Ordering A Salad Ok?

[wschmucks]

Hi Everyone!

if i am at a resturant or take out place etc. is ordering a salad risky-- if there are no crutons, no dressing....is it ok?

I am only 2 months gluten free and have not really been able to feel out out sensetive i am yet. I still get glutened probably every 10 days or so (Does that mean im not being careful enough, or is it part of the learnign process-- Im worried about this too), so that makes it even harder to figure out how sensetive I am. I have not eaten out at resturants since diagnosed and dont plan on making it a common event, but if i did should I feel safe by eating a salad?

Do alot of you react poorly to eating salads at resturants or prepackaged salads?

Thanks for your help.

[Juliebove]

The biggest risk is the croutons. Even though you say to leave them off, they might not. I've had salads where they put them on, then picked them back off, leaving little crumbs. Or worse yet, been eating the salad, then towards the bottom of the bowl, found a soggy one. One restaurant actually told me the bowl of croutons was right next to the salad bowl and they couldn't prevent some from falling in. I quit ordering salads there and now they have changed what they do. Salads are no longer served in a bowl, but a flat, clear plate and they are much smaller so you can see what all is there.

I used to buy pre-packaged but quit doing that. Not a gluten risk, but too much food poisoning from them.

[henny]

The first couple of months it seemed like I glutened myself accidentally almost every week.

Trust me, you do get better at it!

croutons are bad, as are Bacos (artificial bacon bits)

I recently found out the hard way that shredded cheeze is risky as well

some salad dressings are bad as well, so be sure to check ingredients. I carry my own usually so I don't have to go through the 20 questions routine.

Often a salad is what I choose when eating out since it's easiest to judge, ingredient-wise.

good luck and it does get easier with time!

[mef]

It depends on the restaurant. I would argue that some restaurants will be able to handle your requests while some others may not. I once ordered a salad--specified no side order of bread, no wheat, no dressing, and no tortilla strips. Of course, they do everything right....except the loaf size piece of bread sitting on the salad...oops

I also ordered gluten-free packets of salad dressing and keep a set in my locker at work, at home etc. I'll just order greens and bring out my own dressing. I've become a little bit of a hoarder. Once I find portable types of food/topping (soy sauce or salad dressing) I stock up. It helps in emergencies.

Good luck! Mary

[wschmucks]

OK- so it sounds like the greatest danger is an accidental crouton. I dont use dressing-- just olive oil, so other than those two things it sounds like if im every going to eat out this is the safest bet. Sound about right?

Thanks for all the help....maybe I'll work up the corage to eat out onnnnne day :-)

[Lori T.]

OK- so it sounds like the greatest danger is an accidental crouton. I dont use dressing-- just olive oil, so other than those two things it sounds like if im every going to eat out this is the safest bet. Sound about right?

Thanks for all the help....maybe I'll work up the corage to eat out onnnnne day :-)

I was stressed with that one too for the longest time. Found that if I checked the website to many of the fast food places, was lucky enough to get the answer to what was in the stuff and even if something looked suspicious, if you e-mail them, you do get responses. As for the finer restaurants, I have found that 2 things work, depending on where I am: Make a quick exit to the bathroom and catch a waitress, quick explain the situation and ask her if you can speak to the chef on the side. I have been treated to some of the most delicious concoctions off the top of the chefs heads. Next, is go the bold route. Bring your own dressing that you check on-line/over the phone with the company at home and then ask for the salad the way YOU want it. I was never a person to be very outspoken in the sense that I would argue over a piece of meatloaf served to me with the gravy on it instead of plain the way I like it before going gluten-free. Now, I have found that speaking up for myself has been empowering. Not to say that I don't get into something gluten containing sometimes. It just happens way less. Most good restaurants that have salad bars, will make you a HUGE salad of your very own in the back, if you explain the contamination issue to them. Most of the stuff is packaged and they can just grab what you need instead of touching the other stuff. It takes time to get used to what you can have and can't but keep reading, online searching and you will get there. Good luck to you and let us know how things are going.

[ang1e0251]

I haven't had the courage to eat a salad out yet. Maybe with your suggestions I will try. I don't eat out a lot except by my shop where the local spots take care of me. If you can't advocate for yourself at a restaurant, you run a high risk of glutening.

