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

Any Hints For A German Visitor

GermanUSAfan

By GermanUSAfan
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

GermanUSAfan Newbie
GermanUSAfan
Posted

Hello!

Before I got the diagnosis, I visited the States every year. Last time 2009. I loved travelling around. Sometimes via coach, sometimes via car.

Now I am very affraid, because I am travelling the second time since I have celiac disease. Last time I only went to Vegas, where I ate of the buffets.

In Germany, I know, that the french fries at Mc Donalds are gluten free because of their own fryer. So you can eat salat, fries and the icecream.

Are there some hints of some chains, where you can regulary eat things like fries, mash potatoes, baked potatoes or something like that?

By the way, I am going to New York - Manhattan - next week.

For Example in Germay, the mash potates at KFC are glutened.

I dont want to risk something on my 4-day-trip. So I will take a lot of food (bread, crackers and so on) with me.

But I think it would be nice, to eat something fresh.

Maybe someone could give me some hints?

Thanks a lot

GermanUsaFan

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Takala Enthusiast
Takala
Posted

You should google "gluten free New York City" and see what it pulls up.

I know you can get gluten free hot dogs and beer at New York's Citi Field Mets baseball games.

There are a LOT of Italian restaurants in NYC, but American Italian east coast food isn't that much like Italian food in Italy. In Italy, there are enough celiacs that many restaurants know and can prepare decent gluten free food. Here in the U.S., this means that you might find a pizza place that has a gluten free option for the crust and they think they're REALLY doing something exotic. You won't have trouble finding any gluten free pizza in New York City, and there are also several gluten free bakeries, like Baby Cakes.

there is a steakhouse chain called "Outback Steakhouse" which has a gluten free menu and serves a lot of basic steak, seafood, and baked potatoes, and they have a lot of outlets in the NYC - Long Island area.

For fast food baked potatoes, there is "Wendy's" Open Original Shared Link

For french fries in the NYC area, there is "Five Guys Burgers and Fries" where the burgers and the fries on the menu are gluten free, only the buns are not. I have not eaten there personally, but they are very popular. Open Original Shared Link

If you need to buy gluten free food in NYC, there are at least three Whole Foods Markets. You may be bette off trying to find a local, smaller health food store that won't be as expensive. Use google and search "health food stores NYC" and it will pull up a lot of options, like Lifethyme Natural Market.

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

This GFRAP site has a searchable database of gluten-free restaraunts by state or zip code. Might help.

Open Original Shared Link

sb2178 Enthusiast
sb2178
Posted

New York is relatively well educated about gluten, and if you emphasize "allergy" when they looked confused, you'll (probably) be fine. I also enjoy eating the prepared salads from the sort of "upscale" NYC supermarkets, and it's easy to find gluten-free breads, crackers, etc. The greenmarkets (farmer's market) are full of great fruit this time of year.

Print off the list of "forbidden" ingredients in English to take with you and you can compare to the food labels.

The only thing I would be very careful to avoid is places where the servers don't speak English.

anabananakins Explorer
anabananakins
Posted

Hi. I've travelled around the US twice now since I've been gluten free. I tend to drag around lots of snacks and fruit and things (just because it's easier and more affordable to be able to eat on the go like that) but I also eat at Chipotle a lot, especially when I feel that scurvy will set in :-) I think the food there is delicious (last year on my 4 week trip I think I ate at Chipotle an average of 5 times per week. They really need a frequent-eater card so i can collect points or something)

If you can get to a Whole Foods, then you can stock up on baked goods.

McDonalds fries are fine and usually easy to find.

I like PF Changs. It's not asian food as I remember it, but at least it's safe.

I eat at Outback Steakhouse in Australia. I presume the menu is pretty similar in the US and I enjoy their food.

New York is going to be heaps easier than a small town. I have eaten at places without gluten free menus (they did have allergen guidelines). I generally stress that I have an allergy (unless they say 'oh, do you have celiac?') even if it's not accurate, and I get the wait staff to write NO CROUTONS!!!!! on the order. I find that more stressful though since an average US restaurant menu is just laden with items containing gluten (much more so than in the UK or Australia). But it is doable and I'm pretty sensitive.

Or just eat at Chiptole every day :-) (I was in Santa Barbara for a total of 40 hours last week. (2 nights, just one full day) We ate at Chiptole 3 times during that period :-) I'm now suffering from Chiptole withdrawal.

AVR1962 Collaborator
AVR1962
Posted

Hello!

Before I got the diagnosis, I visited the States every year. Last time 2009. I loved travelling around. Sometimes via coach, sometimes via car.

Now I am very affraid, because I am travelling the second time since I have celiac disease. Last time I only went to Vegas, where I ate of the buffets.

In Germany, I know, that the french fries at Mc Donalds are gluten free because of their own fryer. So you can eat salat, fries and the icecream.

Are there some hints of some chains, where you can regulary eat things like fries, mash potatoes, baked potatoes or something like that?

By the way, I am going to New York - Manhattan - next week.

For Example in Germay, the mash potates at KFC are glutened.

I dont want to risk something on my 4-day-trip. So I will take a lot of food (bread, crackers and so on) with me.

But I think it would be nice, to eat something fresh.

Maybe someone could give me some hints?

Thanks a lot

GermanUsaFan

I visited the us this past summer, first time since I was gluten free. If you are flying you can call your airline and request a gluten free meal, they are not too bad. I found wonderful success in going to restaurants and asking for their gluten-free menu. I was surprised how many waitresses and waiters understood the gluten free menu. I live in Germany and have not found it as easy here.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,331
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Kristy2026
    Newest Member
    Kristy2026
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • 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.