Sunday, January 9, 2011

Fast food

I found it best to choose just a few things to memorize so I would know what I could eat in a pinch on the run. For me Wendy’s is my go to place. It has many healthy choices. I learned my favorites and stick to them. It is always good to periodically do a web search for your favorite stop’s gluten-free menu.

Pick a few items and know them well, so when you suddenly find yourself needing food quick, you won’t panic. It is usually when you least expect it, that you find yourself in need of grabbing a quick fast food meal.

Wendy’s- chili, baked potatoes, frosty, hamburger patty or chicken breast, Caesar salad without croutons, SW taco salad, Baja salad, and lots of dressing choices such as: Avocado ranch, classic ranch, creamy red jalapeno, lemon garlic Caesar.

Taco bell- tostado, cheesy nachos, nachos, pintos n' cheese, mexican rice, guacomole.

Subway - several salads are available, most dressings (except the Atkins), plain chicken strips, eggs, omelets, ham and cold cuts, all cheese. Subway is testing a gluten-free roll and brownie in select Texas markets.

Chick-fil-a - grilled chicken salad (no sunflower seeds or croutons, but you can get the tortilla strips instead), and waffle fries.

McDonald’s – Eggs, bacon, hamburger patty, maybe Hashbrowns and fries*. Caesar salad without the chicken.

*Fries – Burger King Fries are fine if cooked in a dedicated fryer. It is still a controversy as to whether or not McDonald’s fries are gluten-free. Many celiacs eat them without a problem even though there is supposedly a very small amount of wheat protein used during processing. McDonald’s fries have been tested and found to be gluten-free.

Eating out is always risky, especially at a fast food restaurant. Don't expect the workers to have any clue what gluten is, not even the managers. If you're careful and only order things that are gluten-free you have a decent chance of not getting sick.

Ask the workers to change gloves before touching your food, and request that they clean the area of the grill they will be using for your food.

Periodically check to make sure ingredients have not changed.