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Onion Allergy

TMW - 12-21-2019 at 05:01 PM

A friend sent this to me and wanted to know if any Nomads have had to deal with it. Can anyone help?

Hey Tom,

I’m thinking about running down to Baja with my wife, perhaps a loop to Ensenada, over to San Felipe, then back up through Mexicali. But, she has an onion allergy and gets violently ill if she eats something with even a trace of onion or onion powder. If her food is cooked on a grill that just had onions on it or if the cooking utensils have a trace of onion on them she’ll get sick. Here in the U.S. restaurants are very liability conscious so it’s rarely an issue, even at Don Cucos, El Torito, and other Mexican restaurants, but we’re concerned about Baja, we don't want to be seeking medical care down there. Perhaps some of your Baja Nomad friends have had to deal with a similar allergy issue and have some advice.

Thanks,

Bill

David K - 12-21-2019 at 05:24 PM

Bring your own food, would be the only guarantee... unless she can get some medication to counter the reaction.

advrider - 12-21-2019 at 06:41 PM

I would agree with David, short of bringing your own food, even if you spoke good Spanish I don't think you could trust the food. As mentioned, if you have some kind of medication that could stop a reaction?

Beagle - 12-21-2019 at 07:05 PM

https://www.mountainhouse.com/

The Biscuits and Gravy aren't half bad btw. If you have an REI near you, they usually have some good sales on Mountain House grub.

[Edited on 12-22-2019 by Beagle]

mtgoat666 - 12-21-2019 at 07:48 PM

Solutions:

Rent a condo and cook for yourself.

You can probably bring your own food to a restaurant as long as others in your party order food and you explain yourself.

Better restaurants can probably cook for people with food allergies, call ahead to ask.

Bring a letter in Spanish explains your allergy, give letter to cooks.

Take extra epi pens and Benadryl.

[Edited on 12-22-2019 by mtgoat666]

rhintransit - 12-21-2019 at 08:03 PM

I am not allergic to onions, but really hate the taste and texture. I’ve been totally unsuccessful at avoiding onions in all my years in Baja and elsewhere in Mexico. I say “sin cebolla” and sometimes succeed in getting my salad or main dish without onions, but inevitably the salsa or guacamole come out loaded with them. I’ve tried ‘soy alergico’ with the same results. Trying to ask the kitchen not to cook on the same grill...priceless. Won’t work. Period.
The only way you can be sure to accommodate your wife’s allergy is to bring your own food and cook yourselves.

advrider - 12-21-2019 at 08:20 PM

I have been sampling a lot of the dehydrated meals out there for and up coming back pack trip, and I must say some are really good. Most are high in sodium so be sure to drink a lot of water. Most are high calories as well, but that is one of the things that hikers need.

surabi - 12-21-2019 at 10:47 PM

If I had an extreme food allergy, to the point where a utensil touching that food and then touching mine would make me violently ill, I sure wouldn't be eating out, anywhere. Expecting a restaurant to cater to one's particular food allergies is a pretty entitled attitude. I'd be cooking for myself, seems like a no-brainer.

mtgoat666 - 12-22-2019 at 09:17 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi

Expecting a restaurant to cater to one's particular food allergies is a pretty entitled attitude.

restaurants are in the business of serving customers. most good chefs and restaurants do not think customers that have special dietary requests are showing an entitled attitude.
any chef or restaurant that refused a dietary request like food allergy would be off my list.
surabi, you are off my list :lol:

AKgringo - 12-22-2019 at 10:07 AM

Goat is making his list, and checking it twice!

Paco Facullo - 12-22-2019 at 12:51 PM

The Goat that stole Christmas,,,,,,,

John Harper - 12-22-2019 at 05:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Beagle

https://www.mountainhouse.com/

The Biscuits and Gravy aren't half bad btw. If you have an REI near you, they usually have some good sales on Mountain House grub.

[Edited on 12-22-2019 by Beagle]

Biscuits and gravy are good. One of the few MH meals I continue to buy.

John

John Harper - 12-22-2019 at 05:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by advrider

I have been sampling a lot of the dehydrated meals out there for and up coming back pack trip, and I must say some are really good. Most are high in sodium so be sure to drink a lot of water. Most are high calories as well, but that is one of the things that hikers need.

What have you found that is good? I'm always looking for something for my backpacking trips.

John

advrider - 12-22-2019 at 08:45 PM

Just tried the Cuban coconut black beans and rice from REI, it sucked! The breakfast hash is really good and would be even better in a tortilla as a burrito. Chili mack by MH and the one by backpacker pantry is good as well. The Wise company sells some at tractor supply and so far they have all been good, chili mack, pasta alfredo with chicken, and the biscuits with gravy. I take some of the small hot sauce packets with me on my trips, adds a little kick to all of the meals. Also buy the premade frozen meat balls at the store and dehydrate them then add them to top ramen to add some protean and flavor. Spam is another good camping/backpacking item to add to ramen or other meals.

surabi - 12-22-2019 at 10:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by surabi

Expecting a restaurant to cater to one's particular food allergies is a pretty entitled attitude.

