Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Crab Legs And/or Other Fish?

jmengert

By jmengert
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

jmengert Enthusiast
jmengert
Posted

This will be my first time I have travelled far from home since going gluten-free. I'm going to the Outer Banks/VA Beach area over Easter and wondered if I can pretty much guarantee that crab legs would be gluten-free, as long as I bring my own butter (would I have to bring my own butter?). Any thoughts on that? Or, thoughts on other seafood or easy restaurant options to be gluten-free? (baked potatoes, salads, etc.)

Thanks for any help anyone may have!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


MySuicidalTurtle Enthusiast
MySuicidalTurtle
Posted

Fish and seafood is usually gluten-free aslong as it's plain and you talk to the staff so they know to be careful. Salads are usually never gluten-free.

Good luck on your trip! Don't be shy and make sure you get what you want and stay healthy!

pixiegirl Enthusiast
pixiegirl
Posted

Well in a round about way, I've been dealing with this issue for years even though I just went gluten-free in Sept. 2004. My daughter has peanut and tree nut allergies (life threatening) and on top of that, is a picky eater. My daughter and I have traveled extensively and we have never had a problem with her food so now that I am gluten-free I am doing the same thing for myself as I do with her.

The only sort of restaurant we've had problems in are big chain places so unless you know they are gluten-free friendly (like PF Changs, McD or Outback) I'd stay away from them, but in small mom and pop places or nice places with a "chef"... or local joints I just tell the manager and waiter that my daughter has life threatening food allergies and that we need her food cooked plain. I'd pick something off the menu that she liked (salmon, chicken, etc) and tell them to just grill it, no sauce, no seasonings and they are happy to. When they hear the words "life threatening" they listen.

Now when I'm out on my own, I don't usually say "life threatening" (unless I feel they are not listening to well) but I do say I have food allergies and I need my food done a certain way. I have not had any problems getting my food grilled plainly, a baked potato, steamed or sauted veggies. I react to gluten very obviously so I know when/if they screw up and its only happened once and that was at Outback (sadly).

In good restaurants I usually go thru the song and dance about gluten because they have a chef and they know what's in their food, sauces etc. I was in Mortons in Houston a few weeks ago and I actually had the sauces and such because the chef assured me that he would never us flour to thicken a sauce, he made it perfectly clear they are reduced and thickened by cooking them down. They really went out of their way for me and even our server was very nice. She asked if we'd even like bread at our table (my boyfriend is not gluten-free, so yes he wants the bread). On the steak I had he didn't want to use Morton's seasoning but seasoned it with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. It was a wonderful meal.

Susan

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

Steamed, boiled or broiled seafood should almost without exception be safe. Ask about their spices, usually there's no reason in the world to eat it plain. If you're in a place that uses Old Bay or Zatarain's, both are gluten-free.

richard

angel-jd1 Community Regular
angel-jd1
Posted
Salads are usually never gluten-free.

I'm curious what you mean by this?? Salads are just veggies. Request that croutons be left off. Bring your own dressing. Couldn't get any easier.

-Jessica :rolleyes:

rmmadden Contributor
rmmadden
Posted

When I go on business trips I get the hotel to put a mini-fridge in my room (if one isn't already included) and I visit the local health food store. That way I stock-up on safe foods to eat.

When dining out remember to ask a lot of questions. Do the mashed potato's include chicken broth? Do crutons or garlic bread come on the salad? If you are diligent you can enjoy yourself without getting "Glutened"

Good Luck!

Cleveland Bob :)

VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator
VegasCeliacBuckeye
Posted

"Salads are usually never gluten-free"

Not true...

Just ask for no croutons and oil/vinegar on the side.....easy!

Or got to the store and buy one of Annie's dressings ( I like the Green Garlic) -- she has like 30 salad dressings that are gluten-free -- it says it on the back!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


MySuicidalTurtle Enthusiast
MySuicidalTurtle
Posted

Any place I have been to (and I travel a lot) has said that they could not claim thier salads to be glutenfree. Even Outback needs to mix them in a clean bowl. I have been many to places with glutenfree menus too whose salads are not gluten-free. Just from my experience, I have only found one place that had an already gluten-free salad without preparing it differently.

I should ave said to make sure you ASK if their salads are gluten-free rather than ASSUME they are.

Richard is right about Old Bay. . .mmmm, I love it!

VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator
VegasCeliacBuckeye
Posted

Turtle,

The problem usually lies in the "bowls" they mix the salds in.

If you order your dressing on the side -- they will not touch the contaminated "bowls"

I have never heard of a problem with Red Wine/Balsamic Vineagar and Olive oil on the side -- 99% of restaurants have little cruets you pour on yourself.

This is assuming we are talking about vegetable salads without meat or deli meat.

MySuicidalTurtle Enthusiast
MySuicidalTurtle
Posted

I really don't know what you are talking about, broncobux.

I always ask to speak to the proper people when I am looking at what to order and am usually told that they "cannot guarantee" their salads to be gluten-free.

I don't eat animals so veggies are the way I like to go and I don't really ever eat salad dressing when I travel or am here, unless it is my own.

Other than Outback (which is everywhere) I have only found one place wth a gluten-free menu that had gluten-free salads. I am only talking from my expereinces of traveling about in the US.

VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator
VegasCeliacBuckeye
Posted

Turtle,

I think I am confused by yuor query to the restaurant people.

Being a former waiter for 9 years, I can tell you that nothing in a restaurant can be "guaranteed" gluten-free.

