Celiac Disease – Can I Eat at Any Restaurant? Can I Eat at a Restaurant That Does Not Have GF Labeled Options?
After I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I ate at any restaurant I wanted to. I thought a gluten-free diet wasn’t so bad, and ate foods I thought were safe to eat. However, I was unaware of what cross-contact was and how it affected my body.
It didn’t take long before I learned what cross-contact was because of how sick I felt after eating out. I quickly learned that the tortilla chips that I was ordering while eating out were very toxic for my body and gut health, and the main cause of my ongoing celiac disease symptoms.
After researching how cross-contact affected celiac disease patients, I stopped eating out. I lived in a small town at the time and the nearest safe gluten-free restaurant (P.F. Chang’s) was 35-40 minutes away, and made the drive every so often. I was able to find safe restaurants here and there that were at least one hour away.
As someone who enjoys weekend dates at a local restaurant, this was difficult for me. Social events and date nights were decreased. I wanted to meet up with friends at a nearby restaurant without having to plan a 40-mile trip, or pick up a to-go order and have a date night at home on a Friday night.
Fortunately, I have become a research expert to ensure I am still able to make it to restaurant reservations.
So, Can I Eat at a Restaurant That Does Not Have GF Labeled Options?
Here is the rundown regarding celiac disease and dining out.
You do not necessarily need to miss out on the plans your friends, family, or date made at non-gluten-free restaurants. Typically, I try to eat at restaurants I know are safe, and still do find myself skipping out on a meal while at a social event. Occasionally, I do eat at restaurants that do not have gluten-free labeled options, especially when I am traveling and do not have any other options.
If there is a restaurant that does have gluten-free options but the options are very limited, this is still a good sign because it means they are aware of gluten allergies and celiac disease and are willing to accommodate. This might also mean they have more options that are not labeled gluten-free that they can modify.
Factors to Consider
There are factors that may help you determine whether a restaurant is safe to eat at for celiacs. It is always important to use your best judgment and eat at places you feel are safe enough for you.
Here are a few things to consider when finding a gluten-free restaurant for celiac disease patients.
How Sensitive You Are to Gluten
If you have been diagnosed with celiac disease, you are probably aware of the effects that it has on your body and how badly it can damage your small intestine. A small crumb can lead to further damage and symptoms.
Because of the damage and symptoms that may come with eating out, I am cautious about eating at places I have never been to before. However, this is not always the case. I personally know several other celiac disease patients — one that has a high tolerance to gluten and the other that does not.
My friend that has a high tolerance to gluten can pretty much eat anywhere without experiencing celiac disease symptoms. Of course, she still sticks to a gluten-free diet, researches the restaurant prior to going, and informs the restaurant about her concerns. If there is a restaurant that does not have a gluten-free menu, she still orders and ensures the ingredients do not contain wheat. While she still keeps cross-contact in mind, so far, she has not had any reactions. There have most likely been times when cross-contact is inevitable, but since her tolerance to gluten is quite high, she takes the risk.
If I have a high gluten intolerance as a celiac does this mean I am not damaging my small intestine as much?
If I am ok after cross-contact as a celiac, does this mean gluten doesn’t affect me as bad as someone who is highly sensitive to gluten?
Studies have shown that regardless of the case, if you are a celiac disease patient, once gluten is absorbed, it will affect your body one way or another. There are many celiac disease patients that have little to no symptoms that test positive for celiac disease. These cases are known as silent celiac disease.
On the other hand, I have a friend that also has celiac disease that has a very low tolerance to gluten and must eat at a restaurant that either has a completely separate area for gluten-free food, or a restaurant that is 100% gluten-free. He has learned that any small piece of gluten will largely affect him and his body and it is best for him to strictly stick to a gluten-free diet.
When searching for a gluten-free restaurant and considering cross-contact, it is up to you to decide whether or not it is worth the risk. Also, consider how often you eat at a risky restaurant and how damaged your body is from previous years of eating gluten. (Before diagnosis).
When You Were Diagnosed with Celiac Disease
When I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I was informed that my small intestine was extremely inflamed. Upon researching, I learned that it may take years for it to fully recover after starting a gluten-free diet. After being diagnosed with celiac disease, I stuck with a very strict gluten-free diet for some time before attempting to eat out at restaurants that weren’t 100% gluten-free. This is an important factor to consider because you do not want to be contributing to a problem that can turn into something much worse.
How Often You Eat Out
If you have celiac disease and eat at restaurants often that are likely to result in cross-contact, it is important to make your best judgment when deciding where to eat. Gradually, cross-contact can also lead to bigger issues and can result in celiac disease symptoms.
How to Choose a Restaurant with Celiac Disease / Ordering at a Restaurant with Celiac Disease
The safest restaurant to eat at if you have celiac disease is one that is 100% gluten-free. Otherwise here are tips to follow when choosing a restaurant to eat at if you have celiac disease:
Call ahead
Call the restaurant ahead of time and ask them if they have a gluten-free menu or gluten-free options. You will most likely receive an answer right away if they say something like “Let me check” or “Let me ask.” This means the restaurant does not take extra precautions for allergies and celiac disease because it would’ve been something discussed upon hiring each employee.
Research the restaurant and reviews
Of course, you should always research a restaurant if you are concerned about gluten-free food options and cross-contact. Read comments regarding the experiences of celiac disease patients. There are plenty of review websites to utilize such as Yelp, and Google. There is also an app called Find Me Gluten Free that will allow you to search gluten-free restaurants in the area and review what previous customers are saying about gluten-free options and their experience while eating at a specific restaurant as a celiac disease patient.
Request a gluten-free menu and ask questions
Even if I already know that a restaurant does not have a gluten-free menu, I will still ask for one to inform my server how important it is for me to eat gluten-free. I will ask many questions pertaining to their menu and ingredients.
Consider cross-contact
Always ask how items are prepared in a non-gluten-free kitchen and the precautions the restaurant takes for food allergies. Consider if it is worth it to risk cross-contact.
Ask for a glove change and food accommodations
It will never hurt to ask your server if the food preparer can wash their hands and change their gloves. Chances are, they will do so to ensure there are no reactions caused by the food in their restaurant. Additionally, ask to remove any food items that are in your order to avoid gluten exposure and cross-contact.
Flag your order as a gluten allergy
If you ask your server to flag your order as a gluten allergy, they will most likely inform the cook who will take extra precautions while preparing your food. Furthermore, it intensifies the importance of your concerns and demands.
Ensure your order is repeated
Once you have placed an order, make sure your server repeats the order back to you. This allows the server to remember and acknowledge your gluten-free requests and allows you to check if they took note of your gluten allergy.
Read the environment
Oftentimes you can read the environment of the restaurant to get a better understanding of their food options, how they prepare their food, and if they take food allergies into consideration and cautiously prepare the flagged orders.
Overview
Can I eat at any restaurant if I have celiac disease? The short, yet simple answer is — yes, but you must be aware of the risks, order cautiously, and understand the signs and symptoms of your own body.
I try not to eat at restaurants that seem unaware of what gluten is. When put in a situation where I do not have an option but to eat at a specific restaurant (while traveling) I make sure I thoroughly explain my situation and expectations.
At the end of the day, it is up to you to decide whether or not a restaurant is safe for your or if it may lead to celiac disease complications.
