FRIENDLY FRIDAY: Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

I was pleasantly surprised during a recent trip to Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. Known for its fried seafood and rich sauces, it has not been the easiest place for me to find allergy friendly options. Well, that is until now. Pappadeaux's now offers a gluten free menu! While that doesn't take care of all my allergies it's a start, and the waiter at our local restaurant was very helpful. The menu was understandably limited, but there were some really tasty options. I had the Jumbo Sea Scallops with Lemon & Herb Olive Oil (since I can't have butter), and they were delicious. If you have any other food allergies be sure to tell your waiter. When it came to dessert, there really are no options on their menu for me (they either have wheat or dairy in them). Thankfully, our waiter was nice enough to put together a wonderful fruit cup for me.

Of course, like it says on the menu, Pappadeaux's prepares all food in a common kitchen so there is always the chance for cross contamination. 

Go Picnic Hummus & Crackers

www.Gopicnic.com

I have heard about (in fact I've even blogged about), but never actually seen Go Picnic products near me... let alone try them... until recently. I have to admit I was giddy to find these in the Houston airport. Knowing I was going to be traveling for a while, I grabbed one to keep in my bag.

Here's what I like about these snack boxes, they're compact, nutritious, and they list all the possible allergens clearly on the side of the box. I tried the Hummus & Crackers. It comes with individual packets of gluten free Multi-Seed Crackers, Wild Garden Hummus, Power Play (roasted edamame, pumpkin seeds, and watermelon seeds), Baja Blend fruit & nut mix (habanera almonds, sweet & salty peanuts, and mango cranberries), and a piece of dark chocolate with sea salt. 

                          






The crackers are tasty and the hummus was delicious. I shared with my brother and sister during my trip and they were both impressed with the hummus. I had never had watermelon seeds and am not a fan of edamame, so I was skeptical of the Power Play mix. Soy beans just have the tendency to leave a gritty texture in my mouth, but these were toasted nicely and I found them at least tolerable. I was pleasantly surprised by the watermelon seeds. They were like delightful little puffs of toasted goodness. Overall, I preferred the Baja Blend to the Power Play. The habanero almonds were spicy but not overpowering, and the peanuts and cranberries balanced out the heat with some sweet. Now, I'm a huge fan of chocolate and of course I loved the dark chocolate with sea salt. It is a very rich chocolate so I wasn't disappointed that there was only one piece. It was just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

I appreciated GoPicnic's easy to stow packaging, and their products are high quality & worth the $5-$6 price tag. I would have easily spent more buying little bags of comparable components. I will definitely be seeking these out again!

FRIENDLY FRIDAY: Texas Roadhouse & Logan's Roadhouse

  

I'll admit I'm a fan of the occasional steak dinner, but since the discovery of my food sensitivities, finding a steakhouse that can accommodate my needs isn't easy. Tonight I did a little research into Logan's and the Texas Roadhouse. My first hurdle is that both establishments offer ridiculously yummy-smelling rolls. It's hard to say no when the smell makes your mouth water. So, for me it's either stay away and resist temptation, shove my mouth full of peanuts while I wait for my meal, or give in and pay the consequences. Not fun, but I have found that I do much better when I have done my research before hand and go in with a plan. I was a bit disappointed by my findings this time.

Texas Roadhouse does not offer a gluten free menu or nutritional information for any of their food (according to their own statements on their website). They claim that it is too difficult to give accurate information like some other outfits because other places use prepackaged food and they make their food from scratch. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure there are other "from scratch" restaurants that are doing a decent job of informing customers about allergen and nutritional information. Sounds like a cop out to me. So while I'm fairly certain there are items on their menu that I can eat, the choice is simple for me. At least I know one place to leave off my list.

Logan's does at least offer a gluten free menu. Although it is not available online, you can request a copy from your host. Of course, since Logan's uses a common cooking area they can't guarantee that cross-contamination won't occur, and they do make a statement to that effect. I was unable, however, to find any other allergy information. According to discussion boards, it's hit or miss as to whether the staff is knowledgeable about allergies or even willing to accommodate a diner's needs. Personally, I have been able to eat there without incidence, and the staff have been very accommodating, but when in doubt I follow 2 rules of thumb... ask or avoid!

Udi's Gluten Free Pizza Crust

Visit Udi's to purchase this product.

I've been a fan of Udi's products for a while now, but this weekend I picked up their pizza crust for the first time. I'm always a little hesitant when trying new gluten free products. There's such a wide variety of textures... not good for someone with food texture issues to begin with. As with most gluten free products, the serving size was a bit small (think personal pizza size), but it has a smooth texture and tastes good. I've tried Domingo's GF crust & it has a sweetnesss to it that makes it taste a little weird. Udi's doesn't have that issue. It's a thin crust & bakes up crispy. All in all I was pleased with this product & would definitely buy it again!

Keeping the Holiday Splurge Urge in Check

If you're anything like me, and I'm sure you are... the Thanksgiving bounty has left you feeling as bloated as the Macy's parade balloons. Too much of a good thing can sometimes be... well... too much! As good as I tried to behave I indulged in treats and dishes we don't normally eat, and like a fool I paid little or no attention to the fact that the foods I was eating were NOT allergy free. I'm thankful that my allergies do not cause anaphylactic symptoms or hives... they cause digestive upset and inflammation. I suppose I've just lived with it for so long that sometimes I just don't care what the consequences are... until later that night or the next day when I'm miserable.

So, now enough of the complaining. What am I going to do to make sure this doesn't happen again at Christmas, or New Years, or any other food-centric event? I could kid myself and say I'm just going to eat carrot sticks and lettuce leaves... no allergens there, but that's just not realistic. Not to mention it will most likely lead me to binge later. It's obvious I made some typical mistakes, so here are some tips to help keep the splurge urge in check.

