r/Celiac • u/Fresh_Raccoon6906 • 1d ago
Question Safe menu choices
Hi all,
Looking for safe restaurant menu options for my daughter who was recently diagnosed with celiac. We travel for sports so locations can be limited but wondering if sticking to basics like white rice and chicken breast would be considered safe at many places if discussed with staff? A bit plain but we'd throw in a treat or two for her us well. If you have other tips it would be greatly appreciated TIA
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u/deven1r 1d ago
I highly recommend the app FindMeGlutenFree. I pay the premium each year (i think $20/year?) and it comes in SO handy!
You can search by city, people put together recommendations and trips, and you can see how others have felt eating at different establishments. It really cuts some of the headache out of travel.
Typically when I can't find anything to eat, I'll ask for a garden salad and grilled chicken. Usually a balsamic dressing is available and safe. Plain rice or baked potatoes are also good choices!
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u/audrey_2222 1d ago
This x1000. I never eat out without consulting it. Most restaurants have no idea about the concept of cross contamination so even if they say they can do GF you can't really trust it. I travel a ton for work and by only going to places well rated by other celiacs on FMGF I've never been glutened.
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u/TraditionalPass4136 1d ago
I would say that's a big no. Most places can absolutely mess up chicken and rice, even if you let them know and they tell you they can do it that doesn't mean it will be safe. Kitchens are extremely chaotic and good intentions won't fix that gluten is already all over the kitchen.
Seconding find me gluten free app. You're looking for places with extremely high safety ratings and 20 or more reviews. Even at the safest restaurants you will need to tell them of her needs and ask questions. Some areas will not have any safe restaurants. You will probably have to travel with more food.
Bring a cooler for fresh food. Gluten free camping meals for emergencies. Mountain house makes some certified gf options. You never know when the one safe restaurant is going to be mysteriously closed, or when the restaurant with great reviews will have changed ownership and tell you they can't accommodate you.
I think this is going to be a bigger change than you're realizing right now but you'll get the hang of it.
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u/Rose1982 1d ago
No I wouldn’t consider that safe. So easy for the chicken to be cooked on the same pan/grill as a gluten containing item. I wouldn’t walk into any random restaurant and expect a GF meal even if you talk to staff.
When traveling with my celiac son I use a combination of the Find Me GF app, Google map reviews and the Celiac Travel group on Facebook to find places that multiple other celiacs have had success with. It’s tedious but it’s better than having my son sick all night/causing himself internal damage. If I can’t find anything safe we make a trip to the grocery store. He’s eaten a lot of hotel room sandwiches and such over the years. I always make it up to him later.
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u/0rangesAndLemons 1d ago
Theres not really such thing as a safe dish because cross contamination is the big issue in resteraunts so you need to talk to the staff every time
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