Six Food Intolerance Living

Hubby and I headed down to San Diego last week. It was his father's 50th birthday and we went to help him celebrate! We mostly ate at home (and his parents were very accommodating to my new lifestyle!), but we did go out a few times.

When we first arrived, Hubby HAD to have In-N-Out (which I have spoken of before). Although it is a fast food joint, they make things with fresh, natural ingredients so it's pretty easy to eat there. The fries are whole potatoes, cut straight in the store and fried in vegetable oil (so while safe for those avoiding only the soy protein, it is not safe for those avoiding all soy products). The burgers are made with 100% all beef with no preservatives, additives or fillers. They are topped with lettuce, tomato, onions (raw, fried or without) and their special spread. To order the burger without a bun you just order it "protein style" and it comes wrapped in lettuce as I have pictured below! YUM!

The other day we ate out, we went down to Little Italy. We started lunch with some DELISH gelato at Pappalecco - so good that I dug in and forgot to take a picture! Life's short, why not start with desert once in a while? ;) Most of the time, with gelato, all the fruit flavors are dairy free. But, I always ask to be sure. Anyway, then we went to a local restaurant called Cafe Zucchero and I ordered ... well, not this:

hahaha!! As much as I wanted to, I resisted the fabulous looking pizza. Hubby didn't help and ordered probably the most GDSYWP-filled thing on the menu! ;) Instead, I ordered this:

A spinach salad topped with carrots, tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, avocado and peppercorn-coated ahi tuna. Yum. The dressing was an orange vinaigrette. I just asked for it on the side and removed it. I'm not much for fruity dressings. Instead, I used the oil and vinegar that they brought to the table at the begining of the meal with the bread (which I also of course avoided). The salad was quite large, very satisfying and significantly healthier than what Hubby ordered. Who would have guessed that you could eat safely gluten and dairy free in Little Italy of all places? Just another example that living intolerant free doesn't have to be difficult!

Five Guys has always been known for their simple menu, good food and their fresh, never frozen philosophy. They have received several awards and are even Zagat rated. Because of their dedication to fresh, natural foods, they are very understanding of and willing to cater to food intolerances.

In the FAQ section of their website, they specifically address several food allergies. Because of all the information that they provide, I can easily to see how to eat there GDSYWP-free! According to their website, their buns contain gluten, dairy and soy and of course, their cheese contains dairy. Therefore, if I simply avoids the bun, cheese and pork bacon, I can easily to dine there safely! (If you have intolerances to egg, also avoid the bun and if you have intolerances to peanuts - stay out of the restaurant!! Not only is peanut oil the only oil to be found in this restaurant, but shell-on peanuts are also served openly as an appetizer.)

But don't think because I can't have the spongy bun or the melty cheese that I'm missing out! I have the choice of an all-beef hot dog or a burger with one or two patties. And, there are plenty of delicious toppings to choose from to flavor my humble burger. I can chose from: mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, relish, tomato, lettuce, pickles, raw or grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, green bell peppers, fresh jalapeños, and three sauces - A-1, hot and barbeque. The food is served wrapped in a piece of foil and is placed on a plastic tray or in a signature grease-stained brown paper bag.

As a side, they offer fresh french fries - cut in the store from real potatoes. There is even a white-board in every store telling you from where the potatoes being served that day came! The fries are available in regular or large size - though either is more than enough for two people to share. The styrofoam cup that they are served in is often overflowing with those crisp-outside yet soft-inside potatoy goodness. There is also an option to have the fries Cajun style where they come sprinkled in a delightful mixture of spices. Yum! I complete my meal with a cold Coca-Cola brand fountain soda, iced tea or bottled water.

