Symptoms After Diner Breakfast

[Guest Pixi]

I went to a diner I used to frequent pre-diagnosis yesterday morning with my best friend. I ordered a Lox and Onion Omelette and told the waitress no toast, no home fries.. and to just ask that he doesnt accidently plate it with any of those things.

I also had an iced coffee.

What do you think could have happened that gave me gluten symptoms? I'm not even a week into this new diet, so I'm sorry if I should already know.. I'm just searching for what I can eat and the proper way to order.

Thanks much for any words of advice/wisdom

[penguin]

I went to a diner I used to frequent pre-diagnosis yesterday morning with my best friend. I ordered a Lox and Onion Omelette and told the waitress no toast, no home fries.. and to just ask that he doesnt accidently plate it with any of those things.

I also had an iced coffee.

What do you think could have happened that gave me gluten symptoms? I'm not even a week into this new diet, so I'm sorry if I should already know.. I'm just searching for what I can eat and the proper way to order.

Thanks much for any words of advice/wisdom

1: they may put pancake batter in the omlette eggs. IHOP does this and some other diner type places started to, also.

2: they may cook eggs and pancakes on the same grill w/the same utensils, ask next time for them to use foil.

3: iced coffee may have had flavoring or malt that is suspect

4: milk somewhere could have bothered you

The home fries were probably ok, actually. Just ask if it's 100% potatoes (and onions?) with some oil.

[Guest BERNESES]

1: they may put pancake batter in the omlette eggs. IHOP does this and some other diner type places started to, also.

2: they may cook eggs and pancakes on the same grill w/the same utensils, ask next time for them to use foil.

3: iced coffee may have had flavoring or malt that is suspect

4: milk somewhere could have bothered you

The home fries were probably ok, actually. Just ask if it's 100% potatoes (and onions?) with some oil.

I'll bet you ANYTHING (well, not anything) that they probably cook everything on the same grill. Most doners do this to save time and space. Bums me out- used to love diner breakfasts but I always get some form of cross-contamination.

[lovegrov]

I'f bet the coffee wasn't a problem, but CC certainly could be. They have to use a well-cleaned surface and clean utensils. If the diner has a slower time and it's convenient, go then. They're less likely to make mistakes.

Lastly, you probably should consider not eating out for a while. Let yourself heal and get more used to the diet. Eating out is always dicey.

richard

[Katydid]

My husband has been gluten free for about 17 years and this still happens to him. He is retired and loves to have breakfast with his friends every morning at the diner. He knows the owner well and she really tries hard by cleaning a special spot on the grill, using clean utensils, etc. But he still got zapped once in a while...sometimes every week.

We've finally decided its best for him to eat at home and then join his friends and just have coffee with them. He has been doing this about four weeks and hasn't had a single episode.

I guess no matter how careful a restaurant tries to be, there is always that cross contamination danger.

Hang in there...life gets easier.

Kay

[jerseyangel]

The diner situation is what I think I miss most. I live in South Jersey, and it is just a part of life to go the diner for breakfast on Sunday, or lunch whenever. Is the CC danger really worse there? I haven't gone since my dx., but I really hate to think I have to give up going forever. I'm sad all of a sudden talking about it--any good experiences or tips? Or do I just order tea and bring my own Lara Bar and banana?

[mookie03]

Same thing happened to me on friday... I had to eat at a diner w/ my boss and was starving-- so i couldnt just order something to drink.. well, i had an omelette and home fries and was sick as a dog later... Im quite sure it was cooked on the same grill as pancakes, etc. Either that or they sprinkle flour on the grill to make sure it doesnt stick. Either way, i know i should have known better but it was a difficult situation. I do try to avoid diners though, as there is a very high risk of cross-contamination.

[Mango04]

Pixi - I've been in similair situations as well. I think it's usually safer to order hard boiled eggs and fruit at a place like that. You probably have less of a cross cotamination risk that way.

[Guest Pixi]

I think you're right, Richard.. people keep telling me to stick to home-made things and such while I'm healing. It's just that I live in the city (NY) and it's full of great restaurants, diners, etc.. and I've eaten out and ordered out since I was a kid.

I don't even know how to cook a chicken breast!

I tried the Whole Foods market today and had a great salad without any reaction, so I picked up a few and will try some of those. My Mom has also been cooking chicken and stuff for me to bring to work.

I guess I'm going to have to embrace the idea of eating at home.. bah! How do all the social butterflies and college students manage to eat home all the time?

Thanks for all your advice and experiences.. it's really such a comfort to know there are other people experiencing this. Gosh, I really had no idea how careful I'd have to be!!

Thank you all again

[Lollie]

I have found it easy to just stay home and eat stuff I know is safe. But, truly I find it boring! If I lived in NY I think I would eat out too! I saw somewhere that there is a pizza place that makes fresh gluten-free pizza in the city- maybe that would be an option sometimes! I guess the best thing to do is really know what you can eat! I would bet that the omelett got you because of the pancake batter thing! I always order fruit and yogurt or just an egg, ect....

