Is Going To A Restaurant Like Playing Russian Roulette?

[grandpa]

As a grandfather, I'm always concerned about the health and well being of my six grandkids. Two of them have been diagnosed as lactose intolerant. Another has just been diagnosed with an immune deficiency. The whole issue of glutin-free is new to me. As I read the many posts regarding the experience of going to a restaurant and not really knowing what's in the food, I sense a great deal of anxiety and concern. It seems like playing russian roulette with your body chemistry. Is there no source of information to provide some guidance?

[Tim-n-VA]

First, there is no single source of good information on restaurants. This forum gives you the benefit of other's experience. Usually that is good but sometimes one facility in a chain restaurant makes a mistake and the entire chain can be lumped in. There are guide books on line and for sale but with restaurants constantly opening/closing and changing the menu, the key word there is that these are only a "guide" and not absolute.

The reality is that, like with life in general, there is no "safe" there are only degrees of risk. We each have to make choices about these risks and the benefits of exposing youself to them.

[BRUMI1968]

I will only eat out at two restaurants in my town. I have developed relationships with the kitchen. I warn them that I am coming in and ask if they have anything they can do for me that night. They are the two most expensive restaurants in town, so I don't eat out very often. But I find that they are willing to work around my issues.

that said, I am probably getting minute amounts of gluten eating there. Their kitchen is not set up to be gluten-safe.

I think what we've ended up doing is having nicer dinners at home - lighting candles, using nice linens, etc., and sometimes having folks over - so that I don't end up missing that eating out experience. In the end, I do miss it.

It's a personal call. Super sensitive folks probably can't handle much eating out; less sensitive folks moreso. All of the folks, though, getting any gluten, are doing themselves a disservice. It's a matter of balance.