Eating Out, Is Salad Ok?

[purpleorchid620]

Is it safe for a Celiac to go to a restaurant and order a salad? no croutons of course and Gluten free dressing. Has anyone reacted from cross contamination with salad?

[bartfull]

I won't do it because I have worked in restaurants and I know how most back room salad bars are set up. Usually the croutons are above the vegetables and it is way too easy for a busy waitperson to drop a crouton or three into the veggies. I have also seen, many times, a waitperson dip a crouton into the dressing and pop it into their mouth while they are back there. Oil and vinnegar would be safe most likely, or you could bring your own dressing and hope for the best.

 

That being said, there are a lot of folks here who do eat salads at restaurants without problems. But I do wonder if some of the "mystery glutenings" we hear about aren't possibly connected to a restaurant salad.

[nvsmom]

Salad is a safer item. Make sure they aren't picking croutons out or using possibly cc'ed sunflower seeds or raisens. Stuff like that. If there is chicken on it, make sure it is grilled "naked" on a clean grill.... You still have to be carefull, but it's one of the safer things to eat. To be honest, salad, eggs and bacon are the only things I've had in a restaurant in over a year.  LOL I'm just not trusting enough to try other foods.

[purpleorchid620]

Salad is a safer item. Make sure they aren't picking croutons out or using possibly cc'ed sunflower seeds or raisens. Stuff like that. If there is chicken on it, make sure it is grilled "naked" on a clean grill.... You still have to be carefull, but it's one of the safer things to eat. To be honest, salad, eggs and bacon are the only things I've had in a restaurant in over a year.  LOL I'm just not trusting enough to try other foods.

Thanks for the advice. So when you go to a restaurant do you get funny looks asking for that. How do you go about asking for those things? 

[NoGlutenCooties]

Thanks for the advice. So when you go to a restaurant do you get funny looks asking for that. How do you go about asking for those things? 

 

You can start with "I'm gluten intolerant" and watch their facial expression. You can usually tell right away if they have any clue as to what you're talking about.  Continue with, "I can't have anything that has wheat or flour in it or I'll get very, very sick".  Then proceed to ask them about their food options.  I don't typically bother mentioning rye and barley because most people have no idea what they may be in - a lot of people don't understand what all wheat is in.  Don't be afraid to ask to check the labels yourself on stuff like salad dressing, BBQ sauce, etc.

 

I don't eat out very often at all but there is a diner that I go to once in a blue moon.  I tell the waitress that I'm allergic to wheat.  I'm not - I have Celiac.  But "Celiac" and "Gluten Intolerance" is much less understood than "allergy".  Especially when the person you're talking to doesn't speak English as their first language.  "Allergy" brings to mind a picture of someone going into anaphalaxis and they're much more likely to want to avoid that.  So I tell them I'm allergic to wheat and to please, please, please not let any bread or toast come anywhere near my plate.  (The dish I order is otherwise safe - I get the same thing every time - collard greens, hash-browns, and 2 eggs   )

 

Oh - and don't worry about "funny looks" - think of all the funny looks you'd get if you went running to the bathroom and was stuck in there for 2 hours.  Anyone who gives you a funny look because you care about what you eat and you have to be careful not to get glutened is ignorant and not worth your time.

[GF Lover]

When I go to have salad I ask for a "Wedge" salad with gluten-free dressing on the side. A wedge is where they just slide off a hunk from the whole salad ball and put it on your plate. Then you can cut it up on your plate and enjoy.  Best way I have found to avoid cc from a salad.

 

Colleen

[BethM55]

If you go to Livingwithout.com, you can order little cards to take with you to restaurants, that explain what gluten is and how to avoid it.  If the server looks clueless I will hand one to them, ask them to share it with the chef, and they can keep the card for future reference.  

 

Also, I always ask if the restaurant has a gluten free menu.  Some do, and that makes everything much easier.  

 

If I am unsure, sometimes I will order poached eggs and fruit, and bring my own bread.  

 

This will get easier over time, although I know it's hard to put the spotlight on myself and announce "Hi, there, I'm gluten intolerant!"  I don't like that I need to do that, but I also need to eat safely.  

 

Keep on asking questions!

 

 

[luvs2eat]

Colleen... what a brilliant idea... a wedge salad!! The last two times I went to restaurants and ordered salad they contained fried flour tortilla strips. The first time I found several after I was about 1/2 done w/ the salad!! The last time the salad will filled with them even tho the salad I ordered did NOT come w/ tortilla strips. I did not order something else... and we don't eat out anymore.

[notme]

they have a thing on the 'find me gluten free' smartphone app that is similar to those dining cards.  and it's freeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!  wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!