What it does: Only for those following a gluten-free diet, FindMeGlutenFree makes it easy to find restaurants that offer gluten-free options. Users can filter by dedicated gluten-free restaurants — meaning they don’t make anything gluten-free — or restaurants with separate gluten-free menus. Restaurants are peer-reported, so if you find a good restaurant that isn’t in FindMeGlutenFree’s database, you can recommend it via the app. (Also, this means you should double-check at restaurants to make sure you’re buying foods that are safe for your gluten intolerance.)
The app also offers a gluten-free product database and bookmarking feature to save lists you want to view later. The premium version of the app includes additional search filters like “open now,” “most celiac friendly,” and directional search to find restaurants on your route. My gluten-free friends have told me this app has been an absolute savior for them in the first weeks and months after being diagnosed with celiac disease, helping them eat better and discover new foods. New products in a very stressful transition period.
Blind spot: Obviously, this is not the app for you if your food allergies/sensitivities are not gluten. Also, the data in FindMeGlutenFree is only as good as people add to its knowledge base, so restaurants with good gluten-free options may still not show up in the results if no one takes the time. enter them.
Cost: Free
What it does: Spokin makes it easy to find a restaurant, bakery, or ice cream parlor where it’s safe to dine for people with your allergies or limitations. Plus, the app features hundreds of resources on allergy research, food safety, and travel advice. Once you fill out your profile what foods you’re avoiding, the app will show you all the potential safe places you can eat on a detailed map of your area. My mother-in-law recently moved to a new town, so I used Spokin to search for restaurants in her neighborhood so I could safely order takeout. We were delighted to find a local pizzeria that offers non-dairy cheese or regular cheese on their pizza, giving us a fun option for everyone.
Spokin even allows you to connect with other users with food allergies in your area (assuming they have agreed to make their profiles public) and allows you to write reviews of restaurants and products that you use and enjoy.
Blind spot: This app is only one available on iOS devices. The FAQ on the company’s website claims that it’s working on an Android app, but there’s no expected launch date. Also, although most restaurant listings include a link to the restaurant’s website, you often have to leave the app to view the menu.
Eating out when you’re trying to manage a food allergy is always a little intimidating, but these apps will hopefully give you a head start before you head to an untested restaurant and share it. Share your concerns with service staff. Because I have the potential to have a fatal seafood allergy, I perfected the “removed restaurant” speech. I called and said, “I have a really serious allergy to all kinds of fish — shellfish and regular fish. Can you make me something without fish or shellfish – not even fish sauce or oyster sauce, and made with a clean pan? I promise to give you a great review anyway, even if you say you can’t safely feed me. Trust me, an ambulance outside is really not good for business.” Plus, when I travel abroad, I try to add notes to my phone, in the language of my destination, explaining my allergies.
The devices we carry around in our pockets have the potential to help us manage our daily lives, even if that life includes challenging dietary restrictions. From planning a holiday meal at home to going out to dinner or curating a whole new range of grocery items, these apps are in your toolkit.
