Coeliacs eating out problems!! (If u r from America, Celiacs)?

Question

I have a 4 yr old who is a Coeliac. I find it very hard if I am in town to find places that provide sandwiches or even evening meals. I find that most restaurants don't know what I am talking about.

Boots used to do a gluten free sandwich as part of their meal deal but I have not seen anything in there for almost a year now. I find if I pop into town I have to take a packed lunch. The only other place I can use is macdonald's(without the buns of course). Not overly keen on using it a lot as it is not good to eat!! The only restaurant that would cater is a big expensive french restairant. About £15 just for one course!!

I am getting increasingly fed up with people thinking its just a fad diet because the celebs are doing it to stop bloating!! I have had comments like, well just a little bit won't hurt. They don't realise what gluten can do to a Coeliac!!

Does anyone else out there have similar problems!!

Answer 1

Take a look at CeliacHandbook.com

http://www.celiachandbook.com

It has a long list of GF restaurants in London. Some have dedicated GF menus and some are willing to alter a meal for their patrons. I haven't eaten at any of the restaurants in the UK that are listed but I have eaten at some in Seattle and Portland and have been very pleased.

I understand your frustration with people not getting the importance of coeliacs avoiding gluten. I've had waiters tell me to just take the bread off of the sandwich or ask if I was on the Atkins diet.

Anyway, good luck and take a look at that website—I think you'll find something good there.

Answer 2

My my ex-girlfriend has Celiac's disease, hence I was well aware of things that could or could not be eaten.

Charlie Brown's Steakhouse has a gluten-free menu. I am not sure they exist throughout the country but there are a few in NJ and NY.

Wegmans supermarket is well known to stock up on gluten-free items, all of course which are very expensive relative to gluten items. They dedicate an entire aisle to these products. Again, I know they are all over NJ and NY. I am not sure about the rest of the country.

Answer 3

Yes, I'm on a special diet. Lactose free, bland. That means no milk products, heavy spices, greasy stuff. I also get the 'a little bit won't hurt' thing. they also forget that I've ordered 'no cheese'. I have found that ethnic restaurants that don't include milk in their diets anyway are safest for me - Chinese especially. When I travel I do take enough food with me that, in case I can't find anything I can eat there, I won't starve. People laugh when I go away for a weekend at how many bags I have, becauase of the food, but that's okay. There are a couple of local restaurants that are used to me and my restrictions, and cater to my requirements with good cheer, so I tend to frequent these and to tip well for their extra service.

Answer 4

This article has some gluten-free dining out options. Maybe you'll find it helpful:
http://www.helium.com/tm/135723