While there is always a risk of cross contamination, the staff there is very willing to accommodate when given clear instructions. When I order, I let the cashier know that I have a wheat and a dairy allergy and that I would like my hamburger or hot dog served with no bun and no cheese. I also request that the assembler of my meal put on new plastic gloves. What I receive is a foil-wrapped burger or hot dog, then the toppings and sauces will be in separate foil or plastic cups, ready for me to assemble to my liking. They do have plastic forks and knives there, though I have yet to find one that has plates, but the unwrapped piece of foil works well enough (Five Guys - if you're reading, some nice sturdy cardboard plates would be greatly appreciated!! :D).

I love, love, LOVE sushi! And, Sushi is actually pretty safe to eat GFCF. Of course, SF is a whole 'nother thing, but it's possible, I promise! I still eat it all the time! Seriously! It is one of the easiest things to eat out since it is prepared fresh and to-order, so you can easily customize it!

Sushi rice, nori (seaweed paper that sushi is wrapped in) and of course the raw rish are all naturally GFCFSF.

Here are some things you have to watch for:

Dairy:

• The only dairy stuff that I can think of off the top of my head that is usually in sushi is cream cheese - so, if a roll I want comes with it, I just ask that they replace it with avocado or cucumber or something, it's usually not a problem.
  

• If only GF: Anything "tempura," fried, or labeled as "crunchy" - those all are done with wheat flakes
• If only GF: Avoid crabsticks. They almost always have wheat in them. You can ask if they use real crab or imitation. Real crab is fine. Imitation is not. They should be able to tell you if it is real crab or not - it's a fairly common question.
  
• If GF and/or SF: Soy sauce with wheat in it - so if you are both GF/SF, you'll have to deal with no sauce whatsoever or bring a bit of fish sauce. If you are only GF, not SF, bring your own wheat free soy sauce but still ask that they do not put ANY sauce on any of your sushi. I cannot emphasize this enough the waiter/waitress! Just so you know, some rolls don't say that they have sauce on them on the menu, but it arrives with a sauce on them! So, be very, very clear. This might get you a weird look - "No sauce?" "No sweet sauce?" "No soy sauce?" Just keep nodding - yes, NO sauce of ANY kind. They all most likely have soy in them and could have wheat in them.
  
• If GF and/or SF: Anything with eel because it almost always comes with soy on it or was marinated in soy

• GF only: ramen, soba, udon, gyoza, panko, tempura, miso (this is soy based and can have wheat added in sometimes), dashi, salad dressing and marinades (of course all sauces can have wheat in them), tamago (an omelet that has soy sauce in it), flavored roe, fish cake, soy sauce, teriyaki, sweet soy, sweet sauce
• SF only: gyoza, miso, dashi, salad dressing and marinades (of course all sauces can have wheat in them), tamago (an omelet that has soy sauce in it), flavored roe, soy sauce, teriyaki, sweet soy, sweet sauce
  

• Sashimi: all it is - literally - is slices of raw fish. So, you'd get a plate full of little pieces of raw fish. You could ask for a bowl of rice to come with it, but it won't have the "sushi" flavor because sushi rice has vinegar and some other stuff in it. You could ask for a bowl of sushi rice, but it depends on the place if they'll do that.
• If you can eat soy, a good appetizer is Edamame (salted and steamed soybeans)
  
• California Roll or Rainbow Roll - if GF: replace crabstick with shrimp
  
• Alaskan or Philadelphia Roll - if DF: replace cream cheese with avocado
• Any Nigri sushi (this is just a pillow of sushi rice, sometimes with a dab of wasabi and then the fish on top - no sauce, no veggies, nothing to worry about here - just don't order the eel one or tamgo if your GF or SF!)

I have been meaning to write about this for a while, but I kept forgetting! I have very exciting news! I have found a new (well, new-to-me) food-intolerance-friendly restaurant!!


