And the Award for the Worst Dinner Date Goes to...

Did you know that just 24 to 30 milligrams of gluten (about 1/145th of a slice of bread or a crumb) can cause the small intestines of a person with Celiac Disease to become inflamed?  Neither did I!  That is why those crazy people in the books I read to learn more about Celiac Disease were going to extreme measures to prevent accidentally ingesting gluten!  So what does this mean for me?  Well for one thing it means that eating out is extremely difficult.  I have learned that even though it embarrasses me to make a big deal to other people about what I eat, I have to do it for my safety and health.  So a typical meal out with me goes like this...

First of all, I determine where the group goes.  This is difficult sometimes because I don't want to always have to make the decisions, but unfortunately at least until they get an idea of where I can eat, I have to decide.  Next, I spend time on the Internet looking up the menu of the restaurant.  Some restaurants have a gluten free menu, but I have to watch because even restaurants don't always understand Celiac Disease, so they put fried items on their menu or mix together flour and corn in their tortillas.  Finally, if I am able to determine something I can eat, then off we go to the restaurant   When we get to the restaurant, I have to be very open about what I need.  For example, at any buffet or a place like Moe's or Chipotle, I have to ask the servers to wash their hands and change their gloves.  Sometimes I even have to ask for new serving utensils.  The servers are generally either extremely understanding or they roll their eyes and act like I am an extreme pain.  (Hence why I really dislike having to make a big deal out of it.)  Now you may be wondering why they have to change their gloves and/or utensils.  Someone with Celiac Disease can get sick with just a bread crumb.  So what if the server had bread crumbs on his/hand and then fixed my meal and it fell in?  Or what if they used the same utensil to pick up the breaded chicken (which may have left a crumb on the utensil) and then picked up my grilled chicken with the same utensil?  Crazy, huh!  Now if we go to a sit down restaurant, then I have to explain to the waiter/waitress what I need.  For example, one meal I have ordered is "I would like the Mahi Mahi tacos but since I can't have the tacos, I need you to put it in a salad.  Oh and please do not put croutons on the salad.  And since the side is fried french fries, then I need you to switch that out with a side of fruit."  (FYI...since most things that are fried are breaded with flour, I can't order anything fried unless I am 100% sure that it will be cooked in a fryer dedicated to only gluten free items.)  After the food arrives, I have to re-ask about what is on my plate and how it was prepared to ensure that it was prepared properly.  When I have finally finished the meal and I get the check, usually my pocketbook suffers.  Many restaurants charge $3 to $10 per entree/appetizer more to order something gluten free.  (So after reading this, when do you want to go out to eat with me?  Lol!)

You think eating out makes for a sticky situation, just imagine what it is like when I go to an event when food is provided like a meeting or party...