Restaurants can be a particularly tricky part of adjusting to gluten free diet lifestyle. More and more restaurants are offering wheat gluten free options and there are some new restaurants popping up, mostly in big cities, that are completely gluten allergy friendly. For those with a gluten allergy that don’t have a restaurants nearby that gluten free diet options, there are several things to keep in mind to keep dining out easier.
Salads are always a safe option. Many people who are new to the gluten free diet haven’t explored salad options before and are surprised to see how many variations most restaurants offer. Make sure to ask about both the dressing and the possibility of croutons to make sure each salad is wheat gluten free.
Soups also tend to be gluten free. The only things to watch out for when it comes to soups are cream based soups that have been thickened with wheat flour and soups that may use textured or hydrolyzed vegetable protein as flavoring. Both these additions must be avoided by those with a gluten allergy.
With desserts, it is best to opt for offerings that are flowerless, whether this be rich baked goods such as flourless cakes and flan or frozen desserts such as ice cream.
The most important thing when going out to eat is to keep in mind that, for most people, a little gluten here and there won’t damage the intestinal tract or cause an allergic reaction. A lifestyle that is gluten free overall will not be significantly altered by trace amounts of gluten that might slip into even the most carefully selected restaurant food.