pixiegirl

This is a private business that to the best of my knowledge can do this. I can tell you one thing for sure... to pursue this in the legal system will cost you a huge pile of money. Now if you are willing to pay for it on your own then thats your business but I don't think you have any chance of changing their policy. They can serve what they want to serve and how they want to serve it.

We all agree that this is a stupid policy. I agree that there are other ways to handle this and I bet none of them will give you much satisfaction. I know for a fact our local newpaper would not print an article or letter to the editor that mentions a particular business negatively.... they live by advertising and they would never take the chance on just your say so alone of printing such a story. I certainly belive you and so does everyone here but if newspapers started to do this every disgruntled customer of any business would expect a platform in the local news. That's not going to happen, the newspaper is a business and thats how they are run.

I think your best bet is to get in touch with the various celiac groups in RI and the local area and report your experience. I do happen to know a person who owns a tiny restaurant and I've been told by him that every single day numerous times a day they have requests to "change" things, no peanuts, no flour, no dairy, no cheese, vegan only, no animal products. He said he often feels like he is reinventing his menu for every single diner and it takes time to do that not to mention the fear that he says OK I'll do that for you and someone in the kitchen messes it up, makes it the "regular" way... he's worried about his liability. I'm not saying he's right and I know your situation is different (such a simple switch) but its not easy from any perspective. He claims and I believe him, that he would like to but can't cater to every single food allergy or menu change.

Which is why, when we find a restaurant that will work with us we need to do the exact same thing as the "uncooperative" places... advertise them... right here, with local groups, write a letter to the management, tip well.

I'm sorry this happened to you, I'd be furious as well with such a simple change.

Susan

Ohh I didn't read about the sex part, I'm going to go try it now.

Susan

Ok great I found the Annie's thanks so much, now how about a gluten-free soy sauce in an individual packet?

I went to the website Open Original Shared Link that sells small stuff but I'm not sure if the items there are gluten-free... I know A1 Sauce is, but how about Tabasco sauce?

Does anyone have any other travel suggestions for single sized stuff??

Thanks Susan

I think someone posted where I can get these small individual travel packets of gluten-free salad dressing.... I saved the link and now in my gluten-free folder there are over 200 links and I can't find it.... Can someone help me.

Thanks, Susan

I'm a cruiser too and even though I've only been diagnosed with Celiac for less then a year I've cruised twice since then. Also prior to that, I've cruised 7 times and my daughter has a life threatening peanut/tree nut allergy so I know about how some other cruise lines handle food issues.

We have had great help from: Royal Caribbean, Norweigian and Windstar (which is part of the Holland America Line). All were very very good.

Windstar is my favorite but its a different sort of cruise on smaller (500 ft.) sailing ships (not small by any means they have pools and hot tubs but smaller then "regular" cruise ships). I was more worried to cruise them because when I spoke with Holland America they said they can't guarentee no cross contamination because its a small ship with only one kitchen, however I have since found out that most big ships don't have a gluten free kitchen of course (although it is my understand that the new carnival ships have a gluten-free area in the kitchen). Their rep told me they would do their best.

Once I ship I meet with the Maitre de, my waiter, the chef and my opinion changed. Although they did not supply me with gluten-free things, almost every night the chef made me a special dessert, at any mean I could ask for anything I wanted and they said they would be happy to prepare it for me and that much of their food was already gluten-free (lots of grilled things, omlets, eggs, veggies). After that at every meal either the Maitre de or our waiter went over every single dish with me (even all the dishes in the buffet) and we'd figure out what I could eat and what I couldn't. They went out of their way for my daughter and I and we had a lovely trip.

LqrMan, I've been on the exact cruise you're taking with RC you'll have a great time!

Susan

Best Bread: Manna by Anna it waaaaay better then the Kinnikinnick in my book. Second choice are the breads that are made in the Whole Foods Bakery.

