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    We love going to Fridays!

  94. Angelica says

    May 16, 2015 at 8:09 pm

    My family doesn’t eat out of because of severe intolerances to dairy and gluten. This app gives me a glimmer of hope that we could try Red Robin but the app still warns of cross contamination, which keeps me wary.

  95. Kristin says

    May 16, 2015 at 7:11 pm

    We like Applebees and Olive Garden.

  96. Lauren says

    May 16, 2015 at 6:40 pm

    My family likes CPK.

  97. Candice says

    May 16, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    We love to go to Red Robin! We also go to Olive Garden and Chili’s from time to time.

  98. Kari says

    May 16, 2015 at 6:04 pm

    We really love a variety of places when eating out. Some of our favorites include QDoba, The Cheesecake Factory, and Outback Steakhouse.

  99. al says

    May 16, 2015 at 5:56 pm

    The corner restaurant.

  100. Laura J says

    May 16, 2015 at 5:47 pm

    We dont really go out very much at all, since I have Celiac disease its hard to find a place that has gluten free food and is aware of how to keep it from getting cross contaminated. I am very excited to see that Red Robin has a great gluten free menu and even hamburger buns! I have not been able to go out for a hamburger is over 7 years! Cannot wait!

  101. Pamela Gurganus says

    May 16, 2015 at 5:18 pm

    Honestly, my family rarely eats out because we have several food allergies in our family. I’m so excited about this new customizable menu! Thank you for this information and for this great giveaway opportunity!

  102. Jackie says

    May 16, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    We like to eat at TGI Fridays
    Thank you!

  103. kristi m says

    May 16, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    besides red robin we like to go to steak and shake .. and the kids do love ellas deli

  104. Stacy says

    May 16, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    As a vegan, it is hard to find a place that everyone wants to eat, but the whole family loves Red Robin! I can get a Boca burger and everyone else can get what they want.

  105. Holly Thomas says

    May 16, 2015 at 1:18 pm

    We like Olive Garden.

  106. Janet W. says

    May 16, 2015 at 12:31 pm

    We like to go to a local BBQ restaurant called Slope’s BBQ.

  107. shelly peterson says

    May 16, 2015 at 10:26 am

    We like going to The Mustard Seed.

  108. Lisa says

    May 16, 2015 at 8:13 am

    We love all sorts of places! Lately it’s been a lot of sushi!

  109. MaryAnn says

    May 16, 2015 at 5:31 am

    Our favorite fast food restaurant is Taco Bell.

  110. Racquelle says

    May 16, 2015 at 5:26 am

    My family loves Texas Roadhouse.

  111. Richelle says

    May 16, 2015 at 4:44 am

    We really like Olive Garden.

  112. Sara says

    May 16, 2015 at 4:24 am

    Chili’s, Olga’s, Olive Garden

  113. Elena says

    May 16, 2015 at 4:16 am

    We like Red Lobster and Red Robin

  114. Susan Christy says

    May 15, 2015 at 6:39 am

    Thai House is our favorite.

  115. Melissa @ A Wide Line says

    May 15, 2015 at 1:10 am

    This is so cool! I’m passing along this info to all the friends I know who have kids with allergies. Thanks for the info! (And YAY for free food! Whoop Whoop!)

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