There are alot of good things out there to eat, and since your already going to Whole Foods I think your on the right track! I love there gluten-free cookies! Especially their ginger snaps! Mmmmmm-so good! I like to order vegies when I'm out, especially baked potatoes- almost every where has those and they are safe!

I had a thought, how sick were you when you got Dx? Sometimes coffee will give me a little trouble- I think it's just a little harsh on an already rough stomach- but I drink it anyway, most of the time! Alot of this is just trying to figure it out and healing!

Good Luck!

Lollie

[tarnalberry]

I guess I'm going to have to embrace the idea of eating at home.. bah! How do all the social butterflies and college students manage to eat home all the time?

Invite people over for dinner (everyone can chip in for the ingredients, and it'll be cheaper than going out.)

Call around a get a list of places you're comfortable going and have talked to before hand to find out what's safe and what isn't.

Eat before going out with others and just have something to drink while you're at the restaurant.

Start organizing your socializing around something other than food, like a trip to the bowling alley, or a hike.

[mookie03]

Pixi-- you are not alone! I am the exact same way. I live in the city and have grown up on takeout my whole life. I never cook and rarely even eat meals at home. But this is not totally unmanageable, there are many restaurants in NYC that are more than accomodating and you CAN still eat out- i do all the time. And yes, sometimes i get sick from cross-contamination but for me it is better to take that risk than to overhaul my entire lifestyle. It is a personal choice everyone should make for themselves about how much they are willing to change their lifestyle. For me, i choose restaurants carefully and always check out menus in advance to make sure there will be something i can eat. I also try to call ahead and advise them i will be coming and have dietary restrictions. This is why i find diners so hard and try to avoid them. I also try to avoid delis and other fast food places and try to only pick-up food from a place like Whole foods.

So, you dont have to eat at home. Is it safer? yes, but it is not the only option. and you can order in every day if you can find a few places that work for you. Thats the beauty of NYC, the options are endless, it just may take some trial and error to find the best places. BTW have you been to Risotteria? If not, you MUST go there! And feel free to PM me if you have specific NY-related questions

[Guest BERNESES]

And the Candle Cafe (I think there's 2) and Candle 79 has a gluten-free menu. Good stuff- all organic. I had lavender blueberry ice cream that I will NEVER forget there this summer while visiting. I think they alos do brunch.

Here's their website:

Open Original Shared Link

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

When I was in college and graduate school, I survived with a George Foreman grill -- it cooks burgers, chicken, pork chops, portabello mushrooms, etc.

Also, Thai Kitchen makes a number of microwaveable foods (as does Amy's).

If you have just been diagnosed and are healing, it is best to stay away from restaurants for 2-3 months and let your body heal.

You will save money and you will heal infinitely faster than you will if you keep "poisoning" yourself with gluten.

Food for thought....

[StrongerToday]

We were recently traveling and found an IHOP. I went in and asked the manager who assured me (at least in this location) eggs are cooked in a seperate frying pan (and it's just eggs, no added ingredients) bacon is cooked on the "bacon spot" and hashbrowns cooked on the "hashbrown spot". All pancakes, etc. are cooked on an enitrely different grill. I ate there twice last week and did great!

While you probably should give yourself time to heal and find some easy recipes to make at home - you can eat out but you need to research it really well.

[Guest nini]

I was also going to say that you do not have to give up going out to eat, you just have to do some research and find the safe places that you can eat... if you call or go in when they are slow and ask to speak to a manager, you can ask all kinds of questions and find out what menu items may be safe and how to order them... I went to my fave Mexican Restaurant in Florida when we were on vacation last year, and I just asked very specific questions about how the salsa was made, were the chips made from scratch and were they all corn and were they fried in a separate fryer from any of the flour tortilla items... they were... I asked what specifically was used to flavor the meat and even if the refried beans were canned or from scratch... fortunately everything was made from scratch there and they were able to tell me what was in everything. My daughter and I had an awesome lunch and we didn't get sick.

Then there are the chain restaurants that have gluten-free menus, like Outback, Carraba's, Bonefish Grill, and so on... I know there are more I just can't think of them right now.

If you have a fave Italian restaurant, they may be able to tell you if their sauces are safe and may be able to talk them into cooking your gluten-free pasta (that you provide) in a separate clean pot and putting their sauce on it if they are safe.

Chinese or other Asian restaurants may be able do cook some things for you in a clean steam pot or wok and let you put your own gluten-free soy sauce on it. I go to the Chinese buffet near my work and as soon as I walk in the door they start getting my steamed veggies ready for me, and I fill up my plate with white rice and carry my own soy sauce... they also have a salad bar and the croutons are on the opposite end, so fairly safe... and I just bring my own salad dressing too... (yeah I do walk in with a small grocery bag, but who cares!)

my point is, you can still eat out, it just requires a little more effort.

don't be afraid to ask questions about how food is prepared and if you can get yours prepared in a clean pan or with foil... so on and so forth!