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First Time Going Out For Dinner Since Diagnosed?

CourtneyLee

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CourtneyLee Contributor
CourtneyLee
Posted

I know i ask alot of questions! Sorry guys.

I got diagnosed with celiac a month and a bit ago and next week will be the first time i go out to dinner with my friends.

The place we're going to has no gluten free foods, with the meals that the have that don't contain gluten, there is a chance of cross contamination (i emailed them)

SO, i'm just wondering if there's any tips or tricks to going out like this, it's making me really upset because i want to go as it is her birthday, but all i will be able to do is drink soft drink or water :(

ANY TIPS?

THANKYOU :D xo

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lizziebee Apprentice
lizziebee
Posted

I know i ask alot of questions! Sorry guys.

I got diagnosed with celiac a month and a bit ago and next week will be the first time i go out to dinner with my friends.

The place we're going to has no gluten free foods, with the meals that the have that don't contain gluten, there is a chance of cross contamination (i emailed them)

SO, i'm just wondering if there's any tips or tricks to going out like this, it's making me really upset because i want to go as it is her birthday, but all i will be able to do is drink soft drink or water :(

ANY TIPS?

THANKYOU :D xo

hey girlie dont worry i understand your frustration on trying to find food why not bring a little snack in your purse your their to have fun with your friends dont let silly ol food get in your way well i hope this helps

(: lots of love lizzie bee

123bree7797 Newbie
123bree7797
Posted

I know i ask alot of questions! Sorry guys.

I got diagnosed with celiac a month and a bit ago and next week will be the first time i go out to dinner with my friends.

The place we're going to has no gluten free foods, with the meals that the have that don't contain gluten, there is a chance of cross contamination (i emailed them)

SO, i'm just wondering if there's any tips or tricks to going out like this, it's making me really upset because i want to go as it is her birthday, but all i will be able to do is drink soft drink or water :(

ANY TIPS?

THANKYOU :D xo

ask them for the manager and talk with him about your aleragy

Npealer Rookie
Npealer
Posted

I hope that you can find something when you go out. I just was diagnosed last week and went out with a friend today for lunch, thought I had ordered something safe but now I am not sure :unsure: The best advice I keep seeing is don't be afraid to ask. Goodluck!

Jungle Rookie
Jungle
Posted

I vote bring food with you. Then when their food arrives you can pull your sandwich etc. out and enjoy your evening and not worry about it. After my first meal out I will always have snacks with me so I don't have to worry about it and I can just enjoy the time with others.

CourtneyLee Contributor
CourtneyLee
Posted
  • Author

Thanks so much guys! I'm going out tonight and it turns out that it's a gluten free friendly place, thankgod! :D

  • 4 weeks later...
kellynolan82 Explorer
kellynolan82
Posted

It's something we've gotta be prepared for. Really talk to the restaurant manager though. It's really important that this is done as many restaurant managers and chefs I find are willing to talk (particularly in the early hours of the afternoon). Hope all goes/went well :)

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thindery Newbie
thindery
Posted

My wife can't eat gluten and we find it a constant struggle when we want to go out with friends. It almost feels like it is more trouble then it is worth sometimes. However, we always make it clear to our friends that we will ONLY go out to eat if we can find a safe gluten free restaurant. We don't mean to be harsh or unfriendly, but it is not worth 3 or 4 days of pain for a 1-2 hour evening with some old friends. Most of the time we can find something, and if we can't we just meat up after they eat dinner.

We really like PF Changs. They seem to go really out of the way to make sure food is gluten free. They only put the food on special "PF Chang" logo plates, so we know that if it is a plain plate with no logo, something is wrong. They cook the gluten free items sepparate from the other meals to minimize any change of cross-contamination. Oh, and they have a gluten free menu on the regular menu with many options.

We make sure to do all the homework we can before we go out. We will google "gluten free (city name)" and typically you will see some options pop up. if you read reviews from people you can sometimes find the gluten free ones and their experience.

The good thing is that it seems gluten free is becoming more recognized and I think we will continue to see more and more dining out gluten free options in the future.

ll79 Apprentice
ll79
Posted

I use the Gluten Free Registary. You can just type it into the search engine and it basically shows you all the restaurants that offer gluten free menus in your area. Outback Steakhouse has a very good gluten free menu and most pizza places offer gluten free pizza like Barros and Street of New York. Good Luck!

CourtneyLee Contributor
CourtneyLee
Posted
  • Author

I use the Gluten Free Registary. You can just type it into the search engine and it basically shows you all the restaurants that offer gluten free menus in your area. Outback Steakhouse has a very good gluten free menu and most pizza places offer gluten free pizza like Barros and Street of New York. Good Luck!

Thanks so much!

  • 2 months later...
janineisaceliac Newbie
janineisaceliac
Posted

Do some research! Search something like "gluten free menu (your zip code)" into Google, or go onto your favorite restaurant's website and peruse the menu. If you like salads, you'll always be able to find something, just be sure to order a hearty one without croutons and a simple dressing, or even just tossed with olive oil or a touch of honey. Call up some local restaurants and see if they have a gluten free menu.

