I was just wondering because my sister and I have a diaagreement about if we should use them or not, i do, she doesn't

What is a restaurant card?

a restaruant card is something that explains yyour allergy to the chef and says what you can have and what you can't have and how to help the person with the allergy

I don't use one, but I do think it is a good idea. I just haven't found one that adequately describes all of my dietary needs. My kids and I are gluten free and dairy free, and two of us avoid soy. The small cards I've found just don't have enough info on them for me to feel comfortable that it is going to help keep my food safe. I don't eat out much at all, and when I do I stick with places I know have safe choices. It gets a little boring sometimes, but at least I feel alright after dinner!

God bless,
Mariann

I eat out a lot and a restaruant card helps a lot because when i am with my friends my parents aren't there to make sure it is totaly gluten-free

mariann,
you can always make your own restaruand card. it is very simple and then you might be able to dine out more. just put the allergens on it and how the chef can prepare your food so you are safe ang happy and have a good dinner out for once in a while.

I just don't trust leaving it to a piece of paper - even if I write it myself. I'd rather talk to the chef myself.

I almost always talk to the chef but if the chef cannot come out the waiter takes the card to the chef and then he can prepare something for you

Molly,
Where can I get a ready made card?

Nita

the book against the grain has them in the back in all different languages. they are very helpful when you are traveling to different countries

In my membership packet from the Detroit area Tri-County Celiac Support Group, was a copy of a restaurant card. In addition, in the book, "Against the Grain..." by Jax Peters Lowell, she includes restaurant cards, in different languages. This way, you can use the card if you're at a restaurant where the chef doesn't understand English, or if you're travelling overseas.

Dianne

Fortunately, I have only had to eat out once since going gluten-free (I don't like eating out to begin with, and dining out w/celiac disease scares me). I don't use a restaurant card. The one time I ate out I ate a baked potato (just ate the inside so I didn't need to worry about contamination w/skin). I also made sure that the steak didn't have any sauces put on it nor was it cooked on something that did....talking to the waiter worked out fine....it does make sense, but then again, I hardly eat out, anyway.

-Coulter

I LOVE EATING OUT~!~ I could never live with just eating out of my house. It does make it easier that I have beed dx since 20 months so I know how to pretty much deal with annoying waiters, either don't eat anything or walk out. My mom helps a lot but I am going to Mexico on a school trip by myself I am going to have to deal with food by myself and also I am not fluent in spanish I am going to have to use a restaruant card that explins it is spanish.