Ask the right questions

Even if your sensitivity is not severe, you can be firm in your requests while also remaining polite. Don’t make assumptions about the contents of the food.

Ask the server for details; they’re used to it. It’s the only way to feel confident that the meal you’ll be served will leave you feeling full and satisfied, not sick and disappointed. Some of the most important questions to ask include:

“Is any part of what I’m ordering breaded or dusted with flour of any kind?” Often, protein sources are breaded or even lightly dusted with flour before sautéing, baking, broiling, or roasting. At nicer restaurants, this step can usually be left out when the chef prepares your meal to order.

“I’m allergic to gluten, can you find out if there is gluten or flour in the sauce or any other part of this dish? If there is any uncertainty, please let me know, and I will order something else that you would recommend as a safe option for me.”

“What kind of frying oil do you use?” Most restaurants use vegetable oil for frying and, therefore, fried foods are not a good option when dining out. That includes sweet potato fries. It’s the oil that is the problem, not the potatoes. Note that sweet potato fries are typically dusted or coated in flour before frying to create a crispy result!

but what are the best choices at, say, an italian restaurant versus a chinese restaurant?

SONO CELIACO

Celiac disease is actually very common in Italy, the place where wheat pasta was “born.” As a result, most restaurants there cater to the gluten-free diner, making it easy to navigate an Italian vacation and avoid wheat products. Carry a Celiac dining card with you in Italian (see p. 89), or simply say, “Sono celiaco,” which means “I have Celiac disease.”

Italian food

Don’t skimp on your protein source. Choose broiled, baked, or grilled chicken, fish, shrimp, or red meat. You can even order meatballs with red sauce, but be sure to ask if they contain flour or breadcrumbs, as some do. Order vegetables or salad on the side. Obviously, avoid bread, pasta, or breaded meats like Parmesan and Francese dishes. Protein sources at Italian restaurants are often dusted with flour before cooking even if they’re not breaded and fried, so be sure to ask about this, as most of these dishes can be prepared without the flour. Other healthy options include the antipasto platter with meat and vegetables or grilled vegetables with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

If you are dying for pasta, the restaurant may have a gluten-free option. While I don’t recommend this as a regular practice, ordering it in a restaurant is better than buying these refined products to prepare at home. Pay attention to how you feel after eating gluten-free pasta, however. Many people are as sensitive to these products as those containing gluten. All refined grain products can leave you feeling lethargic and tired after a meal, which is not a sign that you have eaten healthful food. At home, you can make noodles from zucchini (see here for a recipe) as a nutritious substitute.

Mexican food

Choose primarily meat, salsa, and guacamole when at a Mexican restaurant. If you’re having an appetizer, ask the server for jicama, cucumbers, raw celery, or carrots to dip into guacamole. If it’s a more upscale Mexican restaurant, ask about a side of vegetables to add to your entrée. Skip the tortilla shells, wraps, and chips (which contain both corn and flour), as well as the beans and rice. Ask if there is flour in any sauces, and opt for grilled meats, if possible. At fast food restaurants like Chipotle, you can even find some meat that is not cooked in vegetable or soybean oil.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14