I hope you don't mind if I add you to my friends list. I am coming to grips with the extent of a soy allergy and in all my various communities, you seem to know so much about dealing with soy and various other allergies. Also you have a lot of similar interests, it seems, so adding you seems like a good idea :)
Do you happen to know if there are any restaurants that are safe to eat at? I know we live in different areas, but perhaps you know of a few safe places where you can have a particular meal out. I love Asian food and now I feel like all my favorite restaurants are just going to poison me.
As far as eating out with a soy allergy? Cross off almost all chains.
As far as Asian food, you can have most sushi, provided it's not eel or anything cooked with a sauce. I eat it plain or ask for rice vinegar. Inari are out, obviously. Thai can be had, if they use soy-free fish sauce and not soy sauce. Indian is safe if they use dairy ghee or corn oil.
Spanish tapas bars are often a good choice. Italian mom and pop restaurants are often a good option.
Otherwise, consider ritzy restaurants. Call ahead (a day or two) and speak to the chef. See if the chef is willing to accomodate your needs.
Bread at most fast food places isn't safe, neither is the meat half the time. Most sauces and salad dressings are off limits. Soy even shows up in cheap sour cream served at places like Wendy's.
If I'm on the road and have to eat, I often get salads (without croutons, bacon bits, or dressing), still-in-the-wrapper baked potatoes, or french fries (from a place that ONLY fries fries in peanut oil). I bring my own salad dressing, butter, cheese, etc.
Now, if you don't have additional allergies or dietary limitations, you may find that you can get plain meat and unseasoned veggies. Since I have multiple food allergies, a latex allergy, and am vegetarian . . . I've pretty much given up.
Where do you live? Occasionally, one can find a safe restaurant. I have a couple here in town where I can get a meal. One does Italian, the other is Spanish tapas. Oh, and there's a tea house which will serve me a safe meal even when the menu indicates otherwise. When visiting my in-laws, I opt for a certain gluten-free pizza joint or sushi.
I live in the Denver area, and I know there is at least one place that caters to people with food restrictions. I am not sure of the extent of my other issues - wheat seems like a problem, but maybe not too much, and I'm not certain about dairy yet. It's hard to know - I'm keeping a food journal and may have to go back to the dreaded elimination diet to find out.
As for being on the road, do you have any particular fast-food joints that you know are ok? I'm thinking about the fries in particular. I've emailed some of my favorite restaurants and am hoping for the best.
Thanks for reminding me - there is a gluten-free pizza place here :) I appreciate all the advice.
I can't think of any common chains with safe fries. Great Steak & Potato Company, Boardwalk Fries . . . that's about it. And you always have to doublecheck on the peanut oil there--you never know when they'll go nuts and decide to switch to soy. In VA/MD/DC, Five Guys Burgers & Fries can do a safe burger (no bun) and fries.
Some folks with a soybean allergy can have soybean oil, soy lecithin, and soy-derived vitamin E. Some of us react. I'm one of the folks who reacts severely.
Taco Bell used to be pretty safe (other than the meat and soft tortillas), but they no longer are. All of their seasonings and sauces now contain soy. :/ I can get a still-in-the-wrapper-uncut baked potato from Wendy's, but I provide all my own toppings. I carry a small cooler whenever we go on day trips and pack it with butter, cheese, and sour cream. I do sometimes have my hubby order a side of cheese with his chili. I throw the cheese and chili seasoning on my potato, then use my own sour cream (some Wendy's have safe sour cream, some don't).
If you eat meat, watch out for marinated meat. LOTS of meat used in chains is pre-seasoned, usually with soy.
If wheat isn't a problem yet, you might be able to eat at Schlotzky's--I used to eat there all the time. Not everything is soy-free, but a lot is. I'm not sure they have restaurants as far west as you are.
Baja Fresh is pretty much soy-free. Always double check.
Cool! We have Baja Fresh, Great Steak, and Schlotzky's here and I'm fond of them.
Yeah I don't know if I have an issue with soybean oil, yet. Soybean oil causes no immediate problems, but then I don't know if it is causing some long-term inflammation issues that are pretty much ever-present. Bleh.
