So the time of year is upon us...holiday parties are coming up! This is certainly a tough time for us with Celiac Disease! I've thought of a few tips that might help make it a little easier this Christmas...
Eat something before you go...
Don't go to the party hungry....Eat a yummy gluten free meal before you go. While you may still crave the glutenous treats at the party, it's easier on a full tummy!
Make your own gluten free dish to take to the party...
Make one or two of your favorite treats to take to the party. That way you know there will be something you can eat safely. :) I even make sure to go ahead and get my serving first, so there's no chance of cross contamination. :)
Make a bee line for the fresh fruits and veggies...
Anytime I go to party, I head straight for the fresh fruits and veggies! You may have to avoid the dips that accompany them, but the simple fresh produce is your best gluten free option :)
Never be afraid to sneak a peek at labels...
If an item like chips or dip is store bought and you think there's a chance it might be gluten free...don't be afraid to take a look at the label to see if it is! Or ask the host if you can look at the container :)
"When in doubt, go without"...
Now I have heard this quote ever since going gluten free...and it's a great one! Though it may be tempting, don't take a chance on a food you're not sure of....It may be tasty now, but you'll be paying the price later...and it's sooo not worth it!
Host your own party...
One way to make sure you'll have lots to enjoy at your holiday party is to host one yourself! This one's a lot of work, but you'll be sure to have goodies you know are safe, even if other folks bring some dishes of their own :)
Hopefully these tips will help you navigate through this holiday season, taking your focus a little off the food, so you can focus more on sharing this special season with family and friends :)
God bless you this Christmas!
Showing posts with label Eating Out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eating Out. Show all posts
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Tips for Eating Out Gluten Free...
Eating out with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance can be tricky business! Here are a few tips I've learned that will help to make your dining experience a happier one....
1. Call ahead to the restaurant to make sure they can accommodate a gluten free customer. If the staff seems unsure or can't tell you for certain...choose another restaurant.
2. Many restaurants have a separate gluten free menu. Ask for it. Even if you've been to the restaurant before, menu items could change, so it's important to check.
3. Make sure to tell the staff that you have Celiac Disease, or even better that you are allergic to gluten, so they will know to be extra careful! If the server is unsure of what's safe for you, request a manager. Sometimes they are more knowledgeable and can help you have a good experience.
4. If ordering something that will be cooked on a shared grill, request that it be cooked on foil so it won't touch the grill. Even if they clean the grill for special orders, for me this is an added protection against cross contamination!
5. Find out if the dish you are ordering comes with bread on the side. If it does, request that it be left off. And if by chance they bring the dish out with the bread, don't be afraid to send the plate back for a new order!
6. Double check salad dressings. Many salad dressings contain gluten. And the Ranch dressing at one restaurant might be safe, while at another it's not, so be sure to check the GF menu or ask the server.
7. Never be afraid to ask questions, to take your time ordering, or to send things back! This is your health we're talking about. :) Speak up for yourself, you are your best advocate!! Just be kind to the restaurant staff when you do. :)
1. Call ahead to the restaurant to make sure they can accommodate a gluten free customer. If the staff seems unsure or can't tell you for certain...choose another restaurant.
2. Many restaurants have a separate gluten free menu. Ask for it. Even if you've been to the restaurant before, menu items could change, so it's important to check.
3. Make sure to tell the staff that you have Celiac Disease, or even better that you are allergic to gluten, so they will know to be extra careful! If the server is unsure of what's safe for you, request a manager. Sometimes they are more knowledgeable and can help you have a good experience.
4. If ordering something that will be cooked on a shared grill, request that it be cooked on foil so it won't touch the grill. Even if they clean the grill for special orders, for me this is an added protection against cross contamination!
5. Find out if the dish you are ordering comes with bread on the side. If it does, request that it be left off. And if by chance they bring the dish out with the bread, don't be afraid to send the plate back for a new order!
6. Double check salad dressings. Many salad dressings contain gluten. And the Ranch dressing at one restaurant might be safe, while at another it's not, so be sure to check the GF menu or ask the server.
7. Never be afraid to ask questions, to take your time ordering, or to send things back! This is your health we're talking about. :) Speak up for yourself, you are your best advocate!! Just be kind to the restaurant staff when you do. :)
Monday, May 21, 2012
Eating Gluten Free in Blowing Rock, NC
My hubby and I made a trip up to Blowing Rock, NC this past weekend. This was my first trip since going gluten free, and I have to say with a little meal planning and restaurant research, eating gluten free was totally doable!
We knew there was an Outback right down from our cabin, so that's where we headed on Friday night. Outback has a separate GF menu and has become one of my go-to restaurants. This, however, was the best GF dining experience I've had since going GF! To start, we had an awesome waiter who was very knowledgeable about the gluten free menu and meal preparation. I asked about the chance of cross contamination on the grill and he suggested that they could cook the chicken on foil for added safety! YEAH! When he brought the food out, he made a point to tell me that the chef who prepared the dish has a wife with Celiac Disease! So of course, he would know the importance of keeping everything GF! Such a great Outback experience!
Saturday morning we ate in for breakfast....I've decided that a kitchen is a must-have for a Celiac on vacation! What a life saver! We stopped in at a local restaurant for hubby to grab a bite to eat, then made the short walk back to our cabin for my lunch...some of the chili beans I had prepared beforehand!
