Uncovering a Gluten Free Meal In A Fast Food Restaurant Made From Gluten Free Recipes

Uncovering a gluten free meal in a fast food restaurant. We all know that eating at a fast food restaurant is not the healthiest choice. Sometimes time and circumstances give you no other choice. The question then arises which food are the best choice. Many fast food restaurants have food choices which are good for any diet.

Each restaurant usually has a brochure that they either have posted in the restaurant or is made available to their customer. In it there is information about calorie content, the nutrients of each item on the menu, and contents of the products served. Keep this in mind the next time you are faced with a decision.

Many of us have our favorite fast food restaurants and probably have a list of favorite items from them. The newly diagnosed intolerant person may become overwhelm the first time she eats out. It would be a good idea to keep a small notebook or list on hand for those occasions when fast food is the restaurant of choice.

The key to successful eating in fast food restaurants is knowing the food. Each fast food restaurant is usually owned as a franchise and the cooking rules for food vary dramatically from one establishment to the other. You need to do you due diligence and check to make sure that the food is not cross-contaminated in the preparation or cooking process. If you are unsure you should ask if designated cookers and fryers are reserved for cooking certain types of food. You may unwilling consume food which has been cooked in a fryer that was used to cook breaded chicken or fish and then used to fry potatoes, but gets cross-contaminated.

You have the right as a customer and consumer to know how and where you food in prepared. In fast food restaurants employing teenagers, the basic rule is that the customer will have a visible view of the food preparation area. Since most fast food restaurants employ teen the law requires you to have a clear view of the food prep area.

Here are a few example of fast food restaurant menus which can easily provide you with a fast meal. Perhaps not the tastiest but at least meeting diet restrictions, allowing you to dine with friends and family for a quick meal.

Arby's

The meats and cheeses are all gluten free with the exception of the crispy chicken fillets and patties. The breading contains gluten. The roast turkey with a side salad when you choose the light Italian, Digon honey mustard, buttermilk or balsamic vinaigrette.

As far as breakfast the scrambled egg patty with bacon or sausage are perfect. Strawberry yogurt dip and apples, or Jamocha shakes all make good choices. The potatoes cakes and fries are gluten free but check to make sure there is a designated fryer.

McDondald's

There is no celiac diet menu at McDonald's and the fryer is used to wheat containing foods, and the oil itself contains wheat derivatives. There are some healthy foods like the apple dippers with low fat caramel are withing the restriction of the diet. The walnuts in the fruit and walnut snack are coated with a wheat containing mixture. The only recipe used for chicken is the grilled fillet but it does have soy lecithin which may cause reactions in people problems. The ice cream and all of the Newman Salad dressing meet restrictions except the sesame ginger flavor.

Taco Bell

There is the choice of beans and rice, rice and cheesy nachos, steak nachos, chips and salsa, the Cantina bowl (Marinate chicken in citrus-herb, black beans, guacamole, pico de gallo with cilantro dressing all over rice). It is available in a veggie version and well as steak version.

A word of caution, the nacho chips state that they are made on common equipment.

Wendy's

Wendy's selections includes all of their baked potato selections, chili, the smoked bacon hamburger patty, the ultimate chicken grill fillet, salad (no croutons), frosty shakes and apple slices. Local restaurants may have separate fryers for French fries and some of their food may come in contact with wheat-containing foods.

Always check with each restaurant to make sure the server knows that you need a wheat free diet. Explain the situation and how cross-contamination to your food will effect your health. Most restaurant chain have alternative choices of foods for special diets, it is your responsibility to make sure the food you order is the food you actually are getting. Double check with you server before eating the food and have them double check with the cook to make sure it was prepared in an environment where cross-contamination will not occur.

Some restaurant have designated deep fryers for batterless cooking. If this is the case potatoes and other foods can be easily prepared while avoiding cross-contamination. You can rest assured your food had been made the way your body needs it.

A LIst of Friendly Restaurant Chains

Arby's

Bob Evan's

Bonefish Grill

Boston Market

Buffalo Wild Wings

Burger King

Checker's

Chick fil a

Chilis Grill and Bar

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chuck E. Cheese

Einstein Bros. Bagel

Hardee's/Carl Junior's

Jack In The Box

Little Caesar's

Lone Star Steakhouse

Long Horn Steakhouse

Mac Donald's

Noodle's and Company

O'Charley's

On The Border Mexican Grill

Olive Garden

Outback Steakhouse

P.F. Chang's China Bistro

Pizza Hut

Red Robin

Romanos Macaroni Grill

Sonic

Subway

Taco Bell

TGI Friday

Wendy's

Always check for yourself to be safe before consuming food in one of these restaurants. Not all restaurants prepare their food to the same standards and you always run the risk of a server or cook that does not understand how gluten intolerance affects you. A free downloadable ebook is available from Free Guide as a guide safe eating in restaurants.

Always be ready for a gluten free salad with individual packet that can be easily carried with you for those emergencies when gluten free food is not available.