Going out to eat with family and friends is supposed to be nothing pleasurable joyride culinary heaven. Unfortunately, most restaurants promote lots of unhealthy food options.
For those of us with dietary restrictions, going out to eat can be a bit nerve-racking. Sure, we want to be able to eat good just anyone else but we could do without the side effects.
If you have celiac disease, this article is for you. Read on learn how you can find a gluten-free restaurant near you!
Your Guide to Eating Out Gluten-Free
If you’ve been living with celiac disease, you know just what happens when you consume gluten, which is found in wheats and other grains.
Anyone who has been unfortunate enough to deal with the bloating, diarrhea, cramps, and other symptoms associated with this autoimmune disease knows that it is no joke.
Despite its severity and relative frequency in the US, it can be a challenge to to find gluten-free places to eat. If this has happened to you, check out this guide to gluten-free eating out before throwing the towel.
1. Where To Begin
It wasn’t all that long ago when having celiac disease made it nearly impossible to eat. The general public isn’t as ignorant as they were 20 years ago or so but there are still plenty of misconceptions out there.
Despite the movement to raise aware for this condition, plenty of establishments do not offer many desirable options when it comes to eating out gluten-free. This is especially true with many fast-food restaurants. Gluten-free options are rare in most pizzerias, for example.
2. Plan Ahead
There is nothing worse than finding out at the last minute that the place you were going to isn’t a restaurant with gluten-free options.
This can lead to an awkward situation for you and your friends. We’ve all been there before.
To prevent this, it might be a good idea to call a day before or as soon as possible. Also, many restaurants have websites and social media profiles where they might have that kind of information. There may be a gluten free restaurant near you.
3. Communicate Your Needs
Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Make sure you know how to communicate your specific dietary needs in a way that is easy to understand.
You don’t need to give a class about the symptomatology of your condition, but be clear and precise when informing the server of your needs.
A card with written instructions may be easier for some.
4. Just Ask!
If you aren’t sure about a certain menu item, don’t be afraid to ask! The servers are probably used to these kinds of questions.
Feel free to ask about any ingredients used or the cooking method to be used.
5. Better Safe Than Sorry
When you finally get your food, it’s hard to avoid immediately diving in but maybe you should make sure you got the right order.
Mistakes happen and plates gets mixed up. You can quickly confirm with the server before eating.
Gluten-Free and Eating Good
Who says a celiac can’t be a foodie? There are plenty of ways you can go out and eat delicious food.
There may even be a specialized gluten-free restaurant near you!
Get out there and enjoy. Heck, go ahead and post your meals on Instagram, too!
These are all good tips. It is important to be sure before eating.