I should point out that I only ever checked *vegetarian* options at those restaurants. So don't go willy nilly with the meat eating without checking on it first! As of two years ago, I could eat Schlotzky's pizzas (some of them), but a lot can change in two years! I haven't been able to have gluten since late summer 2004, so I haven't really bothered looking for fast food options other than fries.
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rootofnewt
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no subject
Date: 2006-06-27 11:21 pm (UTC)Where in the world did the person who owned it go? I mean, were they in a walker free zone or something?
Weird! :)
no subject
Date: 2006-06-28 03:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-29 12:24 am (UTC)I hope you don't mind if I add you to my friends list. I am coming to grips with the extent of a soy allergy and in all my various communities, you seem to know so much about dealing with soy and various other allergies. Also you have a lot of similar interests, it seems, so adding you seems like a good idea :)
Do you happen to know if there are any restaurants that are safe to eat at? I know we live in different areas, but perhaps you know of a few safe places where you can have a particular meal out. I love Asian food and now I feel like all my favorite restaurants are just going to poison me.
Kate
no subject
Date: 2006-06-29 01:17 am (UTC)As far as eating out with a soy allergy? Cross off almost all chains.
As far as Asian food, you can have most sushi, provided it's not eel or anything cooked with a sauce. I eat it plain or ask for rice vinegar. Inari are out, obviously. Thai can be had, if they use soy-free fish sauce and not soy sauce. Indian is safe if they use dairy ghee or corn oil.
Spanish tapas bars are often a good choice. Italian mom and pop restaurants are often a good option.
Otherwise, consider ritzy restaurants. Call ahead (a day or two) and speak to the chef. See if the chef is willing to accomodate your needs.
Bread at most fast food places isn't safe, neither is the meat half the time. Most sauces and salad dressings are off limits. Soy even shows up in cheap sour cream served at places like Wendy's.
If I'm on the road and have to eat, I often get salads (without croutons, bacon bits, or dressing), still-in-the-wrapper baked potatoes, or french fries (from a place that ONLY fries fries in peanut oil). I bring my own salad dressing, butter, cheese, etc.
Now, if you don't have additional allergies or dietary limitations, you may find that you can get plain meat and unseasoned veggies. Since I have multiple food allergies, a latex allergy, and am vegetarian . . . I've pretty much given up.
Where do you live? Occasionally, one can find a safe restaurant. I have a couple here in town where I can get a meal. One does Italian, the other is Spanish tapas. Oh, and there's a tea house which will serve me a safe meal even when the menu indicates otherwise. When visiting my in-laws, I opt for a certain gluten-free pizza joint or sushi.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-29 04:25 pm (UTC)As for being on the road, do you have any particular fast-food joints that you know are ok? I'm thinking about the fries in particular. I've emailed some of my favorite restaurants and am hoping for the best.
Thanks for reminding me - there is a gluten-free pizza place here :) I appreciate all the advice.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-29 04:41 pm (UTC)Some folks with a soybean allergy can have soybean oil, soy lecithin, and soy-derived vitamin E. Some of us react. I'm one of the folks who reacts severely.
Taco Bell used to be pretty safe (other than the meat and soft tortillas), but they no longer are. All of their seasonings and sauces now contain soy. :/ I can get a still-in-the-wrapper-uncut baked potato from Wendy's, but I provide all my own toppings. I carry a small cooler whenever we go on day trips and pack it with butter, cheese, and sour cream. I do sometimes have my hubby order a side of cheese with his chili. I throw the cheese and chili seasoning on my potato, then use my own sour cream (some Wendy's have safe sour cream, some don't).
If you eat meat, watch out for marinated meat. LOTS of meat used in chains is pre-seasoned, usually with soy.
If wheat isn't a problem yet, you might be able to eat at Schlotzky's--I used to eat there all the time. Not everything is soy-free, but a lot is. I'm not sure they have restaurants as far west as you are.
Baja Fresh is pretty much soy-free. Always double check.
Chipotle is soy-heavy. *shudder*
no subject
Date: 2006-06-29 04:49 pm (UTC)Yeah I don't know if I have an issue with soybean oil, yet. Soybean oil causes no immediate problems, but then I don't know if it is causing some long-term inflammation issues that are pretty much ever-present. Bleh.
Thank you! You've been very helpful.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-29 04:56 pm (UTC)