Susan

I can tell you every McD's in Hyannis, MA have totally gluten-free fries and so does every McD in Boston that I've been too. I don't just ask the person behind the register, I ask the store manager. I'm a fast and huge reactor and I've never reacted at McD. But you do have to ask if the fryers are dedicated and I go further to quiz them.... nothing else... no chicken nuggets... how about when you are really busy?

Even though they are franchises they are supposed to follow the rules McD sets up so if you find one that doesn't at least take the time to report them to McD.

Susan

Yes I'm going to be gluten-free for the rest of my life and for me, its not that difficult (well eating out is not easy but at home its a breeze).

For the first time in my life I feel good and am happy. I happen to travel a lot and for the first time I'm seeing the sights instead of the bathrooms, what a joy! It use to be the only foreign phrase I learned was, where is the bathroom. Now I don't even bother!

I'm happy to stick my finger in my ear however I'm certainly not going back to gluten but on the off chance it will stimulate my immune system I'll give it a shot, maybe I'll never get another cold.

Susan

Oh I'm not sure its about how you explain it but to whom you are explaining it.

I think they fall into a few groups:

Those that listen and understand.

Those that listen and for whatever reason, just don't/can't get it.

Those that don't care.

In my experience I have 3 in the first group (my mom, my boyfriend, and my best friend)

Most everyone else falls into the second catagory for various reasons: they are mildly self involved so they didn't listen that well, those that just don't have any knowledge about nutrition (now this isn't a friend but I had a sales woman in Trader Joe's tell me gluten is only found in white bread and I can eat any other sort of bread... wheat, corn... I tried to explain that wheat flour is wheat flour but she stuck to her guns and said I needed far more education) and those that just aren't that bright. I know a ton of people in this group and I just don't let them cook for me or I oversee everything, the entire prep process, period.

This last group I actually still have a few people in it... however I consider them aquaintenances.... they know someone I know so I'd never eat at their homes.

I do think if you can find a short article (lots of people in the second and third have short attention spans) that points out the severe damage that Celiac can cause and gives examples of how it hides in food, that might help some in the second group slide into the first group.

It did with my best friend... she was firmly in the second group until I showed her something about how gluten can hide in spices, and by other names... that its in salad dressings, sauces, corn cerals, etc.... well she immediately moved into the first group... I was down at her house for a week and she and I went shopping the first day I got there so she would be sure to have gluten-free ingredients and snacks for me.

But by and large I think we have to just live with this.

Good luck, Susan

Does anyone know of any gluten-free places in upstate NY, for a week I'm touring the finger lakes area, Rochester, Syracuse, area... any info would be very helpful.

Thanks, Susan!

Yes we know its not proven... I think that was said but the question was... if it was proven would you eat gluten regularly and take the "pill" or would you mostly avoid it and use it occasionally.

Personally as I said, my diet it healthier this way but I'd certainly use it when I go out to dinner.

Susan

I've tried them all and for my taste buds there is nothing like Manna by Anna, I make it in my bread machine and its wonderful, never crumbles, is never dry, can be eatedn without being toasted and tastes like a real baked country wheat bread. To order just google it.

Susan

I've been to St. Martin for about 3 years in a row now... I really do love it there. I happen to be a topless person so I also love that its french (well half of it) and I can go topless. If that bothers you certainly don't go to Orient Beach where there is a lot of topless and some bottomless as well going on. However on Orient beach there are a lot of "shacks" right on the beach that do lunch well and I've never had a problem with them just grilling me something plain. In hotels I do what I always do and thats talk to everyone, the matire de, waiters, chef. I've had pretty good luck. You might want to take a gluten-free dining card in French, although almost everyone speaks english but it helps define things like sauces, spices, etc.

Be sure to see the butterfly farm and do some shopping. Also you can take a ferry to St. Barts and if you like high end shopping you MUST go there. St. Barts is only about 15 minutes by ferry and its like being in the french riviera... very very upscale but still everyone is very friendly and nice. Enjoy!

