Eating out with PKU

The end of the year brings parties, events, and more opportunities to eat out. This can mean more challenges for those of us following a low-protein diet. Here are a few tips for eating out, plus some recommendations.

Equal treatment for metabolic disorders

A few years ago, a co-worker was organising the office Christmas party. As part of the usual special dietary requests, they asked the venue to cater for my PKU. The venue suggested that I bring my own food. I was mortified, my colleague was outraged.

The venue was informed that this response wasn't acceptable, and if they wanted our company to use their catering, they would cater for everyone. This showed me that people with PKU or other low protein diets should receive good service for their money, the same as everyone else.

Tip one - you are worth it

I used to think: “the diet is my problem, so I'll just deal with it and not make a fuss.” Actually, most people are happy to help, if you have the confidence to just ask. There are fewer refusals than you’d think. Refusal to help is increasingly rare in the world of social media and online reviews.

Remember that in the rare event that you are refused, you can always look elsewhere. I have found that the odd looks, and occasionally unexciting 'pasta and tomato sauce' dishes, have been far outweighed by the fantastic experiences.

"a Michelin-starred chef loved the challenge of a low-protein diet, and developed a 7-course degustation menu"

Amazing experiences with PKU

There have been several occasions when my dining experience has excelled that of my companions. One Michelin-starred chef loved the challenge of a low-protein diet, and developed a 7-course degustation menu just for me. Another chef in my home town used to love it when I booked, as he could do something new. This was assuming that I called at least two days in advance so he could buy market fresh produce just for me. This leads me to:

Tip two - planning

If you can, contact venues and those catering in advance. If you have a holiday, a special night, or a wedding coming up, don’t leave it until the last minute. Restaurants like at least a week’s notice, whereas it is best to contact wedding caterers promptly.

• Be prepared for your call, I like to check online menus before calling, so I can suggest tweaks to dishes. It lets the caterers know that they don’t have to start from scratch.
• **Be polite and clear, **kitchens are busy places, so ask if calling at another time, or sending an email would be easier.
• Template email Below is an example of the email which I send to caterers. Ask your PKU dietician for help to adjust it to meet your dietary requirements before using it.

Example email when booking with a low-protein diet

Dear …,
I would like to book a table for a special event and have strict medical dietary requirements, which I hope you will be able to accommodate.
I am on a medicated low protein diet and cannot eat meat, fish, shellfish, bread, tofu, legumes and soya, nor eggs. I am also not allowed dairy products — though small amounts of butter and cream in sauces is fine.
Please do let me know if this will be possible. I am happy to speak to a member of your team about adapting some of your current dishes.
With best regards,

Remember:

• Show this to your dietician first to ensure it meets your needs.
• I always use 'medical' in the first line to show that this is not a fad diet.
• Emphasise if it is a large party or a special occasion.
• If it is local, say you are looking for a great restaurant to book frequently.

Look online for recommendations

Don't overlook exciting places to eat just because you can't find them. Wiki-travel listings of vegetarian restaurants led me to a tiny restaurant in Bruges, Belgium. The dining space consisted of 4 tables in the front room of the chef’s home, and I would never have found it without the reviews. I was able to order a three-course set dinner without having to change anything. I never thought that would be possible.

As vegan and vegetarian diets are becoming more popular, caterers are becoming accustomed to plant-based diets. And we are no longer the customers asking for meal tweaks. The menus at these recommendations will change, do check before visiting.

Dishoom

Dishoom has branches across London and in Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Brighton, Oxford, and Cambridge. The NSPKU team recently highlighted the Dishoom jackfruit biryani recipe as one to try at home.

Leon & Wagamama

Branches UK-wide, with plenty of options for those on 10g/day or over.

I would love to have more examples on here - please share your recommendations in the comments below!