It didn't hit me until after I'd been diagnosed, but eating outside of the comfort of your own kitchen is hard.
You're off on a day trip, and you've been stuck in traffic, so decide to make a pitstop for a snack. The majority of services offer fruit of some description, but aside from that there's generally choice of one packet of crisps (if none), a fizzy drink and a pack of gum. You get to where you're going and it comes to lunch time. There are three places to eat and once again you can have either the fruit plate or a dressing-less salad. When the day is over, you're dreading a long drive home, so you decide to stop at a restaurant. Once again you're coming face to face with a multitude of no-go zones on the menu.
The list goes on.
With difficulty comes nerves; nobody likes worrying about what's safe to eat each time they step out the front door, but it happens, even more so when you're newly-diagnosed. Here's just one of a few of my horror stories:
I went to Nando's with one of my friends. I ordered a meal that I knew was completely safe for me, and I made the manager aware of my condition and allergies. When our meals turned up, my friend had just finished her starter of the amazing red pepper dip (which is served with pitta). I went to top up our drinks - we were both drinking Coke Zero - and somewhere along the way mixed up the two glasses. Needless to say, I ended up sipping from a straw that my friend had used after eating her pitta bread, and before we'd even left, I looked eight months pregnant and was in the bathroom.
It's important to remember that cross-contamination is just as dangerous as eating something directly, but I'm not here to put you off eating out forever. A few tips for eating out in future:
- If you know where you're going beforehand, check online for a menu. Generally if you type '[restaurant name] allergen information', most large franchises will offer you some information so you can be somewhat prepared.
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| Five Guys offers a bun-less burger to help those with coeliac or gluten intolerances |
- When you get to the restaurant, ask if there are any specialised menus available that cater to your needs. Just some of the restaurants that offer gluten-free menus are TGI Fridays, Chiquito and Prezzo. If they don't make sure that staff are well aware of your condition and ask for their advice when it comes to picking something from the menu.
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| Turkish restaurants offer great gluten-free and dairy-free options; everything is grilled and served with lots of salad |
- Don't be afraid to ask questions. Of course you don't want to be that annoying customer, but remember that you're only playing 21 Questions with the waiter because your health is priority. Maybe the chef can offer you an alternative.
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| Some restaurants offer alternatives for special requests; for example, these goujons were made using a gluten-free flour |
- Make sure that the people you eat with completely understand your situation, there's nothing worse than having someone pick from your plate when they've eaten something that can accidentally contaminate you.
The bottom line is eating out can still be possible, and it can still be fun. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt:
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
... and if that just so happens to be Nando's, then order yourself some peri-peri and dine allergen-free.