Back at the beginning of the month, my work held it's holiday party. One of my co-workers had recently been to Clydes (the Tower Oaks Lodge location), a popular and local restaurant, and really enjoyed it. He suggested we go there for our holiday party. Well, you all know my first thought - "Can I eat there?" So, I rushed to find their website and was comforted and relieved to find this in their FAQ page:

"I have a food allergy. Can you accommodate my diet?
We are very successful at honoring dietary requests whether it is for any of the 8 major allergens, miscellaneous allergens, or general dietary requests. Communication is key -- please tell us when you arrive that you have an allergy, and we will do our best. We are not nutritionists, but do believe that we serve great food that can be prepared to meet many common requests. Since our food is cooked to order, our chefs can make something delicious and safe for you."

So, I got excited! Yea! They will accommodate me as best they can! And, they're familiar with the top 8!! When I called to make the reservation, I asked if I needed to call in advance to assure that they would have food that I could eat and the lady taking the reservation said, "Oh, no. We deal with food allergies all the time. I'll mark it here on your reservation, but just be sure to tell your server when you arrive and we'll take care of you." Ah, such a weight off of my shoulders.

So, we got there, I told one of the servers (we were such a large party that we had 2 servers) and when the other server came to take my order, she knew right off what foods I could and couldn't have and even knew to double check with the chef about the sauces and that butter was considered dairy (most restaurants ignore the fact that butter is dairy and I end up getting sick)! Everything was easy and I was confidant that I would have a safe meal. I ended up ordering the filet mignon (with no sauce) and 2 veggies - spinach and green beans. It you know what? It was delicious! And, more importantly, it was safe.

Upon further research, it seems that Clydes is really working hard to be food-intolerant-friendly! This is a really nice article about their efforts.

I'm so, so excited about this new find!! Clydes will certainly enjoy lots of new business from me! If you're in the DC metro area, be sure to give them a try!

If you have not already done so, please read the disclaimer information both off to the side and exceptions and disclaimer in this post.

I have *always* loved Subway. Well, I've always loved sandwiches - of any kind. But Subway was there through Weight Watchers with me. If Hubby and I were eating out, we were usually eating there. But, since I went GDSYWP-free, we haven't been back. But, after reviewing this list, I just might now! MIGHT ... there is an awful lot of autolyzed yeast extract in their meats. But, it's nice to know that I can get a big salad with a lot of veggie options while I'm out and about. While dining there, my options are:

Main:
Chicken Breast Patty
Roast Beef
Roasted Chicken Breast
Tuna
Turkey Breast

Toppings/Dressings:
Carrots
Bell Peppers
Cucumbers
Deli Brown Mustard
Honey Mustard Sauce
Lettuce
Mayonnaise
Oil
Olives
Onions
Pickles
Sweet Onion Sauce
Tomatoes
Vinegar
Yellow Mustard

Beverages:
Apple Juice
Soda
Water


And with this ends the past 2 weeks of fast food. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled blog starting Monday! I have some nice recipes and product reviews lined up and ready for you! :D

If you have not already done so, please read the disclaimer information both off to the side and exceptions and disclaimer in this post.

Since I am not lucky enough to live near an In-N-Out, my hamburger joint of choice is Five Guys. I know this isn't one of the traditional "fast food" joints, but with their all-natural-and-basic ingredients, they are completely worth their own post. Their menu is super easy to order from (just avoiding the obvious - buns, cheese and bacon) and their fries are completely safe! They have their own dedicated fryer and are fried in peanut oil.

Yum!

If you have not already done so, please read the disclaimer information both off to the side and exceptions and disclaimer in this post.

If you live on the West Coast and are lucky enough to live near an In-N-Out, then I am envious of you. Their fries are my favorite! Pretty much, aside from the obvious (avoiding bacon, cheese, buns and shakes), their menu is all-go. Their fries are from real potatoes and have no additives and their patties are 100% beef with no additives. The only thing is they do use vegetable oil (which can contain soybean oil) and their special spread is probably mayonnaise based (therefore probably also containing soybean oil). but really, that is also pretty much a given.

Boy do I wish I could have one now ...