For dinner I had called a few places and asked if they had GF items and how they accommodated GF needs. I called three restaurants and we decided to try one that said they were very careful about cross contamination for those with Celiac Disease. When we got there however, the waiter was not sure what items were GF, and even after checking with the chef, seemed uncertain. The GF choices were extremely limited. So...we politely said we'd have to go somewhere else. I think this was my first time leaving a restaurant since going GF, but I'm glad we did because we ended up at a wonderful place and had a fabulous dinner!
It's another restaurant I had called beforehand, The Best Cellar. Our waitress was rather new, so I asked if there was a manager or someone who knew the menu well who could tell me about GF options. A waitress came out who was very familiar with the GF options, and hubby and I both decided on the filet. It was covered with peppercorn...delicious! I ordered mine without the cream sauce. I also asked if they cleaned their grill for GF items, she checked and said they could do that too! For sides I had the mashed potatoes and the asparagus without hollandaise. The meal was fabulous!!
Never be afraid to speak up for yourself and ask questions when you have Celiac Disease. It's a must, and in my experience, servers are very willing to do whatever they can to create a good experience...just always make sure you speak up politely :).
We ate in for breakfast again on Sunday. For lunch, we wanted to try a popular place off the main street, The Village Cafe. We previewed the menu, and I was certain I could find something gluten free. When I asked the hostess if they had a table available, I also asked if they had gluten free items. She said they could certainly accommodate me. She even checked with the chef to see what soups were GF. Once we were seated at our perfect little table on the patio, she came and said that the Black Bean and Smoked Chicken Chili was gluten free. Since she was there, I asked her what else on the menu was safe. Among other items, she listed the Caesar Salad. That made my decision easy....Soup and salad, please...without croutons, of course! :) She even told me next time we come, to call a couple of days ahead and the chef would be sure he had some GF soups on hand! WOW :)
What an awesome trip! If you've never been to Blowing Rock, NC, you should definitely make the trip if you're not too far away! Such a wonderful little town with great shops and some great gluten free options too!
We knew there was an Outback right down from our cabin, so that's where we headed on Friday night. Outback has a separate GF menu and has become one of my go-to restaurants. This, however, was the best GF dining experience I've had since going GF! To start, we had an awesome waiter who was very knowledgeable about the gluten free menu and meal preparation. I asked about the chance of cross contamination on the grill and he suggested that they could cook the chicken on foil for added safety! YEAH! When he brought the food out, he made a point to tell me that the chef who prepared the dish has a wife with Celiac Disease! So of course, he would know the importance of keeping everything GF! Such a great Outback experience!
Saturday morning we ate in for breakfast....I've decided that a kitchen is a must-have for a Celiac on vacation! What a life saver! We stopped in at a local restaurant for hubby to grab a bite to eat, then made the short walk back to our cabin for my lunch...some of the chili beans I had prepared beforehand!
For dinner I had called a few places and asked if they had GF items and how they accommodated GF needs. I called three restaurants and we decided to try one that said they were very careful about cross contamination for those with Celiac Disease. When we got there however, the waiter was not sure what items were GF, and even after checking with the chef, seemed uncertain. The GF choices were extremely limited. So...we politely said we'd have to go somewhere else. I think this was my first time leaving a restaurant since going GF, but I'm glad we did because we ended up at a wonderful place and had a fabulous dinner!
It's another restaurant I had called beforehand, The Best Cellar. Our waitress was rather new, so I asked if there was a manager or someone who knew the menu well who could tell me about GF options. A waitress came out who was very familiar with the GF options, and hubby and I both decided on the filet. It was covered with peppercorn...delicious! I ordered mine without the cream sauce. I also asked if they cleaned their grill for GF items, she checked and said they could do that too! For sides I had the mashed potatoes and the asparagus without hollandaise. The meal was fabulous!!
Never be afraid to speak up for yourself and ask questions when you have Celiac Disease. It's a must, and in my experience, servers are very willing to do whatever they can to create a good experience...just always make sure you speak up politely :).
We ate in for breakfast again on Sunday. For lunch, we wanted to try a popular place off the main street, The Village Cafe. We previewed the menu, and I was certain I could find something gluten free. When I asked the hostess if they had a table available, I also asked if they had gluten free items. She said they could certainly accommodate me. She even checked with the chef to see what soups were GF. Once we were seated at our perfect little table on the patio, she came and said that the Black Bean and Smoked Chicken Chili was gluten free. Since she was there, I asked her what else on the menu was safe. Among other items, she listed the Caesar Salad. That made my decision easy....Soup and salad, please...without croutons, of course! :) She even told me next time we come, to call a couple of days ahead and the chef would be sure he had some GF soups on hand! WOW :)
What an awesome trip! If you've never been to Blowing Rock, NC, you should definitely make the trip if you're not too far away! Such a wonderful little town with great shops and some great gluten free options too!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Friday Favorites...Eating GF in the Outback!
These days there are many restaurants with gluten free menus. And most of the time servers are very helpful when I tell them I have a "gluten intolerance". If I do tell them I have Celiac Disease, most of the time they say they know someone with Celiac too... There are about four restaurants where I regularly go to eat gluten free, but time and again, I have had the best experience at Outback Steakhouse! They have a great gluten free menu and in my experience, a very helpful staff. Before CD, my favorite menu item was Alice Springs Chicken....and guess what? It's on the GF menu! All I have to do is substitute something in the place of the fries, which are not gluten free. Although I do miss my Bloomin' Onion, for the mostpart I can eat the same at Outback as I did before going gluten free! Love it! And believe me, I eat till my little heart is content and my tummy is stuffed! Here's a link to their great gluten free menu http://www.outback.com/menu/pdf/glutenfree.pdf
What are some of your favorite places for eating GF??
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