Eating Out

[jmeds77]

I'm wondering if you all have some advice or ideas to pass along on eating out with your Celiac kids?

I have an gluten-free 18 month old and a gluten-free 3 year old. We love to eat out and I'm wondering if there are more options than a plain hot dog and fries or bringing my own buns for hamburgers. We always pack fruit with us so their meals out can be a little more balanced.

Tips?

Thanks.

Jaime

[avabellas-mom]

We don't eat out too much becuase it is so much easier to be gluten free at home, but when we do my daughter likes loaded baked potatoes which you can get a many restaurants, and even at Wendy when you want fast food and are on the go. You can add cheese, bacon, chicken, broccoli. sour cream and other various toppings. Sometimes we go out to a place like Denny's or any all day breakfast place because she loves scrambled eggs. We just make sure that they make the eggs in their own clean pan.

[sugarsue]

I'm wondering if you all have some advice or ideas to pass along on eating out with your Celiac kids?

I have an gluten-free 18 month old and a gluten-free 3 year old. We love to eat out and I'm wondering if there are more options than a plain hot dog and fries or bringing my own buns for hamburgers. We always pack fruit with us so their meals out can be a little more balanced.

Tips?

Thanks.

Jaime

My kids love ribs and shrimp which has seemed easy to find local restaurants where they will make them without sauces or spices. My best recommendation is to start now with getting them used to gluten free items that are from the adult section of the menu. The kids sections rarely have nice gluten free options. I'll get them a meal to share that might include a steak, chicken, ribs, shrimp... Then a baked potato and/or veggies or fries.

[Juliebove]

I'd be afraid of a hot dog unless I knew what was in it. Hamburger patties are usually safe. We eat them cut up with no bun. Fries are subject to cross contamination. Safe at some places, but a plain baked potato is a better option. One restaurant here served Kielbasa. Gluten free but does contain soy if you're avoiding that. Bacon and ham are usually safe options. I would never bring fruit to a restaurant because you can usually get it there. Chicken breast is another option if the place cooks from scratch. If it's a chain place, forget it! They usually use chicken containing wheat. Cottage cheese is another option. I love going to places that offer a lot of side dishes. If you can get cottage cheese, applesauce or canned pears and some baby carrots or sliced cucumbers, you're set! Greek places often will give you hummus with sliced cukes instead of the pita bread.

If you live near an Old Spaghetti factory, many of them do a gluten-free pasta. And they have a child's portion.

[jmjsmomma]

Our 5 yo has only been diagnosed this month, so we have not dared venture out. However, our fav place is a mexican food restaurant that know us personally and I plan on talking to the manager shortly. I, personally, am freaked out but I know we will get there.

[FreeTime]

My daughter has been gluten-free for 3 years and here are places that we eat and what they offer:

Bob Evans - she is able to get grits, eggs, bacon, they subsitute the toast on the kids meal for banana or grits, grilled chicken tenders, salad (w/o dressing & croutons she doesn't like it anyways), turkey with veggies, hot fudge sundae. We bring bread.

Tumbleweed - grilled chicken breast and they fry her tortilla chips in a pan

Donatos Pizza - I know these are in OH and FL not sure about elsewhere. Low carb pizza with pep or sausage and salad.

Wendy's - jr bacon, no bun, fries or potatoe, yogurt without topping, frosty

Burger king - the one near us cooks their fries with nuggets so is a no go, but others she has had fries, cheeseburger

Outback - have a kids gluten-free menu with lots of options

Cheeseburger in Paradise - have a gluten-free menu

Hometown Buffet - we go for breakfast and arrive when they open and the manager will give her eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, syrup, potatoes etc before it is brought out

Rainforest Cafe - breaded chicken tenders, fries

Steak & Shake - milkshake, burger with Fritos instead of fries or a salad

Mi Mexico - tacos, chips

Chik fil a - chicken breast and fries

[Kibbie]

I have had great success eating out with my daughter, she has been glutned a few times but only at places that have "gluten free menus" go figgure.

I highly recommend getting dining cards I have the triumph ones... these help me when I am a t a new place.

Here is typically what we get at new places:

Cheeseburger with a "lettuce" bun

Grilled chicken strips

Baked or Pan fried Fish (no batter)

Quesadilla on a corn tortilla

Enchiladas (most places these are gluten free)

The chains that I have had good luck with:

Red Robin

Pei Wei (though the 2 times I have had to send food back to be recooked because of raw chicken she got glutned or maybe they still didnt cook the chicken thruogh)

OUtback

Fudruckers

Mimi's

Olive Garden

Macaroni Grill

California Pizza Kitchen (They have a gluten free item on thier kids menu.... grilled chicken breast with broccoli)

[I hate gluten]

I have only been on the diet a week but was at the Pasta House a month ago and saw they had a gluten free menu and just asked that you call ahead of time before coming in so they can prepare. It had all the pasta dishes we liked on it. Anyone have any luck with Pasta House Co.?