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

How Do You Deal With Eating Out?

Mommy2Ellie

Recommended Posts

Mommy2Ellie Rookie
Mommy2Ellie
Posted

Just curious how to deal with this? We eat out about twice a month, or whenever we go to the nearest city, which is about two hours away. I don't know how to order food for Ellie! All of their baby plates or kids meals have gluten. Any advice is GREATLY appreciated!!!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Mtndog Collaborator
Mtndog
Posted

Wanted to say welcome first!

Many big chain restaurants like Bone Fish, Legal Seafoods, Not Your Average Joe's, The Outback have gluten free menus. If you call ahead, you can ask if they've dealt with gluten-free before.

I usually write down what I can't have and then ask them what they recommend. Another option is to get the Triumph Dining Cards or make your own. I list most common things like flour, bread, pasta, breadcrumbs, malt vinegar, etc.

The good news is that in the last 3 years- places have become MUCH more aware!

Rondar2001 Apprentice
Rondar2001
Posted

We eat out a couple of times a month and so far have been very lucky. Before we go, I try to research a possible restaraunt and check their website to see if they have any allergy information. I also check with our local celiac chapter's website for suggestions of gluten free friendly places. We also discuss the importance of gluten free with the server when we order and have found most places to be pretty knowledgable.

My biggest complaint is that the gluten free options tend to be in adult portions instead of kids meals. If they can't accomodate the smaller portion, she just brings home a doggy bag (although this tends to up the cost quite a bit).

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

I have found calling ahead to be invaluable. Try to talk to the head manager or the head chef. Tell them it will be 2 adults and one child eating and the child needs gluten-free food. Could they prepare something just for her so that your family can enjoy and frequent their restaurant. The economy isnt great right now and restaurants need our business. You might find that they are more than willing to accommodate you.

missy'smom Collaborator
missy'smom
Posted
We eat out a couple of times a month and so far have been very lucky. Before we go, I try to research a possible restaraunt and check their website to see if they have any allergy information. I also check with our local celiac chapter's website for suggestions of gluten free friendly places. We also discuss the importance of gluten free with the server when we order and have found most places to be pretty knowledgable.

Good advice. I do the same when we go out of town. I'll add that I have checked to see if the place I'm traveling to has a Celiac Support Group and contacted them for info on local options. I have also mapquested a town and clicked on restaurants for a list and through a process of elimination picked a couple that had webites with menus(they happened to not be large chains but local family owned and small chain) and e-mailed them for info concerning a few dishes that I thought might work. I also print out gluten-free menus and allergy info pages from the large chain websites and put them in a presentation pholio with clear verticle pocket pages and carry it in the car with me. Don't be afraid to make up and order your own dishes that are not on the menu, as long as they are simple and use the ingedients that that restauraunt is likely to have, they will usually accomodate. I order one meal at a restaurant that used to be on the menu but is no longer, however they still use the ingredients, so will make it that way. Another place I've ordered something that is not on the menu but I make up from the list of ingredients that is on the website's extensive allergy info page.

wsieving Contributor
wsieving
Posted

I am so glad you asked that question!! I have been wondering this myself, and you all have great suggestions!!

Tristan's Mama Newbie
Tristan's Mama
Posted

My girlfriend who is a member here, who's son has Celiac Disease, actually answered this question for me today! She said there are restaurants who do offer Gluten free items, and for the ones that don't she brings a separate meal for her son. She said there was a place online, and some stores, where you can purchase gluten-free ready to go meals. She just brings them and a microwave container, and has them heat up her son's meal. She has yet to have any difficulties doing this. She also advised me of the fact that McDonald's french fries contain gluten, but that Burger King does not. I called both in our area to confirm this today, and they informed me of the same. Which for us is a God send...as Tristan is obsessed with french fries!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


NewGFMom Contributor
NewGFMom
Posted

We tend to go to Thai and Japanese restaurants where we can get Mr. Picky-ness a bowl of rice pasta. He likes to squeeze lemon juice on it.

At a lot of places, hot dogs and french fries are a pretty safe bet, if you call first and make sure they understand about cross contamination.

Otherwise, we pack a meal for him and order him a fancy drink or something. If the city near you is medium sized, you may be surprised by the options. We found a ton of gluten free food in Bemidji, Minnesota and all over rural New Hampshire when we specifically looked for it.

Good luck!

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

These cards may help: Open Original Shared Link

Always speak with a manager or chef - don't rely on the waitress.

Make sure you cover 1. the ingredients in the food and 2. the preparation of the food (clean utensils, pan, etc).

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,546
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    KimberlyAnne76
    Newest Member
    KimberlyAnne76
    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

    • 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.
    • Jsingh
      Protein or fat?

      By Jsingh · Posted

      Hi,  I care for my seven year old daughter with Celiac. After watching her for months, I have figured out that she has problem with two kinds of fats- animal fat and cooking oils. It basically makes her intestine sore enough that she feels spasms when she is upset. It only happens on days when she has eaten more fat than her usual every day diet. (Her usual diet has chia seeds, flaxseeds, and avocado/ pumpkin seeds for fat and an occasional chicken breast.) I stopped using cooking oils last year, and when I reintroduced eggs and dairy, both of which I had held off for a few months thinking it was an issue of the protein like some Celiac patients habe mentioned to be the case, she has reacted in the same fashion as she does with excess fats. So now I wonder if her reaction to dairy and eggs is not really because of protein but fat.   I don't really have a question, just wondering if anyone finds this familiar and if it gets better with time.  Thank you. 
    • Chanda Richard
      High Cost of Gluten-Free Foods

      By Chanda Richard · Posted

      Hello, My name is Chanda and you are not the only one that gose through the same things. I have found that what's easiest for me is finding a few meals each week that last. I have such severe reactions to gluten that it shuts my entire body down. I struggle everyday with i can't eat enough it feels like, when I eat more I lose more weight. Make sure that you look at medication, vitamins and shampoo and conditioner also. They have different things that are less expensive at Walmart. 
    • petitojou
      Frequent nausea after gluten-free diet

      By petitojou · Posted

      Thank you so much! I saw some tips around the forum to make a food diary and now that I know that the community also struggles with corn, egg and soy, the puzzle pieces came together! Just yesterday I tried eating eggs and yes, he’s guilty and charged. Those there are my 3 combo nausea troublemakers. I’m going to adjust my diet ☺️ Also thank you for the information about MCAS! I’m from South America and little it’s talked about it in here. It’s honestly such a game changer now for treatment and recovery. I know I’m free from SIBO and Candida since I’ve been tested for it, but I’m still going to make a endoscopy to test for H. Pylori and Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Thank you again!! Have a blessed weekend 🤍
    • knitty kitty
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I, too, have osteoporosis from years of malabsorption, too.  Thiamine and magnesium are what keep the calcium in place in the bones.  If one is low in magnesium, boron, selenium, zinc, copper, and other trace minerals, ones bone heath can suffer.  We need more than just calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones.  Riboflavin B 2, Folate B 9 and Pyridoxine B 6 also contribute to bone formation and strength.   Have you had your thyroid checked?  The thyroid is important to bone health as well.  The thyroid uses lots of thiamine, so a poorly functioning thyroid will affect bone heath.  
×
×
  • 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.