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Gluten-free diet: What has worked? Your tips
Digestive Health | Last Active: Nov 24, 2022 | Replies (120)Comment receiving replies
@therjes
Hi,I
I was happy to read your post because 3 things stood out for me...Eat real food, Eating basically the same way as before the GF “diet” and Read labels. It takes perseverance and research which you have done. As you said, being aware of the fat and sugar content of GF replacements is important due to the preponderance of GF foods on the market. We have a friend with celiac disease who won’t change her way of eating because, frankly, she’s just lazy and can’t be bothered to learn. Consequently she suffers for it.
You are right about the higher end restaurants...they have more GF options and real food and are more open to substitutions. I don’t trust the GF options at chain restaurants and certainly not at fast food places. I would love to see chain restaurants and fast food eateries disappear off the face of this planet and have more small, independent restaurants open in neighborhoods....just the way it was when I was growing up and before the fast food explosion.
However, it is challenging to dine out when you have certain food allergies or a condition like Celiac Disease. I’m guessing you are a lot healthier after 10 years....kudos. I’m going to a so called Italian chain restaurant with my gym class next week because that’s what was decided. I’ve been looking at the menu for 2 days...the caloric and nutritional facts....and can’t come up with anything except a salad. I don’t have any food allergies but one lunch there has more sodium, sugar and trans fat than I would eat in several days...even their “lower calorie” items. The caloric content of some of the specials is what I eat in a day. It ain’t easy.
FL Mary
Replies to "@therjes Hi,I I was happy to read your post because 3 things stood out for me...Eat..."
Oh man, looking at a menu for days is absolutely right! In fact I am possibly going out for lunch today and I spent last evening doing that. Need to find a place my friend would like that has ANYTHING safe for me. And it ain't easy.
I am healthier but 2 yrs ago my hubbie and I got Fitbits and began tracking what we eat, calorie-wise. That has resulted in a healthier, more fit couple. The gf diet, I think of as my medical treatment for an incurable disease. My dad had colon cancer about 5 yrs ago and has had digestive issues for my whole life. And he's 100 % Irish. So I'm guessing he is an undiagnosed Celiac and it's come from his side. At 81 it seems it won't be what kills him but I have heard many stories from ppl who think a relative did die from it. I consider myself lucky to have finally been diagnosed (took a few yrs for them to ID why my ferratin was always so very low - it was being Celiac).
Anyway, good luck at the chain restaurant!
Theresa
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@imallears Hi Mary - Restaurants are a challenge with food allergies, but awareness is so much better now than a few years ago, and I hate to forego a social event, so my solution to eating out in many restaurants is the salad or a plateful of fresh steamed veggies. But to make it a meal, I will call in advance and ask THE MANAGER to determine whether they can safely prepare a broiled, grilled or pan-fried chicken breast, shrimp or small steak to serve with it. I have only been disappointed in their response a very few times.
As for gluten-free options in chains/fast food places, we actually have pretty good experiences. We travel a lot, and NOT eating out is not an option, so we selectively find places and speak directly to the front-end manager or the preparer. We also use an app called "Find Me Gluten-free", which not only helps find the safe places, but also the ones to avoid. As a result, we have done some education and given ourselves more options. We also socialize a lot when home, and have found a number of ethnic restaurants and small family-owned ones that are very accommodating, especially if they know it will bring us back with our group of family or friends (repeat business is their lifeblood.)
As for the nutritional content, you are right - it can be abysmal. Again, the small places preparing from scratch are a great help, because you can ask for minimal or no salt in the prep, and sauces and dressings on the side...
You've done a great job preparing, so I hope you enjoy your day out with your gym group.
Sue