In a message dated 1/14/99 5:49:35 AM Mountain Standard Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:

> I am thinking about trying to find a sit down restaurant where my
>   daughter can get a non-dairy meal.

We have a three year old who is allergic to dairy. This weekend we were in
Denver and wandered into Arby's for a quick pick-me-up, since both our
children were fast asleep! (Shhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Don't tell them we do this!)

As we finished, our beloved three year old woke up, and demanded food. With
heavy sighs I went and read the menu list again, to see if I could find
anything safe for him to eat. The only obvious thing was french fries, and
he's not a big fan of them. I asked if they had an ingredient list for their
chicken fingers, as he used to adore these. Not only did they have an
ingredient list for this, but the girl showed me where they have a handout,
free for anybody to take, which contains the ingredient list for EVERYTHING on
their menu, complete with a little piece about food allergies and what to look
for, and even a calorie count for those of us wishing to keep an eye on the
quantities. I was amazed! It turned out that the chicken fingers WERE dairy
free, and my son devoured a ton of them. Two tons in fact! It's been so long
since he could have anything like that.

We had never been in an Arbys before, but we'll certainly be back. It was
SOOOOOOOOO nice not to be looked at as the freak who comes in asking what's in
this and what's in that! I frequently get world weary when I have to deal with
uncooperative people in restaurants.

We also recently took him to a Mexican restaurant, Jose Muldoons, in Colorado
Springs (where we live). It was his third birthday, and he loves the joint for
the buzz! We explained the dairy free bit to the wait person, and not only did
they produce a tasty meal, a cheese less taco, but also concocted a dessert,
on the house, as a treat for him! It was sopapia (however it's spelt) based,
with apple stewed inside it. I know this was a treat because it was his
birthday, but still, it was wonderful.

On another topic (I'll stop soon!) we only discovered Kieran's allergy
recently (November). He has been on permanent antibiotics for a sinus
infection for 2 years, with no effect. However since coming off LOTS of dairy
(the child almost existed on yogurts and milk) he now has quite severe
reactions to even the tiniest bit of it. So his tolerance has changed with
intake/absence.

Hang in there everyone. Sorry to have gone on, and on, and on and
on.............

Hilda