However, if salads are just veggie salads (i.e. lettuce, tomatoes, veggies, etc) and you ask for them to be served "dry" (i.e. no dressing) and you ask for oil/vinegar on the side, I am not sure how gluten could get in your salad. (Obviously, no croutons).

Food is defintiely one of my passions and salads are one of the easiest things in a restaurant to get gluten-free.

BTW, I am not intendening this message to be rude or "matter of factly", I just know from my experience that salads can be served gluten-free easily. :D

MySuicidalTurtle Enthusiast
MySuicidalTurtle
Posted

We just have had very different experiences.

ianm Apprentice
ianm
Posted

I travel a lot for work and have never had a problem with salads. I say no croutons of course. I always request olive oil and balsemic vinegar for dressing and have had no problems. I've never had a problem with shell fish. Just don't eat the breaded stuff. However I am not extra sensitive to gluten. I can take a small accidental gluten bullet once in a while and still function. My energy dips a bit but nothing that really knocks me out. Any gluten residue on a bowl or utensil used to prepare a salad may not be enough to cause a serious reaction for me.

Ianm

jmengert Enthusiast
jmengert
Posted
  • Author

Thanks to everyone for your helpful tips. I used to eat out a lot, prediagnosis, and now I'm so afraid to eat anywhere, so it's nice to know that people have good experiences. Now I can look forward to eating fresh seafood without worrying (well, without worrying too much ;) )

Thanks again!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      129,269
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Shan M
    Newest Member
    Shan M
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.2k
    • Total Posts
      71.6k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      any advice would be helpful

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane07, welcome to the forum! Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies?  Malabsorption of essential nutrients is common in Celiac Disease.  Supplementing with vitamins and minerals that are commonly low in the newly diagnosed can help immensely with recovery.   Vitamin D is frequently low.  Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system and calm it down.  The eight essential B vitamins help repair and maintain our body's health.  Magnesium, calcium, zinc and other minerals are necessary, too.  Vitamin C helps, as well.  Benfotiamine, A form of Thiamine, has been shown to promote intestinal healing. Are you still consuming dairy?  Eliminating dairy may bring some improvements.  Have you tried the low histamine Autoimmune Protocol diet?  Developed by a Celiac, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, the AIP diet can improve symptoms while healing.  
    • knitty kitty
      What would a diagnosis tell me?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome to the forum! A blood test for Celiac looks for the amount of antibodies your body is producing in response to gluten.  An endoscopy looks at the damage done by the antibodies attacking the villi lining the intestines.   When you have a cold or infection, antibodies are made that attack the foreign invader.  In Celiac Disease, our immune system recognizes gluten as a foreign invader and launches antibodies against it.  However, the gluten particles resembles the same structural components in our body cells.  As a result, the anti gluten antibodies attack our own cells, causing damage like flattening villi in the intestines and also potentially attacking vital organs like the thyroid, the pancreas, the brain, and the heart.   Gluten itself does not stay in the body for years.  The anti gluten antibodies stay in the body for years.  Our bodies remember gluten and continue making antibodies against gluten which continue to damage our bodies for years.  Eventually, if not triggered by gluten ingestion for two years or longer, our bodies may go into remission and stop producing the antibodies and thus end the inflammation and damage. You should be afraid.  You should be very afraid.  Consuming gluten accidentally or intentionally can start the while cycle over again from the beginning.  And getting to that state of remission again can take years.   A dietician or a nutritionist can advise you on how to start and sustain a gluten free diet while meeting your nutritional requirements.  We need essential vitamins and minerals to heal and maintain our health.  The gluten free diet can be lacking in essential nutrients unless we eat mindfully.  A nutritionist can teach us which foods will help us meet our nutritional requirements, and help us correct nutritional deficiencies with vitamin and mineral supplements.  
    • cristiana
      UK Member Looking For Help - Recent Test

      By cristiana · Posted

      @LeeRoy83    Hello again.  Picking up on something else you said re: the shock that you may be a coeliac. It may has come as a shock to learn that coeliac disease is a possibility, but if that is the case, although it can be at times a bit of a nuisance not to be able to eat gluten anymore, it has been my experience that most of my friends and acquaintances who have it have adapted to it well, and are thriving.  Although statistically it affects 1 in a 100 people, I know more than that, strangely, so I can see first hand how the diet can make a big difference for most people. In the UK we are blessed with a wonderful selection of gluten free food on sale in the shops, which seems to be ever-increasing, well labelled food packaging making it easier to determine if food contains gluten, a fabulous charity called Coeliac UK who provide a lot of very helpful information, including a gluten free food app and guide that you can take shopping with you, and good follow-up care provided by the NHS.   But that's for another day - IF you have indeed got Coeliac Disease.   Do meet up with your GP, take a list of questions to ask, and then if he wants you to take the coeliac diagnosis a step forward do let us know if we can be of help  - we can walk with you every step of the way. Cristiana
    • trents
      Elimination diet think I may be Gluten tolerant next steps to get tested? Questions

      By trents · Posted

      No. That is, unless the dietician themself has a gluten disorder or is managing a close family member who does and therefore is immersed in it daily so as to be up on the nuances of eating gluten free. Otherwise, they just give you very general information which you can get online.  
    • trents
      UK Member Looking For Help - Recent Test

      By trents · Posted

      Yes, a very cryptic and uninformative lab result report indeed! But it does seem like this is typical for the UK. It's almost like the "professionals" in that healthcare system don't want you to try and figure anything out for yourself.
×
×
  • Create New...