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Eating Out With A gluten-free Kid - Help

Benshell

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Benshell Explorer
Benshell
Posted

I have the list of places that have gluten-free menu's - like Uno's, Outback, etc.. But I'm visiting my parents in NJ who live in cow country (it's very pretty) and their are no chains around. I checked the gluten-free websites that listed a few NICE (meaning expensive seafood/steakhouse) restaurants in the area that have gluten-free food, but nothing a 6year old would eat.

Any suggestions on what to order for a 6 year old when going to a restaurant that doesn't have a website with a menu, or a local diner? She's not super picky, but she also doesn't have grown up tastes yet. We always used to get her chicken fingers , spaghetti or burgers at nice restaurants as part of the kids menu, but most of these places put breadcrumbs in their burgers to fatten them up and give them flavor. And my parents aren't really regulars at any restaurant where the owner would be helpful to us.

I'm at the point of tears. Parents don't want to eat in, but are being understanding. Now need to realize we need to plan our meals while on mini-vacation. I'm ready to cry and don't want my daughter to see the sadness and overwhelming feelings i'm having (yes, I'm new at this).

Help please.

m

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tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

find the phone numbers to some restaurants that you guys (the adults) might want to eat at and then call them, and ask what sort of things could be put together for a gluten-free kid. call during an off time - like when they first open, or some other non-rush time - and ask to speak to the manager.

depending on what is around, there may be a number of things to try. I'm not sure what you mean by "not having adult tastes", since the kids I know who are around two eat all kinds of different things (one of 'em *loves* sushi - the kinds without raw fish, of course). maybe she'll surprise you by what she'll eat?

renee28 Rookie
renee28
Posted

Hi,

Just bring an easy prepared meal with you to the restaurant for your child (turkey burger and rice pasta with veggie of your choice)...you can pack some gluten free foods to bring with you on your mini-trip - this in not a big deal. .....things could be so much worse.

homemaker Enthusiast
homemaker
Posted

I don't have a gluten-free child to feed...but I recently took a quick vacation for a few days...and I packed in my carry on...

gluten-free Snack Bars

gluten-free Crackers Asst...I took lots of these...

Hard Cheese Cubes...

Apples

gluten-free Bread...frozen so that it would unthaw and I could use it later...I put it in tupperware so it would not get crushed...I asked for a scoop of egg salad on lettuce...(after I asked what was in the egg salad!) Tuna might be another option...

Then I indulged in Potato Chips or Frito Lays....

Small Peanut Butter Travel size packs to put on gluten-free crackers

gluten-free Cereal in Zip Lock Sandwhich Bags Portioned out...Helps at breakfast time....

Basic Grilled meats are best without marinades

Baked Potato...with butter ...kids usually eat it right up....

Call local restaurants in the area to see if they can accommodate your child's gluten-free needs

I was in a restaurant one afternoon and was dismayed because I thought there was nothing I could have...

Then I saw the clam chowder and asked what they thickened it with...She said cornstarch!

She said she did that purposely because many people are sensitive to wheat!

So don't be afraid to do your legwork and call those restaurants right up...So plan ahead...

Raven's Mum Newbie
Raven's Mum
Posted
Hi,

Just bring an easy prepared meal with you to the restaurant for your child (turkey burger and rice pasta with veggie of your choice)...you can pack some gluten free foods to bring with you on your mini-trip - this in not a big deal. .....things could be so much worse.

I love this idea! I think this is what we will do from now on. Even if a restraunt is accomadating to the best of their ability, I still worry about cross contamination without preparing it myself.

Darn210 Enthusiast
Darn210
Posted

We are lucky in that my daughter likes salads. We ask them to only put lettuce, carrots, and cheese on it (that's what she prefers). We also bring our own dressing - the little individual cups of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing.

We have also been known to pack her meal and then let her order a soda to drink with it which also makes her perfectly happy. Sometimes she's also allowed to get a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

At home, start introducing your daughter to some of the things that you are more likely to find like salads. We started out giving our daughter (larger) pieces of lettuce and shredded carrots and cheese in separate piles. She would put the shreds in the lettuce and roll it up and then dip it into the dressing. She called them "salad sandwiches" and now she will eat salads. We also do baked potatos at home and let her put butter and shredded cheese on it (she's a big fan of cheese :P ) and now she wants to go to a restaraunt that will serve her a baked potato.

We're working on grilled chicken . . . gonna have to work a little while longer . . . ;)

Ahorsesoul Enthusiast
Ahorsesoul
Posted

When my kids were this age, I always packed them their own dinner in their lunch box along with some toys. They would eat while the adults had drinks and decided on what to order. By then the kids were done eating and were playing with their toys. Kids at other tables were crying and screaming by now because they wanted to eat and nothing for them had arrived. I say pack something if you are really worried about these restaurants.

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Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

We used to live in NY so ate at the diners in NJ many times. Are you sure they put bread crumbs in their burgers? I have never actually seen such a thing, although on a cooking show I did see them put eggs.

I would think that a diner would be the perfect place for a gluten-free meal because they have such large and varied menus.

The only problem I had when eating at a diner was in getting what I call a salad. A green salad. They did not seem to understand what I wanted. I got coleslaw, potato salad, egg salad, macaroni salad, but no green salad.

nicoleblakeman Newbie
nicoleblakeman
Posted

My son is 5 and anytime we go out he gets either grilled chicken or a cheese burger without the bun and french fries. he loves rotisserie chicken too. There are plenty of things without the bun that you can try.

I have the list of places that have gluten-free menu's - like Uno's, Outback, etc.. But I'm visiting my parents in NJ who live in cow country (it's very pretty) and their are no chains around. I checked the gluten-free websites that listed a few NICE (meaning expensive seafood/steakhouse) restaurants in the area that have gluten-free food, but nothing a 6year old would eat.

Any suggestions on what to order for a 6 year old when going to a restaurant that doesn't have a website with a menu, or a local diner? She's not super picky, but she also doesn't have grown up tastes yet. We always used to get her chicken fingers , spaghetti or burgers at nice restaurants as part of the kids menu, but most of these places put breadcrumbs in their burgers to fatten them up and give them flavor. And my parents aren't really regulars at any restaurant where the owner would be helpful to us.

I'm at the point of tears. Parents don't want to eat in, but are being understanding. Now need to realize we need to plan our meals while on mini-vacation. I'm ready to cry and don't want my daughter to see the sadness and overwhelming feelings i'm having (yes, I'm new at this).

Help please.

m

BemLmom3 Apprentice
BemLmom3
Posted

We always do this and Mimi bought daughter a special "dora" lunch bag that she carries her meals in. We have been doing that for so long, she just thinks it is normal :) I also save some "special" foods that she really enjoys for eating out times. And I really save those items for times like these. I know at first it is sad and hard but the longer you do the diet the more 'normal" it gets, hang in there!

I love this idea! I think this is what we will do from now on. Even if a restraunt is accomadating to the best of their ability, I still worry about cross contamination without preparing it myself.

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