Yes, restaurants are in the business of serving customers, not catering to individual, life-threatening allergies. They're restaurants, not hospitals. It's one thing to ask the waiter to tell the chef to leave the tomatoes off the burger, quite another to expect a busy restaurant to ensure that nothing a customer is allergic to might have grazed their plate in the kitchen.

mtgoat666 - 12-22-2019 at 10:47 PM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by surabi

Expecting a restaurant to cater to one's particular food allergies is a pretty entitled attitude.

Wasabi,
You sound like you are put off by people with food allergies. You also sound like you would make a bad restaurateur — you would make a good crumudgeon, but I am not sure who is hiring curmudgeons right now...

John Harper - 12-23-2019 at 05:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by advrider

Just tried the Cuban coconut black beans and rice from REI, it sucked! The breakfast hash is really good and would be even better in a tortilla as a burrito. Chili mack by MH and the one by backpacker pantry is good as well. The Wise company sells some at tractor supply and so far they have all been good, chili mack, pasta alfredo with chicken, and the biscuits with gravy. I take some of the small hot sauce packets with me on my trips, adds a little kick to all of the meals. Also buy the premade frozen meat balls at the store and dehydrate them then add them to top ramen to add some protean and flavor. Spam is another good camping/backpacking item to add to ramen or other meals.

MH Chili mac is another one I also found palatable. The MH Chicken Casserole is pretty good, comes in 3 serving size so I split it into two meals. Hot sauce packets great idea, my buddy brings them for us. Thanks for the ideas! I've seen the survivalist ads for Wise, have to give them a try. 8 more days and I can book my permit for Cottonwood Lakes on July 1, opener for golden trout season.

John

motoged - 12-24-2019 at 01:16 PM

Spam is not a very healthy mish-mash of animal products..... google it.

Tins of tuna, sardines, salmon are better alternatives in a can.

I remember Spam and Klik as a picnic sandwich as a kid....lots of mustard gave it a flavour....haven't had it since.....on purpose.

Maybe it's better with onions.

But some people even like Marmite......so what do I know. :tumble:

(that's a rhetorical question....)

[Edited on 12-24-2019 by motoged]

surabi - 12-24-2019 at 08:22 PM

[rquote

Wasabi,
You sound like you are put off by people with food allergies. You also sound like you would make a bad restaurateur — you would make a good crumudgeon, but I am not sure who is hiring curmudgeons right now...[/rquote]

Wasabi? Have a reading comprehension problem?
No, I have nothing against people with food allergies, I'm put off by entitled people who expect others to cater to their personal issues.
I have no interest in being a restauranteur, but I know several, and no, they don't cater to life-threatening food allergies. Their insurance doesn't cover making sure a utensil hasn't touched something someone might be allergic to, in a busy restaurant kitchen.
And I already have a job :-)

[Edited on 12-25-2019 by surabi]

TMW - 12-26-2019 at 03:20 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi

If I had an extreme food allergy, to the point where a utensil touching that food and then touching mine would make me violently ill, I sure wouldn't be eating out, anywhere. Expecting a restaurant to cater to one's particular food allergies is a pretty entitled attitude. I'd be cooking for myself, seems like a no-brainer.

I asked a simple question and I get a dumb chit answer from some jerk a$$.

Bob and Susan - 12-26-2019 at 06:06 AM

im NOT a doctor...

if your wife is allergic to onions she probably doesn't like garlic either

I would forget the EpiPen...those are dangerous...pure adenelin (sp) ...epipens are only for people who "swell up" ...the poison is still in your body and you NOW need to go to a hospital

if her throat gets sore...a sip of booze will relax it...but again the poison is inside

if any prepared food says on the label "spices" then FOR SURE it has onions and garlic

I think the BEST advice someone gave is to prepare her food in advance and bring it with you

remember if YOU eat onions and shes allergic to them ...you sweat...shes allergic to YOU too

you are lucky shes not allergic to soy or corn...soy is even in canned tuna and soy in medicine like advil...even allergy pills have corn in them

the world does not accommodate food allergies...beware

RocketJSquirrel - 12-27-2019 at 02:54 PM

I agree with "bring your food with you". Anaphylactic shock (from the allergic reaction) is not to be played with and forget the recommendations of anyone here who is not a fully qualified doctor and clearly states so. Good medical care is not always within easy reach here, so don't push it. If good care is to be found, it can be hours away.

Plenty of fun to be had here, but do bring your own food. Then no big deal.

[Edited on 12-27-2019 by RocketJSquirrel]

pacificobob - 12-29-2019 at 08:39 AM

BAja nomad.....where informed consumers of health and medical services go for accurate counsel.

micah202 - 1-5-2020 at 08:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob

BAja nomad.....where informed consumers of health and medical services go for accurate counsel.