I need help with restaurants

[neoitvaluocsol]

I was just wondering if anyone had suggestions for when you go out to eat. I've been finding it incredibly hard to do this without eating something i shouldn't. Like the other day I thought I ordered a safe pasta dish but there was balsamic vinegar on it for decoration (even though I asked the waiter if they marinated the chicken with vinegar cause I can't eat it), I ended up giving half my dish to my husband.

In general I feel like a hermit now. When friends ask me to go out to eat with them I never feel comfortable going cause I have such a hard time ordering.. or I usually just get vanilla ice cream and feel guilty for eating icecream for a meal...

[ICNDonna]

If the restaurant serves breakfast all day, that's what I order --- it's my favorite anyhow. Other safe things are grilled meats (be sure to ask them not to use seasonings), baked potato with the toppings on the side, salad with no tomato and no dressing, bread with butter.

Donna

[SharonA]

I find that the going and being with friends is so much more important than the eating. Sometimes I just order water and enjoy the conversation and my friends while they eat.

For other reasons besides IC, I cannot eat most food at Italian places. I usually eat before I go and ask for bread without garlic and a plain green salad (no dressing).

Along with Donna's suggestions, I would also add that a plain baked potato with butter on the side is available at most restaurants as a choice. I order that a lot. I also ask the waiter to make sure I get a big one as that is all I am going to eat.

[neoitvaluocsol]

Thanks for the ideas.

I think I have lots of problems, since I have lots of asian friends, and well most asian foods are just no-nos(but I love asian food).

[purpletomorrow]

I have to steer the event to restaurants I can eat in; no Indian or Chinese or Italian.

I always order a small steak with no seasonings on it, and a huge salad dressed specially for me with only olive oil; no vinegar, no lemon, no balsamic.

I always get dessert to treat myself for not being able to eat all the other good stuff. They usually have a nice dessert that won't hurt me.

Hope this helps.

Laura

[Goldfinch]

Neo, I sympathize. Giving up Asian food was really the hardest for me. I love Vietnamese food, especially all those lime-based salads and pickled things. And I was cooking a lot of stir-frys with soy sauce. I did discover that I could still make an adequate stir-fry by upping the amount of garlic and ginger, but not all ICers can tolerate that.

I find that some Italian restaurants aren't so bad as long as they have simple grilled meats or fish. And if you can handle a little salty cheese, risotto can be an IC friendly choice, and sometimes a very soothing meal. I'm not a big fan of pesto, but many ICers find that's a good alternative to red sauces on pasta. It also has a fair amount of cheese usually, though, so if you are sensitive to parmesan or other hard strong cheeses that might not work. Also, you can always ask for simple buttered pasta, and if the restaurant serves polenta, that's also a good choice, and for most people, something a little different if you are sick and tired of rice.

[Jessica9379]

I know its boring - but most asian restaurants have steamed entrees on their menu. I sometimes get steamed chicken, steak or shrimp with mixed veggies and they can usually whip up a dipping sauce to your preferences.

[77amy]

I find that the garlic options at asian restaurants are usually fine with me. There is a vietnamese dish that is beef, onion, garlic, carrots, lettuce (served with a vinegar & peanut topping that I don't use) that works for me. Yakisoba noodle dishes at Japanese. Also, alfredo sauce or pesto don't bother me at Italian restaurants. But these might bother some people - I know different people w/ I.C. have different sensitivies.

I find Greek food to be the best i.c. option. Just stay away from the salad dressing, the olives, and find out what marinades are. The last time I had a flare, I used hummus or pesto as a condiment on everything.

[Briza]

A few usually safe for me restaurant meals:

Always a big glass of water...if I know the restaurant has poor quality water and/or ice I bring my own cold bottled water
Occasionally an apple juice w/ lots of ice (I water it down w/ extra H20) or rootbeer w/ lots of ice

For breakfast:
Eggs, hashbrowns, refried beans, corn or flour tortilla or dry toast or grilled biscuit
oatmeal w/ raisins, milk, toast

Lunch:
Dry burger w/ veggies I can tolerate and FF
Dry cheeseburger w/ veggies I can tolerate and FF or OR
Grilled chicken sandwich usually ok for me

Dinner
Typical American style dinner of a meat, potato or rice, and a veggie and green salad w/ olive oil is almost always safe for me...just have to be very clear with the waiter that I will send food back if not cooked to order! Examples include seafood, beef, or chicken...grilled, broiled, steamed, baked, pan-seared... (w/ no more than oil, salt & pepper for seasoning ...tho I can tolerate garlic and garlic powder just fine)
w/ steamed or sauteed plain veggies and baked potato w/ real butter sour cream and chives (sour cream and chives might not be ok for everyone). or rice;
green salad

I can tolerate pasta, pesto, alfredo sauce, but not marinara sauce.

I love Vietnamese...spring rolls are ok for me.

[ErinM]

For other reasons besides IC, I cannot eat most food at Italian places. I usually eat before I go and ask for bread without garlic and a plain green salad (no dressing).



I thought garlic was okay for IC? I have been using it a lot since a lot of other spices and seasonings are no no's. Could this be exacerbating my flare?

[Mrs. Peel]

I'm getting ready to give German cuisine a try, see if I can avoid the black pepper and pickles they are so fond of. Dried ginger, nutmeg, not sure what else but at least it's not hot peppers!

[neoitvaluocsol]

I thought garlic was okay for IC? I have been using it a lot since a lot of other spices and seasonings are no no's. Could this be exacerbating my flare?

garlic is ok for me. I know onions can be a problem for some people.


Anyway thanks for all the amazing suggestions! I went and had breakfast today. It's really nice to have more options.