[henny]

I'd stay away from the cheeses and processed meats you often get on salads. Greens and eggs (assuming you are not allergic to eggs) are the way to go. When I have to travel that's what I live on....simple salads and gluten-free packaged bars I bring with me.

[loco-ladi]

AHHHH salad my "go to" meal at a restraunt.....

how bland of a meal can you get, lol

I also would add be wary of the added meats along with almost everything else that has much taste, but in a pinch it fills the tummy.

My "horror story" goes like this:

enter restraunt, order salad.... salad (lettuce, tomato, onion and a hard boiled egg) NO croutons, NO crackers, NO dressing, NO meat.... covers everything right? WRONG!!!!! Waitress brings salad topped off with a nice steamy yeast roll, saying she felt bad I couldn't have any of the other stuff.... I very nicely thanked her for thinking of me however please make me another one without the roll.

Always remember to be polite when they mess up! And if they "get it right" the first time... tip well! And savor those very rare times when you ask the waiter/waitress for a gluten free menu and they say "oh do you have celiac?" then mention a couple favorites that are gluten-free even tho they dont have a gluten-free menu! Yes people that happened to me once! NO I didnt get ill and OMG it was WONDERFUL!

[luvs2eat]

I rarely eat out anymore. Went to Applebees a long while back ... told the whole wheat/gluten/cross contamination story... ordered a spinach salad w/ shrimp... please don't put ANY croutons on it... NO roll anywhere... thought I had all my bases covered. When I got to the bottom of the bowl.... there was a layer of fried chinese noodles. I showed them to the waitress and she said, "Oh... THOSE are made w/ wheat???"

No matter how much you explain... some people just do not get it.

[MNBeth]

I took my daughter to Olive Garden for her birthday, and all I had was salad. The waitress got the manager and everyone seemed very eager to be as cautious as possible. She used a clean bowl and clean tongs and even used dressing packets instead of the main container in the kitchen because it was near the croutons and she thought there might be crumbs in there. Very thoughtful. But I got sick anyway. Really sick. I suspect there may have been crouton cc of the lettuce or toppings before I ever walked into the restaurant. If I were to do it again, which, of course, I won't, I'd ask them to get new containers of lettuce and stuff from the back.

This is why I don't eat out, much, or stick with the 2-3 places near me that sort of specialize in gluten-free. I'm a big sissy about that advocating for myself thing. I can do it, but I hate it; it makes me extremely nervous and uncomfortable, and then I eat the whole meal wondering if I'm going to be sick for a couple of weeks as a result.

My husband took me to a very nice restaurant for our 20th anniversary last week, and everything turned out fine, but I was too nervous (and overwhelmed by the extensive menu) to enjoy it as I should have.

[fran641]

MNBeth, I am so glad to hear I am not the only one who has a problem with the assertiveness thing...

"I'm a big sissy about that advocating for myself thing. I can do it, but I hate it; it makes me extremely nervous and uncomfortable, and then I eat the whole meal wondering if I'm going to be sick for a couple of weeks as a result. "

Maybe when I'm not so new to all this it will feel natural to just say what my needs are. Since this has been a lifelong problem for me it seemed in my family I was the one with "issues" that were sort of mocked or just not tolerated very well. I was definitely the "sissy" of the family when it came to being ill alot but not really connected to food. God forbid someone didn't eat something dad put in front of us. Drawing attention to myself is the furthest thing from my mind. Just the constant search for the closest restroom was enough stress most days.

[one more mile]

First thing is I always keep food in my car.

That way if I am a little hungry I know I can be safe. Usually dyed fruit figs or apricots and A gluten-free cracker or tortilla chip.

I also keep a spoon in the car. It is easier to run into a grocery store for a fast meal then a fast food place. Yogurt and/ or fruit cup work well for a fast meal

Sometimes my meals when I eat out get odd but then I have stopped getting Glutened when I eat out. The oddest combo I ever ate was portabella mushroom and mashed potatoes.

If I am planing a nice dinner out I call ahead, then ask the waitstaff to ask the chef for two gluten free choices. I do seem to be getting a lot of salmon. It took me a while to get over the fear but if I ask lots of questions and say that wheat is like poison ivy to me I seem to get the results that I need.

This is my 6 month of being gluten free. I have only been glutened three times, Twice while eating out.

I get sick enough that I can take a few bits then wait about ten minutes and eat more if mu tummy is fine.

I am having more problems with going back to the farmers market and grocery shopping.

one more mile