Susan

I feel just like celiac3270... I felt like a sick person before I knew what was wrong with me.. because I was sick, all the time. Now after 10 months of gluten-free I feel great, healthy. However when I do get accidently glutened I do feel sick (again because I react so severly to being glutened).

I think I'm as healthy as I've ever been too.

Susan

Just a few comments here... almost any veggie tastes great if you saute it in a pan with olive oil... do it over a fairly high heat so the veggie stays a bit crispy and it gets slightly browned on the outside. When its almost done add the garlic... it you add it earlier overcooked garlic doesn't taste all that good. Then eat... sometimes I deglaze the pan with the veggies with a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and they are done and ready to eat. We do asperagus, broccoli, green beans, snow peas this way, very tasty. My 13 year old will eat almost any veggie this way.

I can't comment on a Westie as I've never had one but I have known a few and I've loved all of them. I keep saying my next dog will be one because I sort of like the idea of having a small dog I can take on some of my travels.

In general Terriers are wonderful dogs... I have an Airedale Terrier (as you probably guessed by her picture) and she is the most wonderful dog in the world. She is a clown for us, very tolerant of kids (when my daughter was younger they would dress her up in clothes, hats etc.) she is a good watch dog as well, very protective of her family, but most are not "aggressive" they are not biters and usually just will bark at intruders (which means anyone on our property). Terriers as a group are dogs that have loads of personality and are considered very smart... however, they do have a mind of their own and usually have fairly high energy requirments.. so our girl even at 8 needs playtime every day and all terriers need training starting from early on. I did that and got the most wonderful dog of my life (I've always had a dog, from day one of my life and a number of Airedales), she comes when she is called! She does all sorts of complicated tricks that were really easy to teach her. (she spins, army crawls, barks at certain words, finds certain toys by name, barks when the teapot boils (I burned up about 5 of them and decided it was time to teach the dog to tell me when the darn thing is boiling).

I'm a Terrier fan!

Susan

thanks Richard... I do that usually, try to find Kraft's stuff but our grocery store only carries Gold's. I did see on some list it was gluten-free so I used it in the salad and I didn't get any reaction so I'm guessing it was ok.

I've been gluten-free since Sept. last year and occasionally when making things that I've always made.. like this salad dressing, I'm stumped by ingredients that I don't use to often.

I hate taking chances because I get so sick... my last accidential glutening was in May and it took me 2 months to get back to normal.

Susan

I think most of us go thru periods of self pity about something so don't feel like a whiner because of that, we all have been there.

I've tried almost all the breads mentioned above and I still think Manna by Anna (google it) is by far the best. I do mine in a bread machine, it looks like wheat bread, tastes wonderful, can be eaten plain or toasted, doesn't stick to your teeth (like so many rice breads) and does NOT become crumbly the next day. I love this stuff, I buy 2 cases at a time.

And remember as far as only being able to go shopping for gluten stuff when you go to your doctor... there are so many on line places that sell all sorts of gluten-free products.

Susan

I feel really lucky to have my boyfriend... we were together before my diagnoses of celiac and still are, he told me in the beginning when I told him how worried I was how it might effect us... he said, its a diet, its just not a problem. I'm lucky because if I don't accidently gluten myself I feel really good, so I don't have any lingering problems.

He goes out of his way to help me... we eat out a lot and he won't just speak to the waiter, he often calls the restaurant ahead of time, speaks to the matire de, the waiter and asks if he can speak to the chef. When we were in Boston 2 weeks ago, as we walked around the city we'd find a place we wanted to have dinner in and we'd stop in there at like 3 pm so he could speak to everyone. Then we'd make a reservation for later in the evening. He's an assertive guy (which I love).

I don't however live with him and as I said I'm only sick if I get glutened so... but I still feel really lucky. I wish you all the best.

Susan

Thanks very much for the info about egg beaters... I'm making the salad tonight for a cookout here so I really needed that info.... Now if I just knew about a horseraddish.....

Susan

Every summer I make a great salmon salad the dressing is based on a Ceaser

dressing but I have "other" stuff in it.

