DownWithGluten

Oh and, just more on this...as far as restaurants. Probably the best and most consistent one I've found to work is Outback Steakhouse. I know, you don't eat meat! But I have a vegan sister and she can find things there. As well, P.F. Changs is good, they even bring their gluten free dishes out on a different kind of plate and the staff always seem to remember to warn you not to eat the regular sauces and offer to bring out gluten-free soy sauce. I've had success with Uno's as well. Depending on where you live, some areas have a lot more cute little non-chain places that offer gluten free items, more than others. (mine is one of the 'others' but I've travelled to places with better options haha). Chipotle has always worked for me, too, however some more sensitive people may advise against it. Do not eat the flour tortillas. I avoid the salad dressing and the hottest salsa as well.

Always, you have to give them the song and dance about your diet and double check that they know what you mean and that they will avoid cross contamination. I get all whip-cracking on them, and usually have to witness with my own eyes that they write down 'gluten free' next to my order. I stress it to them probably at least five times. It's very annoying but better safe than sorry. You can usually size up how comfortable the waiter is by how they respond. For example, If they ask you "well you tell me what you can eat" it's not a good sign. I've seen many a face fall, a bead of sweat drip, a tremor of nervousness when I mention to them that I'm gluten free and will get sick if I consume it. lol. I will be stubborn and resort to "can you ask the chef? the chef should know.." b/c sometimes the waiters are just ignorant. I had one guy who was sarcastic and rude when I asked to double check about their broccoli dish, he was all "uum it's broccoli" (but of course, what about the seasoning?) and then he came back basically groveling and apologetic so I assume the chef put him in his place. Anyway...it is definitely a song and dance. For new and unfamiliar places (still, I try to stick to ones that I've found have gluten free options online)...it's ALWAYS recommended to call them ahead of time and go through the whole song and dance. Being honest, this is all a huge pain the butt. There will be heartbreak and frustration and anger navigating "eating out." Your friends and family are going ot have to get used to eating at the same 2-3 places a million times, or just eat out less...or on occasion you'll have to eat beforehand and just sit and drink some Coke while they eat. Awkward but I've done to at least still go out and socialize. I feel I've struck a balance. But I do so long for the days when I could just eat out on a whim, without having to plan it beforehand, stress about it all day...etc.

there's an art to the gluten free restaurant dining experience. Let me know if you have any more questions. I feel I air on the more strident, "paranoid" side. Then again, there are people more strident than me who wouldn't recommend ever eating out. So...you'll find your level of comfort. again, in time!

Hey, hope you're feeling less overwhelmed. I think we can all relate to that initial disappointment and despair. Even the rice cakes...haha, for the first few months all I ate were random rice chips and like chicken broth.

But don't despair, it's not as bleak as it seems. I've been gluten free for six years now and can pretty much eat whatever I want...however, yes, the eating out thing will not be the same. I'm reduced to about 3 or 4 options and don't have the freedom to just eat out on the fly. Before I go on any trip, I still take about 3-4 hours researching restaurants in the area. Etc.

But my main point is, even as a vegetarian, I can say with confidance that you'll be able to eat practically as much as you did before. Restricted to certain brands, will take a lot of Googling and callin companies...but once you find your "safe" go to brands and items, you'll be set. I don't feel at all deprived eating at home. (Again, yes the freedom to eat out or eat at work functions or parties etc...indeed not the same. But as far as cravings, eating what I want on a regular basis...no problem!) My friend I love pasta and bread, too. I used to just go to bakeries and eat bread for lunch, and pasta is one of my favorite things. they're beginning to make better tasting gluten free bread. And the brown rice gluten free pasta, to me, tastes the same as "real" pasta. I swear to you I don't miss "real" pasta in the slightest. The texture is more obnoxious and doesn't hold as well -- but the taste is perfect. I was afraid to try it the first time but was so pleasantly surprised. It's not like whole wheat pasta which does have a drastic taste difference.