If you have not already done so, please read the disclaimer information both off to the side and exceptions and disclaimer in this post.

I just have to say that I honestly love Chipotle. I know their food isn't really authentic Mexican, but when I'm in a hurry and in the mood for Mexican, Chipotle does hit the spot! And, I have to say that their website is pretty neat and contains lots of information on their food. I also love that their food is pretty basic. According to their website, "Our foods at Chipotle have no artificial colors or artificial flavorings." So, as long as you avoid the obvious (staying away from cheese, sour cream, flour tortillas and shredded pork), you should be set! If you're super sensitive, you may want to ask that the employees put on fresh gloves since they do handle the flour tortillas. There are only 2 things that I will note - 1) they use a small amount of bacon in their pinto beans, so I always get the black beans and 2) they use soybean oil in uh, everything - they claim that it is not indicated as an allergen. Me personally? If I have too much, I feel icky. But, I have had several large meals there without a problem.

If you have not already done so, please read the disclaimer information both off to the side and exceptions and disclaimer in this post.

I have never been a huge fan of Burger King, but I will give them credit for providing lots of nutritional/allergen information on their website. While dining there, my options are:

Main:
Fries - may be cooked in oil also used to cook gluten items
Garden Side Salad
Hamburger - no bun
Jr. Whopper - no bun
Whopper - no bun

Toppings/Dressings/Sauces:
Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Honey Mustard Dressing
Ketchup
Lettuce
Light Italian Dressing
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Onion
Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce
Tomato
Zesty Dipping Sauce

Beverages:
Apple Juice
Coffee
Icee
Orange Juice
Soda
Water

If you have not already done so, please read the disclaimer information both off to the side and exceptions and disclaimer in this post.

I have had a love affair with Chick-Fil-A since college and am so happy to announce that they have a dedicated Waffle Fries fryer making it completely safe for our gluten intolerances! Now, if only they would package their salads with the cheese separately, I would have many more options and be truly happy! While dining there, my options are:

Main:
Chargrilled Chicken Fillet Sandwhich - no bun
French Fries

Toppings/Dressings/Sauces:
Barbecue Sauce
Chick-Fil-A Sauce
Fat-Free Honey Mustard Dressing
Honey Mustard Sauce
Honey Roasted Barbecue Sauce
Ketchup
Light Italian Dressing
Polynesian Sauce
Reduced Fat Berry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Breakfast:
Hashbrowns

Dessert:
Fruit Cup

Beverages:
Apple Juice
Coffee
Iced Tea
Lemonade
Orange Juice
Soda
Water

If you have not already done so, please read the disclaimer information both off to the side and exceptions and disclaimer in this post.

The ever-popular McDonalds is probably the last place that I would want to go when eating fast food because a)their food seems to be the most chemically injected and altered and b)I can't resist their french fries or hashbrowns, even though I know that they are bad for me. However, I must give them credit for posting lots of information about their foods and being very aware of allergens in those foods (like telling us that there are both dairy and gluten ingredients in the flavorings that they use for their french fries). While dining there, my options are:

Main:
Big and Tasty - no bun
Hamburger - no bun
Quarter Pounder - no bun
Side Salad

Toppings/Dressings/Sauces:
Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
Hot Mustard Sauce
Ketchup
Low-Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette
Salsa Roja
Southwest Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
Tangy Honey Mustard Sauce
Tangy Mustard Sauce
Tartar Sauce

Breakfast:
Breakfast Steak
Potato Vegetable Blend
Scrambled Eggs

Dessert:
Apple Dippers - no caramel sauce

Beverages:
Coffee
Orange Juice
Soda
Sweet Tea
Water

If you have not already done so, please read the disclaimer information both off to the side and exceptions and disclaimer in this post.