I have a gluten-free worschester sauce and dijon mustard but I need fake eggs, you

know the pasturized kind that come in a carton, are any of those gluten-free? I also

need some horseradish, does anyone know a brand that is gluten-free?

I'll grate the parmasen by hand and make gluten-free croutons....

Thanks,

Susan

Ouch... lets be careful dissing the husband to no end.... I'm assuming she loves him so it must be hurtful to hear him called selfish and such. Maybe he is and maybe he isn't (or maybe it goes back and forth).

Maybe some of you haven't cared for a chronically ill person, I have and no matter how much you love them, its not easy. I know a number of people that had long mostly happy marriages and when their partner became ill, they changed, they sometimes seemed selfish, short tempered, irratated and they themselves questioned if they could do this... if they were strong enough mentally and physically to continue on and they agonized over how they sometimes behaved. It can be so exhausting.

Now, Merika doesn't sound as ill as some of these friends I refer to but she does sound chronically ill and over time it really takes it toll. They have support groups for caregivers of the chronically ill just because its so difficult, so lets not downplay that at all.

I think when you say "thru sickness and health" at a young age, you are sort of thinking (or hoping) that if it happens it will be when we are old, I doubt a lot of men that marry in their early 20's give much thought to, what will I do if my spouse gets very sick at a young age, we just dont expect that to happen. And if that does happen and the couple's entire lifestyle changes, well heck, its very dissapointing, disillusioning, not to mention the actual stressful issues of the illness its self.

Given all that, your husband may just be confused and need someone to listen to him.. I agree with the others that said family therapy might be the next step. Don't just keep doing the same thing, it beats you down and a good therapist will have some suggestions that might make everyone happy. Also I don't know if your husband plays sports but joining a local basketball group or baseball once a week may help him release some of his pent up frustrations. Just joining anything.... an investing club, learn to golf, it will give him some time to do things he enjoys and might help his attitude when he comes home.

Either way, this group is here to listen!

Susan

Celiac and life threatening allergies... well it was stressful in the beginning but in my book you do what you have to do and now we have it down pretty well. I do worry when we go to new places or on vacation but we are really careful and the drill is just part of our lives.

Best to all,

susan

I thought most of the wafers contained gluten so you might want to check that out. I use to use Metamucil but switched to Citracil because it contains a different form of fiber that does NOT ferment in your gut and therefore causes less gas. It works for me.

susan

I'm sorry Zmom that this thread is causing you stress... I certainly didn't mean to do that and I enjoy reading everyone's ideas on these various issues, I don't always agree with them but they are interesting to me.

I do understand the people who say we keep the stuff in the house because our kids have to learn to do without or read labels or whatever. But with my daughter, her peanut allergy is so severe that until she got older we just couldn't take the chance. She can't even eat in the lunch room at school, just the peanut oil in the air from sandwiches causes a reaction with her. If, when she was very young, she would have eaten any peanuts she could have easily died even with an epi pen. We just were not willing to take that chance with a young child, now that she is a teenager she is very good at reading labels and what not... but at 4 or 5 year old... no way!

So every situation is different, all of our dietary issues and households are different and each of us has to make the decisions that work for our families. I hope because some people may have different ideas then yours you don't get offended, again we all have to make our own decisions.

Best to all,

Susan

I did the full EntroLab testing but after I went gluten free and for me it was just to look at my genes, mostly. I have 2 main genes for celiac, so I know my daughter has at least one....

I did the doctor route too and my Dr. tested me for celiac (one single blood test and I'm not sure which one...) and he said, "no celiac you can eat gluten."

Well he was wrong... I went gluten free and all my symptoms cleared up. Every time I accidently ingest gluten I get sick right away and it lasts for ages... so thats really all the proof I need, I don't care if its gluten sensitivity, celiac, wheat allergy, all I know is that gluten makes me sick and I'm not eating it! The EntroLab tests just confirmed it for me but I already knew it!

Best to you,

Susan