Whether it’s day-to-day life, or you happen to be on your travels, dining out with dietary requirements is hardly easy. Sure, more and more restaurants are starting to take this seriously and in relation to gluten-free diets, an increase in the number of people affected with this has certainly meant that many have sensed an opportunity for profit.
However, while you might stumble across a restaurant that caters for the gluten intolerant, there’s more to the condition than this. Through the course of today’s post, we’ll take a look at some of the best tips for those of you who are gluten intolerant, and need to manage the condition away from the comfort of your own home.
Touristic areas can be your best friend
Some people, usually of the non-tourist variety, are quick to quash these areas. However, when it comes to sticking to a strict diet, there’s no doubt that the foodie areas of the city can become your best friend.
These are the areas which tend to have chains, as well as some of the best restaurants in the city. This tends to mean that there are a lot more gluten free menus in the vicinity, and this is of course priceless.
It’s not always about the first menu you see
Something else about dining out with a gluten intolerance is that you should never be afraid to question the menu you have been given. While more and more restaurants are listing their gluten free dishes on their main menu, this doesn’t occur everywhere. In fact, some won’t even list some items at all. A common example is bread and if you are offered this as an appetizer, don’t be afraid to ask if they have a gluten free option available.
Plan your snacks
This might be something of a cumbersome task, but if you can get used to the process of planning your snacks there’s no doubt that life on a gluten-free diet becomes all the more easier.
Over time, you start to understand just how your stomach reacts to your daily routine. In other words, you know when it starts to get hungry, and you can act accordingly. If you don’t carry any snacks, as a celiac, there can be occasions where you just don’t have options available to you. Unfortunately, you can’t pick up a pack of biscuits – unless they have that saving GF label.
This means you need to plan from the get-go. Carry small gluten free snacks with you, and ensure that you’re not tempting to dabble in any potentially dangerous foods as you go about your day. It’s also important to carry out additional research if you’re unsure about something. For example, a popular question we get: is coffee gluten free? While most would assume it is, the answer is a lot more complex than meets the eye. Always carry out your own research when planning your gluten free food list.
Make sure you question everything
You may have stumbled across some street food, which has been verified as being completely gluten free. However, when you reach for the condiments, this is where problems occur. Some brands of mayonnaise for example can contain wheat flour and as we all know, this is a recipe for disaster. As such, don’t be afraid to question everything that is handed to you.
