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Greetings, DR friends! The last time most of you heard from me I was a big, happy pregnant lady. Well, it has been a while. In addition to the craziness of having a newborn, the other big reason that I've been completely off the radar is because I feel like I can't really eat anything anymore so reading about or talking about food is not much fun. Despite specifically ordering an easy, unfussy baby, I got quite the opposite. My poor son, now 5 months old, is a major sweetie pie but has a number of issues that keep us on our toes. The reason I started this post is that my biggest challenge is that he has food allergies (which they call sensitivities at his age). The long and short of it is that if I eat anything with even a trace of dairy or soy my sweet baby screams in pain for hours on end. So where does that leave us? Well, I dropped the pregnancy weight and then some. And not to start a pity party but I miss eating. It is incredibly difficult for me to eat out. Really, I could write a book. When the pediatrician suggested eliminating dairy and soy I thought it would be hard, but I had no idea. It turns out that soy is in EVERYTHING. Just for fun, look at the Au Bon Pain allergen chart on their website. There are around 3 safe items. Soybean oil, soy flour, and soy lecithin are hidden in tons of things you would never expect. The purpose of this post is to try to generate ideas for safe places to eat (and to compliment restaurants who have made my life a little bit easier). I've had very mixed experiences. I know I am not alone in having food restrictions, as there are many people with issues far more severe or challenging than mine. Please share if you know places where food allergies are taken seriously and patrons are not made to feel like fussy crybabies. Thus far, I've had a few positive experiences where restaurants took my concerns seriously and/or prepared things differently for me: Pizzeria Orso in Falls Church "“ Obviously, pizza is out. Well, cheese pizza at least. Thanks to the wonderful Chef Will, I had a great meal here. Chef (and the manager, Sarah) were awesome about helping me find food I could eat. It was the first good meal I had had in a LONG time and I was so grateful. 2941 Restaurant "“ I had a very positive experience when I was invited to an event here where I was to be the guest at a friend's company dinner. I called ahead and told them about my restrictions. They went over the menu with me on the phone and we arranged to have my selections prepared without dairy or soy. They also notified my server ahead of time and when I arrived I identified myself to her. They allowed me to avoid making a big to-do over my restrictions. Ceiba"“ I went here for an office lunch recently. I was so impressed with how accommodating they were. The two waiters I spoke to over the phone and in person seemed extremely knowledgeable about food allergies and were able to immediately tell me which items contained dairy and soy. They were fabulous and I enjoyed a nice meal. The Hamilton "“ I'm heading here this week for a work function so I called ahead to discuss my options. A chef named Brian was wonderful. He spent time with me going over different options, and went to the trouble of pulling out packages to read ingredient lists. It was clear to me that he was sincere when he said the restaurant takes food allergies very seriously. Finally, ordinarily I avoid most chains, but these days they can be my best option. Most chains have allergen information on their websites.
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Zora, I have been thinking about your reply since you posted it. Of course you are correct, but that is not the end of the question. I work full time, and also do some volunteer stuff. If I cooked everything perfectly, the way I think it should be cooked, I would have time for nothing more than work and cooking. I come home around 6:30, and I am hungry already, and I go to bed around 10:30 or 11:00. Same for my husband. So to me, the question posed is, what corners can I cut and still be reasonably satisfied with the results? I already know frozen food purchased premade from the grocery store is, in general, not satisfactory to me or my family. I already know that canned food ditto. I am especially conscious of planning ahead because I am soon to have foot surgery, which will keep me off my foot entirely for weeks, and then my husband will be driving me to work and picking me up afterwards because it's my right foot so I can't drive for at least two months. At least I won't be in a wheelchair, but probably a knee-based rolly thingie. I will be bringing my lunch with me, and delivered food is out of the question health-wise or gastronomically. I work in an industrial area midway between Springfield and Annandale. The nearest restaurants are McDonald's and Burger King. What to do? Right now the only think I can think of is to make lots and lots of bone broth, because it seems to me that bone broth is a good thing to consume when one's bones are healing. Other than that, my husband's standard repertoire includes pot roast, beef stew, chili, and meat loaf. I guess one solution would be to make a massive pot of generic sofrito, onions, celery, parsley and garlic, and save that in the fridge or freezer, as one makes and saves a massive pot or two of stock.