Before going GDSYWP free, I always loved Arbys for their variety in options and flavors. As a GDSYWP-free person, I love their efforts to educate their consumers on their ingredients. They have very detailed information about allergens, nutritional information and ingredients. I feel very good about all the food information that I got there. While dining there, my options are:

Main:
Arby Q - no bun
Corned Beef
Garden Side Salad
Grilled Chicken Fillet Sandwhich - no bun
Jr. Roast Beef Sandwich - no bun
Roast Beef Sandwich - no bun
Roast Turkey
Potato Cakes - may be cooked in oil also used to cook gluten/dairy items
Super Roast Beef Sandwich - no bun

Toppings/Dressings/Sauces:
Arbys Sauce
Barbecue Dipping Sauce
Bronco Berry Dipping Sauce
Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Horsey Sauce
Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Raspberry Vinaigrette
Red Wine Vinegaratte
Sauerkraut
Spicy Brown Honey Mustard Sauce
Spicy 3-Pepper Sauce
Tangy Southwest Sauce
Tartar Sauce
Thousand Island Sauce
Tortilla Strips
Marinara Sauce

Beverages:
Coffee
Orange Juice
Soda
Sweet Tea
Water

If you have not already done so, please read the disclaimer information both off to the side and exceptions and disclaimer in this post.

When eating at a fast food restaurant as a GDSYWP-free person, my first choice is Wendys. Wendys offers plenty of variety and, at least from their website, seem educated about us Gluten Free people (they have a GF options list). While dining there, my options are:

Main:
Chili
1/4 lb. Hamburger - no bun
Fries - may be cooked in oil also used to cook gluten items
Jr. Hamburger - no bun
Single with Everything - no bun
Mandarin Chicken Salad - no crispy noodles, no oriental sesame dressing
Plain Baked Potato (can add broccoli and chili)
Side Salad
Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich - no bun

Toppings/Dressings/Sauces:
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Barbecue Nugget Sauce
Dill Pickles
Fat Free French Style Dressing
Fat Free Ranch Dressing
Italian Vinaigrette
Honey Mustard Sauce
Honey Mustard Nugget Sauce
Hot Chili Seasonings Packet
Ketchup
Lettuce
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Onion
Sweet and Sour Nugget Sauce
Tomato

Dessert:
Mandarin Orange Cup

Beverages:
Coffee
Hot Tea
Lemonade
Soda
Sweet Tea
Water

Fast Food? That is GDSYWP-free? Yeah, not so much.

But, in our fast food craving country, it is inevitable. We will have to eat at a fast food restaurant at SOME point in our lives. We can try to avoid it as much as possible, but it will happen eventually. In an effort to make it somewhat bearable, I have compiled a list of GDSYWP-free foods - with some exceptions. And will be sharing this list with you over the next 2 weeks.

In addition to my usual disclaimer off to the side, I will add here that eating at ANY fast food joint as a food intolerant person is NOT a good idea. It is not preferred and, as with any time one eats out, there is always the potential for cross-contamination and unknown additives. These are options that are right for my body, but not necessarily yours. I strongly urge you to do your own research before dining at any of these establishments in order to make the right choice for your lifestyle - I am not responsible for any results of your eating out according to this list. Now, that being said, based on the information given on the company websites as of September, 2008, this is what I would deem to be the "better" options at these locations.

Again, cross-contamination is highly possible, and I had to make some ingredient allowances. Although I try to avoid GDSYWP item in their entirety at home, I have allowed for a few products at these locations in order to have anything to put on these lists. These items MAY contain soybean oil, soy lecithin and autolyzed yeast extract. Personally, I have found these particular ingredients to be somewhat tolerable to my body. So, on the VERY rare occasion (seriously, only once since going on this diet 8 months ago) that I eat fast food, I allow for them. If I didn't, I wouldn't be able to eat anything there!

With all that said, I will be giving my personal options for:
Wendys
Arbys
In-N-Out
McDonalds
Burger King
Chick-Fil-A
Chipotle
Subway
Five Guys