First of all, if you're hosting the event then there is no reason to not have foods available that you can eat, but  if you're like most people, you'll be heading over to someone else's house for the holiday festivities. My major mistake this Thanksgiving was not taking control of some aspect of my meal. Don't do what I did. Have a conversation with your host, and be honest with your dietary needs. I don't believe in making it their responsibility to provide acceptable foods for you, but offer to bring a dish or two that you can eat. That way you'll at least have something there that's OK for you. If there's a traditional dish that you just know you're going to have trouble avoiding... research some alternatives. Rework the recipe with ingredients that are acceptable for you. Take control.

I realize that sometime the host is someone we don't know, and there will be situations where you can't control the food being served. My advice in those situations are to find out as much as you can about the foods being served, be smart about the foods you do choose to eat, and if nothing else... eat before you go.

The bottom line is we're all going to come across some irresistible food this holiday season, whether it's mom's special dish that she only makes once a year or a killer recipe someone is just dying for you to try. Don't sabotage yourself, be honest about your needs, and go with a plan.

Allergy Friendly Halloween Candy *UPDATED*

Halloween is right around the corner. It's time for ghosts and goblins, creepy crawlies and candy! Who doesn't love candy? I've been known to have the occasional sweet tooth. Ok... so maybe it's more honest to say I live with a constant sweet tooth. Whether you have food sensitivities, have a child with them, or just want to have an allergy friendly option for those who do here are some links that might be helpful. These sites provide lists of gluten free and allergy free candies for Halloween. Happy Haunting!

About.com Gluten Free Candy - Updated for September 2012
Gluten Free Nut Free Dairy Free Halloween Candy List - Updated 2012
gfreelife.com - Updated 2012
Sure Foods Living - Updated 2011
My Gluten Facts - Updated 2011
Celiac.com - Update 2011
Dairy Free Candies

As new lists become available for the 2012 Halloween season I'll be sure to update!

TUESDAY'S TIP: Food Allergies in the Workplace

When you have food allergies or sensitivities the workplace can be tricky to navigate. Decline an invitation to lunch or pass on a piece of birthday cake and they think you're being picky or worse yet, unsocial. So, what do you do when you co-workers throw sideways glances when you say no? First and foremost explain what your allergies or sensitivities are. Most often, people just don't understand. Once you spell it out for them most people are usually more considerate of your needs. When it comes to going out for lunch suggest some places that have options you can eat. You can use a website/app like Allergy Eats or My Gluten Free NJ (doesn't just have information about New Jersey) to find some places nearby. You can also look at the restaurants' websites to see if they have allergy free offerings. If you're concerned about snacks in the lounge or social gatherings at work, be prepared to bring food you can eat. Other people might be surprised to know that your allergy free food could actually be tasty!

Friendly Fridays: Chili's

Korry and I stopped at a Chili's during our long layover in Atlanta and I figured I'd be able to order a salad at the very least. As it turns out, rabbit food just wasn't going to cut it, so I ordered a burger minus the cheese and refrained from eating the bun. Had I done my homework, I would have known that Chili's actually has menus for various allergies on their website. They update it monthly with their different specials, so they recommend you check back frequently for up-to-date information. You can get their allergen menu by clicking on "Menu" from their home page and scrolling down to the bottom where it says "Download Allergen Menu". They are pdf files so you can print them out to use later. Chili's also offers a vegetarian menu and nutritional information in pdf form.

FRIENDLY FRIDAYS: KFC

KFC now offers grilled chicken and they have salads and veggies. Surely there's something that those of us with food sensitivies can eat. The truth is, there is surprisingly little on their menu that is free of all top 8 allergens. I was disappointed to see on their Allergies & Sensitivities page that even their grilled chicken has wheat in it. Really?! You can't just take a strip of chicken and grill it? I expected wheat in their fried chicken... it's breaded, but the grilled chicken is out too. You can however have a Caesar salad without the dressing and croutons or a house salad without the dressing. Their Light Italian dressing is free of the top 8 allergens, so that's a plus. You don't have to eat a plain salad! Their bacon, lettuce, tomato, green beans, and corn (both cob and kernel) are allergen free as well, but that's about it. So, if you have a craving for chicken... keep driving, but if it's salad you're after... or some bacon and green beans, then KFC is the place for you. 

TUESDAY'S TIP: Allergy Free Vacations

It's summertime, and you know what that means... vacation! While most vacationers concern themselves with where to go, what to see, and what to pack, the number one priority for those with food allergies/sensitivities is ensuring access to allergy free food. I know one of the things I most enjoy about going on vacation (aside from relaxing) is not having to cook! However, eating on the road has become particularly difficult since my food allergy diagnosis. So what do you do?

Allergy Eats

I was soooo excited to stumble upon this website! Allergy Eats is a 2012 About.com Reader's Choice site that allows you to search for restaurants across the country that can accommodate your dietary needs. The site is a peer review site, which means the ratings are given by people like you and me. You can select your allergens and location, and the site will generate a list of eateries in your area with allergy friendliness ratings based on 3 criteria: how comfortable was the rater with the establishment's ability to meet your needs, was the restaurant able to accommodate your needs, and how knowledgeable was the staff about food allergies. You can even view restaurant information like maps and directions, nutrition, ingredients, and allergy information (where availible). 

The site offers dining tips, links to other allergy friendly sites, and has their own blog to share information. If you're planning a trip to Disney World see their Allergy Eats Disney World section! Registration on the site is free and you receive email updates from them as well. BONUS: this site has an APP!!! SCORE!!!

FRIENDLY FRIDAYS

Fridays will be my day to feature allergy friendly restaurants or other foodie places. Be sure to check back and don't be afraid to comment and share your favorite allergy friendly establishment!