Philadelphia Places To Eat

[Guest laydirain]

Does anyone know of any places to eat in the center city - philadelphia, pa area? Im starting school there & our classes run all day long. I have been trying to figure out what I going to do about eating?? Please let me know if anyone knows of anything...Im not looking for a resttaurant per se, but I guess just some ideas on what I can eat/where I can get a lunch type meal. I am also lactose intolerant! Thanks!

PS - Im new to this whole thing - I have just been informally diagnosed about 2 months ago...

[rutland]

Does anyone know of any places to eat in the center city - philadelphia, pa area? Im starting school there & our classes run all day long. I have been trying to figure out what I going to do about eating?? Please let me know if anyone knows of anything...Im not looking for a resttaurant per se, but I guess just some ideas on what I can eat/where I can get a lunch type meal. I am also lactose intolerant! Thanks!

PS - Im new to this whole thing - I have just been informally diagnosed about 2 months ago...

Hi, Im from Philly. If I go out for lunch I usually have a salad with olive oil and vineger. Or I make my own food and take it with me. I try to keep it simple, like tuna fish with some rice crackers, or chicken breast wrapped in romaine lettuce. Lots of snacks like fruit and nuts. Lately Ive been making lots of soups and freezing them so that I can have that for lunch. Soups are the best food when your healing because they absorb well and digest well.

I dont know of any places that serve gluten free food. But if your near a wholefoods they usually have some good things to choose from. They also have a gluten free baked goods section.

If you want to go out to eat, I would suggest just ordering obvious gluten free choices like broiled fish with veggies, or any meat with veggies, and a baked potatoe.

I know its hard at first but the pay off is worth it. I just found out 2mos. ago too. I havent been out to eat yet because Im still in the healing process.

Hope this helps

Steph

[Lauren M]

Does anyone know of any places to eat in the center city - philadelphia, pa area? Im starting school there & our classes run all day long. I have been trying to figure out what I going to do about eating?? Please let me know if anyone knows of anything...Im not looking for a resttaurant per se, but I guess just some ideas on what I can eat/where I can get a lunch type meal. I am also lactose intolerant! Thanks!

PS - Im new to this whole thing - I have just been informally diagnosed about 2 months ago...

Hi there!

Where are you going to school? I'm a grad student at Drexel. I think Center City is very disappointing as far as Celiac friendly restaurants. At least Philly has Mr. Ritts bakery though.

- Lauren

[lpellegr]

If you search this site, some people have posted celiac-friendly restaurants, but they're usually the expensive ones not on a student's budget. There's a Whole Foods on South Street where you can stock up on gluten-free goodies for home, but your best bet for lunches is to pack. There are plenty of foods in any grocery store that fit a gluten-free diet. There are plenty of things to take that don't need refrigeration for a morning - peanut butter and Nut Thins or celery, hard boiled eggs, rolled up lunchmeat and pickles alone or in a Mission corn tortilla, tuna, gluten-free muffins and bagels (from the grocer's freezer), single-serve Bush's Beans or Dinty Moore beef stew, fruit. Supplement with Lay's chips, Cheetos, Fritos, which are supposed to be okay, when you need a decadent snack. Wendy's has good stuff - the baked potatoes and chili are safe (always beware of cross-contamination). Mr. Ritts is on the expensive side, I think. You're better off with simple foods, and if you don't try replacing all the breads, cereals, etc and instead stick to meats, beans, nuts, and produce, you'll be healthier and not go broke. Find a couple of gluten-free bars you like (check the labels - most Lara bars will be okay, and the GeniSoy peanut butter fudge bar is kind of like chocolate covered peanut-butter sawdust but will fill you up) and keep them in your bag. Good luck - you'll find plenty to eat once you get used to it.

[amybeth]

El Azteca is a Mexican place that is relatively low in $$ if you want to eat out in the city. Their tortilla chips are not cooked in a dedicated fryer, so NOT gluten-free, but their enchiladas aren't bad.

If you have some extra $$ I have eaten without incident at Bridget Foy's on South Street, Sabrina's near the Italian Market, and someone here posted that they ate at the Old Tavern in Old City....

Whole Foods is Great. I LOVE their gluten-free banana bread and their rotisserie chicken (naked variety) is gluten-free. YUM!

[Guest laydirain]

thanks for all the suggestions. i think i needed some encouragement to keep going. We had orientation at school and it just felt stressful and unmanageable to "do school" and eat properly, but you all have made it seem more manageable. I think I just drew a blank after I thought "pack a lunch" - I was thinking what would I pack? If any of you know which lunchmeats we can eat, that would be helpful. I like turkey, and I guess I would just have to find a brand that's gluten free. I havent gotten around to writing the companies...sometimes they are not so nice with their replies.

THANKS!

[KAthyB]

thanks for all the suggestions. i think i needed some encouragement to keep going. We had orientation at school and it just felt stressful and unmanageable to "do school" and eat properly, but you all have made it seem more manageable. I think I just drew a blank after I thought "pack a lunch" - I was thinking what would I pack? If any of you know which lunchmeats we can eat, that would be helpful. I like turkey, and I guess I would just have to find a brand that's gluten free. I havent gotten around to writing the companies...sometimes they are not so nice with their replies.

THANKS!

Boar's Head and Deitz and Watson turkey and cheeses are all gluten-free

[Guest laydirain]

Boar's Head and Deitz and Watson turkey and cheeses are all gluten-free

thanks so much!