You can still have all your veggies. With some research, you can find salad dressings and dips that are gluten free. And regular brands, too. Like Kraft and Newmann's. Not everything has to be organic or "healthy" brands. Although sometimes those are more convinient b/c they take the time to label products as gluten free. But I'm sayin,' you can go grab a bag of Cheetos and pop in some M&Ms and be fine. All is not lost...it's just a matter of finding substitutes to the main things like pasta, cookies, bread...and a matter of doing the grunt work of calling brands and research brands online,... (pretty much, don't eat anything unless you have checked beforehand or unless it's labelled as gluten free. that's my rule). I don't know how much cooking you've done, but you will likely have to rely on preparing your own ingredients and less on pre-made things (like hamburger helper types). Anyway, once you have your safe brands, you're good to go. (Though good to check ingredients from time to time as products can change).

Conveniently for you, as far as frozen meals and that sorta thing... gluten free and vegeterian often get lumped together so you should be able to find variety there too. Usually only healthy and organic brands do the 'frozen food's' though.

(A note with the vegetarian thing __ one hindrance to look out for is 'vegetarian' meat. They almost always have wheat in them. So, those occasional bites of real chicken you mentioned might have to suffice instead.)

And like someone else said, hard cider is a great non-strong "fun" beverage to have instead of beer. And more and more varities of gluten-free beer seem to be cropping up.

Hope that helps. Don't feel you have to resign yourself to rice cakes and carrots forever. With research (and give yourself time ) you can still have flavor and fun and eat just as much as you used to.

Okay! Wanted to close the loop for those who are curious and for future individuals who may Google "swiss miss gluten free" in hope of answers.

I called them today and she confirmed that, yes, ALL varieties of Swiss Miss hot cocoa are gluten free. This includes the dark chocolate variety I was asking about, and any of the others. Mint, marshmallow, you name it. She said they are still in the process of getting all the boxes labelled as gluten free.

So circa Jan. 2, 2013, Swiss Miss hot chocolate, all varities, is gluten free.

and also how to ensure they don't have my other "no no" foods without embarrassing my friend acting like a whimpering chick.

Oh my friend I'm the quintessential "whimpering chick." I've been on the gluten free diet since 2007 and have only gotten glutened twice, both in 2008. The price of this success is being the whimpering chick, the doubter, the annoying person who doesn't eat what people offer, who looks rude or possible hypochondriac or attention-seeker, that high maintenance person who has to call restaurants and venues themselves every time. I loathe being high maintenance but it's the price I've had to pay, and my intestines thank me. This includes at workplace functions, workplace outings...those are often the hardest. And then parties with friends, etc. It's especially difficult when they THINK they're doing it right and are at least considerate enough to think of me...but I still have to be the whimpering chick and not take them at face value. They usually endure 20 questions, indicate some doubt over an ingredient or reveal something they hadn't thought of that they forgot to check for gluten... enough for me to be afraid and not eat it anyway. And then everyone feels awkward and bad.

So what's my point? I've fared very well physically...will be exactly Six Years Gluten Free come tomorrow (New Year's Day), and only two times, within the first two years, have I gotten sick from accidental glutening. But to do so, yes, I have HAD to be the whimpering chick. The choice is yours. Sadly, those are our options. However, there are more gluten free options nowadays even from when I started!

getting off my soapbox...As for the OP and fast food...the only thing I ever get from Wendy's is the Frosty, as others have mentioned. Fast food frightens me. I believe I got a baked potato at Arby's another time, with no butter or anything, but that's it.

Okay I called. Since it's new years they didn't have any live people. But the automated robot gave me a bunch of rigamarole that basically said if there is barley, rye or wheat in any ingredient, then they will list that in parentheses next to it. I don't see any of that on mine so I'm thinking it is probably safe. The said other stuff about distilling and possible exposure to wheat, so maybe that's why they don't label them as 'gluten free'...but basically I don't think there are any gluten ingredients in it.

hmm