No Gluten, No Corn, No Soy, No Dairy.

[AnnJay]

Hi friends,

These intolerances are a new discovery for me and I just spent a miserable summer learning how to eat gluten-free, travel gluten-free, and uncovering the other intolerances based on continued symptoms once back home and more in control of my diet. Eating at home is not a problem as there are still plenty of foods I can eat. None of them are processed, of course!

My question is, how do I eat out? I know there is food that I can eat but nothing can be processed. Anything processed is bound to have some ADM corn in it somewhere, if not gluten or soy.

My research leads me to believe that I can eat at In n Out by ordering a burger protein style (no bun) and that their fresh potato fries are cooked in cottonseed oil. I don't know about the ketchup or mustard.

Traditional Mexican stews, Indian or Thai curries, seafood, and traditional American meat and potatoes are all OK as long as there's no processed marinade, sauce, or glutened spice mixture used. how do I find a restaurant that is safe to eat at, and how do I avoid the restaurants where servers will not tell the truth?

BTW, sushi without soy or tamari sauce isnt as good.

[bartfull]

Except for the dairy, I share your intolerances. I do not eat out at all.

[1desperateladysaved]

Get an oven for your car. It can be kind of adventurous.

[srall]

I have all your intolerances, plus all grains but rice. Actually avoiding grains when eating out is pretty easy, once you're avoiding gluten.

It's a challenge. I sometimes just face the fact that I"m probably going to have a little food hangover the next day. I've had luck with Indian food. Otherwise, hunk of meat with side veggie. We RARELY eat out now, I mean almost NEVER, but when we do we eat at more expensive restaurants where the chefs are aware of celiac and food allergies and can modify dishes and still make them delicious. Our new fast food is Outback. It's pricey but we justify it because it's so rare how often we eat out compared to life before.

I'm actually at the point where I just prefer to make my own food because I at least know it will taste good.

Good luck!

[GFinDC]

Salads are not a bad option. You can also take your own food to a restarant sometimes. I take lara bars, and fruit like oranges or bananas and get a salad.

Vegetable sides are usually ok too.

[Juliebove]

I don't know that you could get a full meal. A hamburger patty should be okay unless it is cross contaminated. Same for fresh fruit. Salads for me are iffy because they often will put croutons or cheese on there and then pick it off. Many has been the time that I was eating a salad and found a contamintant in the middle of it. A plain baked potato should be okay but do make sure that it is plain. Some places put margarine or butter on the outside. At Wendy's you can get a plain baked or sweet potato. Also a burger patty. Also the apple slices, chili and side salad without the croutons or dressing. I don't know about mustard but ketchup often contains high fructose corn syrup.

[T.H.]

Just a quick mention on the In n Out - the burgers are NOT safe for you. Or rather, the cooking process is not. The fry information is accurate, but when someone requests a bun that is fried or toasted, it's done on the same area that they cook the burgers on. Not safe for Celiacs, I'm afraid.