With the holidays still in full swing, travel is almost certainly a given. I had one Christmas party in Maumee yesterday, followed by another in Cleveland last night! It’s been pretty crazy.
As much as we all love the beautiful home-cooked meals that flood our Instagram feeds this time of year, sometimes you just need to swing through a drive-thru. But how in the world are we supposed to do that with our allergies?
Every recipe I make at home is specifically curated to fit the egg-free lifestyle that has been forced upon me. Going out to a restaurant requires a conversation with a human (who then typically has to go back and talk to the chef) to make sure I can safely consume what I order. For those of you with children with allergies, I can only imagine the additional stress and anxiety that comes with eating out.
Along the lines of my previous restaurant reviews, this Christmas I reached out to fellow allergy bloggers and talked to them about their fast food experiences. I wanted to know if the convenience of fast food could also come with the safety we need.
Johnny Rockets
I want to start this review off by explaining that I don’t think I’ve ever been to a Johnny Rockets. It came with a very positive review from Allergy Normality on Instagram so I thought it deserved a shout out. I looked into their allergen menu online and it is extremely helpful! Everything is broken down very clearly into columns for egg, wheat (and other gluten), tree nuts, and more. If I come across a Johnny Rockets in my future travels, I will definitely stop in.
Taco Bell
I love all tacos equally. So, my ability to eat at Taco Bell was high on my list of priorities post-diagnosis. In fact, I was able to eat there even while in the midst of the Elimination Diet! Their hard shells are gluten-free (including Doritos Locos shells). They also have a Power Menu that mimics more of a Chipotle feel. I get the bowl with rice and beans, chicken, and guacamole. It also has cheese, but while I was on the Elimination Diet I was able to get it without.
What’s also amazing about Taco Bell is that you can substitute beans or potatoes for meat in literally anything on the menu. I would 10/10 recommend a cheesy gordita crunch but substitute potatoes. It’ll change your life.
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Another recommendation I got from fellow bloggers was for Jersey Mike’s Subs. This Mom Overcomes is a self-declared gluten-free foodie that had a very positive review of this restaurant. She mentioned that she’s gone several times, and they are always very careful to change everything over to avoid contamination. Their online allergen menu is not quite as comprehensive as others at first glance. You have to search by specific menu item. However, once you choose the item to search, the information is extremely helpful. They provide a breakdown of all major allergens, nutritional information, and a full ingredients list (including manufacturer ingredients). In that way, it’s one of the most helpful allergen menus I’ve come across.
Honorable Mentions
The more I looked into options for this review, the more I realized how many options there were!
Panera Bread and McDonald’s both have breakfasts that can be customized without egg. Panera also has egg-free salad dressing. Chipotle accommodates vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Recently, Burger King started serving the Impossible Burger. I mean, honestly, it’s getting easier and easier to have the convenience of fast food while still being safe. It’s a pretty exciting time to be alive!
Have you had positive (or negative) allergy experiences at fast food restaurants? I’d love to hear about them! Please feel free to reach out to me or leave a comment below.
Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year! Happy eating!
I love the suggestions about Taco Bell. I would not have even thought about checking on them for gluten-free choices.