Oasis Magazine - Cairns & Tropical North Queensland Issue 15 - Dec|Jan 2017 | Page 42

The Intolerant Diner NUTRITION Dorothy Richmond DOROTHY DIETITIAN A great part of Christmas and the holiday season is catching up with family and friends, sharing dishes and eating out - at restaurants and other social / festive gatherings. Eating out with a food allergy or food intolerance requires planning on the part of consumers and restaurateurs. Food allergy is mostly associated with seafood, wheat and sesame and is found nowadays in adults and not just children. and child based sporting facilities. Food allergy reactions associated with particular food service facilities will also be reported in a standardised way, much as a food poisoning incident. With a host of tertiary qualifications aligned to status as an Accredited Practising Dietitian, I can assist you with specific information regarding eating out with a food allergy or intolerance. Having worked extensively in association with the food and hospitality industry, I Every year at can advise restaurants Christmas time on meeting their There’s not a sign of customer expectations snow. Instead we spend in relation to food our yuletide days allergen management In the sun’s warm and and to provide training cheery glow. to this effect. Eating out with teenagers requires particular care as this group tend to take risks. Whether eating in a restaurant, coffee shop, an airline or on a cruise, communication needs to take place between the diner and the kitchen. In the past, diners have been wary about eating out … but this is about to change. Above all, patrons must be fair to restaurants and to ensure that they declare their allergy at the time of reserving the booking. In 2017, standards will be increasingly enforced to allow a more consistent approach in the food service sector and in the food industry. And on a final note - there is a vast difference between food allergy and food intolerance. A food allergy is an adverse reaction to foods that involves the immune system. This National Allergy Strategy will also engage the childcare industry, schools So until next year, I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Cairns City - Smithfield - Manunda - Edmonton - Mareeba - Port Douglas - Mossman - Innisfail Available for expert food and dietetic advice at a location near you GP referrals and personal referrals for you and your families needs Book an appointment with Dorothy today! 07 4033 2773 0488 096 110 visit www.dorothydietitian.com.au 42 | w w w. o a s i s m a g a z i n e . c o m . a u Bulk Billing Available