There has been an allergy epidemic among the last generation, which has caused people to question why this is happening. One explanation for the increase in allergies is caused by hygiene hypothesis, which states that excessive cleanliness interrupts the normal development in the immune system which makes people more susceptible to allergies. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “The number of children with food allergies went up 18 percent from 1997 to 2007.” It also states that, “3 million children younger than 18 had a food or digestive allergy in 2007.” Restaurants are now altering their menus to adapt to more of a population base. Nearly 1 out of 133 Americans are affected by a gluten intolerance, and aboutp 65 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy. Most restaurants will have a gluten free menu; however, if one has other types of food allergies or intolerances, just ask the server and most places will make accommodations to the specific chosen item.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, here are some restaurants to take a significant other to, allergies or not. Click on the photos to see a menu for gluten free and lactose free list of choices from different restaurants.

Taylor Peterson is the Editor in Chief – Print for The Spartan Speaks.