U.S. hotel offers personalized menus for children with food allergies

Mar 31 2010

Traveling and dining with a young child with food allergies or special dietary needs can be a nightmare as most restaurants and hotels are not sensitive to this epidemic affecting more than three million children - one in 17 for those under age 3 - in the U.S. Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa now offers personalized menus for guests' children on restricted diets to make them feel special, not different.

Jim Lindfors, Executive Chef at Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa's BIN189 restaurant , has a personal interest in children with food allergies and decided to create a solution. "I noticed that when my family and I went out to eat there were no menus for kids like my son who are on restricted diets. These children are under so much scrutiny and pressure that dining out becomes more of a chore than a pleasure so I decided to create menus to make these kids feel special, not different. "

Guests simply contact the resort two days prior to their stay with their children's specific needs and limitations. Chef Lindfors then creates a menu with the child's name and a list of items he can choose from. In addition, BIN189 servers are very knowledgeable about the ingredients in each item on the special and regular menus and can clearly explain them.

Two weeks after he created a menu for a guest's son, Lindfors received a note from a thankful mom. "He was so excited and surprised to have a personalized menu with lots of choices - it was the first time our family truly enjoyed dining in a restaurant. Lake Arrowhead now has a special place in our hearts!"

Eight foods account for 90 percent of all food-allergic reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts (e.g. walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans) according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Even trace amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction.
Chef Lindfors and BIN189 ask for a two-day advance notice of dietary restrictions in order to put the custom menu together. Guests can call the restaurant directly at (909-337-4189). A regular children's menu is also available.