Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

I'm Going To The U.s, Need Some Help

loken23

By loken23
in Traveling with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

loken23 Newbie
loken23
Posted

Hi!

I'm travelling to the U.S this summer (I'm swedish) and need some advise where to get gluten-free-food. I'm only staying for 2 weeks, in NY and Pittsburgh. I would really appreciate if someone could help me out a bit :) .

Is it possible to find gluten-free-products in normal supermarkets?

Snacks that are naturally gluten free?

Any fast food chain(s) and what to eat there?

..and if anyone knows... Is it allowed to bring bread into the country?

I'm really curious to see what the situation is like in the U.S for people us <_< and looking forward to try new food.

/Dan

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


elonwy Enthusiast
elonwy
Posted

I can't really help with stores in that area, as I'm on the West Coast, but about the bread on the plane thing. You can bring it in, as long as it's for private consumption, and you won't be selling it or trying to promote it as a product. So a doctors note might help with customs if you plan on bringing alot of food with you. You also won't be able to bring in anything "fresh" like fruit or part of a plant, something that mihgt contain bugs. I have alot of international friends, so I've dealt with this alot.

That said, There are Whole Foods in many states in the us. Also, for dining in the US, most places that don't offer a gluten-free menu are pretty clueless. Dining cards are really helpful, and sometimes even help ME remember what I can't have. I recommend the triumph cards : www.triumphdining.com. I have those and LOVE them.

As the waiter said to me on Thursday night "oh this is so cool that you have this" (talking about the dining cards).

As for what products in the US are gluten-free, if you PM me with your email address I can send you the Delphi list in either word or .pdf format. Its not everything, but its useful in a normal supermarket.

Have fun :)

Elonwy

debmidge Rising Star
debmidge
Posted

Yes, I recommend the "Whole Foods" (that's their name) stores...there are many -this is a type of supermarket for specialty foods which are all natural. They have website which will have all their locations in each state. I believe there are a few in NYC itself. Will you be staying in Manhattan (NYC)?

As to Pennsylvania..I am not certain.

As you may already know, Outback Steakhouse Restaurant has gluten-free menu. Check their website for locations in US.

There may be more restaurants in NYC that are gluten-free menu - a young person on this board by the name of celiac3270 would know as he lives in near NYC and has knowlege about this subject. Perhaps if he reads this he may add to this thread. Another member on the board lives in Philadelphia and may have some knowledge of PA. Re-name your thread -- state that you're traveling in PA and NYC and see if perhaps you get responses from others in those states. It's worth a try.

We do not eat out (my husband has celiac, not me) - he's too scared to try a restaurant since he's been diagnosed in 2003. No way I can convince him it's OK.

Debmidge...

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

There is a Whole Foods on Centre Ave, Pittsburgh. Sunnybridge is located in McMurray, Pa about a half hour from downtown Pittsburgh.It is a store that carries alot of gluten-free items. Outback is loacated in the North Hills area about 20 min. from the city.Smokey Bones is in Cranberry twp.there pulled pork is gluten-free .Bravo is also in the area and they are very nice about helping with special diets. The support group used to go to the Cranberry twp one for get-togethers.

You will also be safe with salads from McDonald's as they use Neuman's dressing . Don't eat their french fries!!!

enjoy your visit ............

mamaw

loken23 Newbie
loken23
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all for the advise. I checked the website of these wholefoods-shops and they seem to have lots of nice bakery goods there. I can't wait to try it out :)

I have 2 more questions that I'd like to ask you guys.

Since I found out about my celiac 3 years ago there is one thing that I really miss. Some good tortilla-bread. Is it possible to find corn-tortillas in the shops there withot gluten?

The next question is a bit off-topic but I'm just curious how common celiac disease is in the U.S? I think they say here that 1 person out of 100 has it (but many are not aware of it).

/Dan

debmidge Rising Star
debmidge
Posted

Dan

Supposedly it's same rate as UK 1 in 133 people have it either knowingly or unknowingly. But Drs. in USA are ignorant of celiac disease even existing and you can go for years from Dr. to Dr. not getting correct diagnosis. They say usual amount of time wasted is 11 years - for my husband that was 27 years.

There's a hard headedness abounding over this disease which is just recently lifting. Not every restaurant will serve gluten free, let alone know what you are talking about.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.