Six Steps to Safe Gluten-Free Dining

1. Find a restaurant that can accommodate gluten-free meals. Many restaurants are very familiar with gluten-free meals or have a gluten-free menu. If you are new to gluten-free dining, stick to a restaurant where you don’t have to explain yourself.  Find a list of gluten-free restaurants.

2. Do your homework ahead of time. Call ahead and speak with the chef or a manager to see if the restaurant can accommodate your needs. Also review the menu online and have an idea before you arrive at the restaurant about what is safe to eat.

3. Call ahead and ask if you can bring pasta or bread with you to the restaurant. Many restaurants will allow you to bring in bread or pasta if they do not have any available. The proper etiquette is to call ahead and ask, and to bring in only unopened packages. If the restaurant is making pasta for you, make sure they are using clean pasta water, a clean pot and a non-contaminated colander to drain the pasta.

4. Purchase or download a gluten-free dining card. At websites such as celiactravel.com, you can download and print cards to be given to restaurant staff to explain the gluten-free diet to ensure a safe meal. You can even get the cards in multiple languages for dining in ethnic restaurants if a chef speaks little English, or for traveling abroad.

5. Speak to the proper personnel. When you go to place your order, ask to speak to the manager or chef. These are the two people who are ultimately responsible for your safety. Either one should be able to tell you about the menu and your gluten-free options.

6. Thank the restaurant and spread the word about your dining experience. If you had a good one, make sure to thank the chef and manager and let others in the gluten-free community know about your positive experience.—Jen Cafferty