Ugggghhhh, Lucas Got Glutened...

[Ridgewalker]

I should've seen the warning signs before he ever took a bite.

We don't eat out much anymore since Lucas went gluten-free, but we still do once in awhile... If I get stuff from McDonald's, it's usually the local one in our own tiny town. But Sunday, after Mass, we went to a big one in Winston-Salem. That was mistake number 1.

Mistake number 2-- Of course it was a busy time of day, even busier since it was Sunday-getting-out-of-church-time.

I ordered his burger, giving the whole No bun, can't even touch a bun, spiel. The girl gave me that look like I suddenly grew a third eye. (I should be getting used to this, but I'm not. It still irritates me.) You'd think after 10 years of Atkins and South Beach diets, people would be used to getting bread-free orders. But I just smile, and say again, Yes, it cannot touch a bun, my son has a wheat allergy.

Mistake number 3-- I forgot to also request that they put on clean gloves before making his food, which I usually do.

So she goes back to tell the sandwich makers "No bun" because she doesn't know how to put that in the machine... and she has to say it 6 or 7 times, they keep trying to put it on a bun. I couldn't really see what was going on, but I realized suddenly that there was not a single person back in the kitchen who spoke English. I'm not being snotty or ethnocentric. It's just a fact. Finally, the manager went back and got the message across.

When she eventually brought it out, I asked her again, So this didn't touch a bun, right? And she said it hadn't. In hindsight, I realize that of course, their hands had been all over buns when they made his food.

It took about 48 hours for the reaction to hit, which is longer than usual for him. We did not have a good night last night. There he was, hunched over on the toilet groaning and glassy-eyed, and I'm asking myself WHY did I take that risk.

Well of course, by the time we pulled into McDonald's, he was yelling at the top of his lungs about how hungry he was. I usually keep snacks in the car, but not always. You can bet that now, it will be always. Lucas gets extremely fired up when he is hungry, now more than ever. He is very tall for his age, but very, very thin. (He has finally started filling out a tiny bit since going gluten-free)

Well anyways.... thanks for letting me vent!

-Sarah

[buffettbride]

That stinks. Poor little guy. I have felt the EXACT same way ordering many, many times. I haven't braved McDonald's yet, but we tried Chipotle on the first day DD was dxd (back in May 2007 as well!).

First I couldn't get the lady to NOT put the corn tortilla on the press where all the other tortillas were pressed and she looked at me like I was totally retarded for even asking them to change their gloves. English definitely was not her native language nor was it the native language of most of the people working there. By that time a line had amassed behind me and the whole family was mortified.

We ended up ordering her food in a bowl which just wasn't the same.

I sent a letter about poor service to Chipotle and got the standard corporate apology response which was BS in my opinion.

We haven't been back.

[Ridgewalker]

First I couldn't get the lady to NOT put the corn tortilla on the press where all the other tortillas were pressed and she looked at me like I was totally retarded for even asking them to change their gloves.

Exactly! How is it possible that with hundreds of orders per day, some of these people act so appalled at getting a special order?!

-Sarah

[buffettbride]

Exactly! How is it possible that with hundreds of orders per day, some of these people act so appalled at getting a special order?!

-Sarah

What is SOOOO frustrating is there is only like 2 items at Chipotle with gluten: flour tortillas and one of the sauces. Everything else is naturally gluten-free. You'd think it would be a piece of (gluten-free) cake! It can't be that difficult to use clean hands to put some rice and pork into a corn tortilla. But nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. (Can you tell I'm bitter???).

Sounds like you have a good deal going with your local McDonalds. I'm seriously not brave enough to even try. Although I am on a first-name basis with the Noodles by my house. That's what we do for fast-food in a pinch.

Oh yeah, and I *love* your kids names. Ezra is just awesome.

[Cheri A]

((hugs)) I have been there!! Hope your son is feeling better soon.

It is my #1 pet peeve that a lot of the restaurants have people that don't really understand English working there.

[Ridgewalker]

Oh yeah, and I *love* your kids names. Ezra is just awesome.

Thanks! We wanted to pick names that were somewhat less common, but not crazy.

Thank you both for your well-wishes. I kept him home from school today. The diarrhea is lessening, now it's mostly stomach cramps, low energy, and quick temper. So far, his reactions do not last for several days, the way some people have to suffer through.

-Sarah

[mama2]

Just wanted to put this out there... I believe McD's owns Chipotle. Which may explain some things.