Eating Out

I have been out to a birthday lunch today and I have another tomorrow. This is highly unusual for me to have two restaurant lunches in one week, let alone two days running. I seldom eat out because of all my food intolerances and a couple of allergies.

I am possibly coeliac, but definitely gluten intolerant. I am also intolerant of milk casein (protein) and lactose (not sure about the latter.) As well, I am intolerant of high levels of salicylates, amines, glutamates, MSG, preservatives and colourings, especially the azo (cold tar) dyes with which they colour medications. The RPAH in Sydney has a whole unit devoted to helping people with food allergies and intolerances.

My beef with restaurants is that they believe the crap in newspapers that intolerances are fashions. They are real and I suffer badly if I ignore them. As a nutritionist, I know that people who are gluten intolerant are also intolerant of dairy products. If you are intolerant of gluten and salicylates, it is almost certain you are intolerant to the rest of the list above. Intolerance is an immune disorder. There are plenty of GF options in restaurants and cafes, but then I find they are full of dairy products. The other thing I become angry about is that I am refused when I ask for the salmon ( a common GF option with a different side dish, because the salad and sauce is full of salicylates, amines, glutamates and probably preservatives or nasty antioxidants.

Today, I asked for a small serve of sweet potato chips alongside my salmon because the salad on offer was full of items I cannot eat. I was refused. Should I have paid nearly $30 to be served one small piece of grilled salmon? I decided to have a bowl of the sweet potato fries and an almond milk hot chocolate along with a sweet (every option contained dairy). I asked for my almond milk to be extra hot. It wasn’t! Why do they serve a marshmallow that contains gluten to a person with intolerances? Do the waitresses not think?