Also, I would suggest getting a card. I have one from the Gluten Intolerance Group that lists the foods that are not okay, and it always settles any issues with the chef. It's really, really rude to bring food with you, and I'm sure if you talk with the manager/chef ahead of time, they'll be able to come up with something.

Whenever you go out to eat, even if there is a gluten-free menu or gluten-free options, there is always a chance of cross-contamination, just because there's no way to ensure that the area and tools that they used to prepare your meal are entirely free of any and all gluten. If they take the proper precautions, your meal will be gluten-free, and any contamination will be minimal. If you don't make a habit of eating glutenous foods, you shouldn't encounter health problems with a small amount of gluten from cross contamination :)

  • 4 weeks later...
krystynycole Contributor
krystynycole
Posted

Most places you can get a salad with chicken and your fav add ons!

Poppi Enthusiast
Poppi
Posted

Do some research! Search something like "gluten free menu (your zip code)" into Google, or go onto your favorite restaurant's website and peruse the menu. If you like salads, you'll always be able to find something, just be sure to order a hearty one without croutons and a simple dressing, or even just tossed with olive oil or a touch of honey. Call up some local restaurants and see if they have a gluten free menu.

Also, I would suggest getting a card. I have one from the Gluten Intolerance Group that lists the foods that are not okay, and it always settles any issues with the chef. It's really, really rude to bring food with you, and I'm sure if you talk with the manager/chef ahead of time, they'll be able to come up with something.

Whenever you go out to eat, even if there is a gluten-free menu or gluten-free options, there is always a chance of cross-contamination, just because there's no way to ensure that the area and tools that they used to prepare your meal are entirely free of any and all gluten. If they take the proper precautions, your meal will be gluten-free, and any contamination will be minimal. If you don't make a habit of eating glutenous foods, you shouldn't encounter health problems with a small amount of gluten from cross contamination :)

I'm not even sure where to start here. I am going to try to be polite.

1. It is not "really, really rude" to bring food with you if the food available is dangerous. There is nothing wrong with ordering a drink and then nibbling on a Lara bar or some crackers and cheese while everyone else eats. Nobody is suggesting she lay out a picnic blanket and an 8 course meal. You should think carefully before you suggest that this young woman makes herself sick just to conform to someone else's idea of good manners.

2. This statement.."If you don't make a habit of eating glutenous foods, you shouldn't encounter health problems with a small amount of gluten from cross contamination " :blink: You could not possibly be more wrong. A small amount of gluten from cross contamination results in WEEKS of pain for me. The digestive upset only lasts a day but the back pain from even an invisible amount of gluten can take up to a month to go away for me. Not to mention the damage it is doing on the inside.

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

I'm not even sure where to start here. I am going to try to be polite.

1. It is not "really, really rude" to bring food with you if the food available is dangerous. There is nothing wrong with ordering a drink and then nibbling on a Lara bar or some crackers and cheese while everyone else eats. Nobody is suggesting she lay out a picnic blanket and an 8 course meal. You should think carefully before you suggest that this young woman makes herself sick just to conform to someone else's idea of good manners.

2. This statement.."If you don't make a habit of eating glutenous foods, you shouldn't encounter health problems with a small amount of gluten from cross contamination " :blink: You could not possibly be more wrong. A small amount of gluten from cross contamination results in WEEKS of pain for me. The digestive upset only lasts a day but the back pain from even an invisible amount of gluten can take up to a month to go away for me. Not to mention the damage it is doing on the inside.

I agree ADAMANTLY with Sara on both counts. When I read "...you shouldn't encounter health problems with a small amount of gluten from cross contamination" I was totally floored. Cross contamination creates havoc in our bodies. It takes only a few crumbs to make us very, very sick (even if we do not feel sick our insides run amok). Heck, if you have some gluten through CC without worrying about it you may as well just eat some gluten at the same time! Sorry to be harsh but this is a huge misconception.

  • 2 weeks later...
CourtneyLee Contributor
CourtneyLee
Posted
  • Author

Do some research! Search something like "gluten free menu (your zip code)" into Google, or go onto your favorite restaurant's website and peruse the menu. If you like salads, you'll always be able to find something, just be sure to order a hearty one without croutons and a simple dressing, or even just tossed with olive oil or a touch of honey. Call up some local restaurants and see if they have a gluten free menu.

Also, I would suggest getting a card. I have one from the Gluten Intolerance Group that lists the foods that are not okay, and it always settles any issues with the chef. It's really, really rude to bring food with you, and I'm sure if you talk with the manager/chef ahead of time, they'll be able to come up with something.

Whenever you go out to eat, even if there is a gluten-free menu or gluten-free options, there is always a chance of cross-contamination, just because there's no way to ensure that the area and tools that they used to prepare your meal are entirely free of any and all gluten. If they take the proper precautions, your meal will be gluten-free, and any contamination will be minimal. If you don't make a habit of eating glutenous foods, you shouldn't encounter health problems with a small amount of gluten from cross contamination :)

"If you don't make a habit of eating glutenous foods, you shouldn't encounter health problems with a small amount of gluten from cross contamination :) "

Sorry, next time I go out to eat I'll take a microscope with me to make sure I don't eat any microscopic amounts :lol:

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