clues for dining out

If you're like me, you like to dine out once in a while. For most living gluten free, this can be done with a little thinking ahead.

To be successful with food choices, it helps to know a few key words to avoid. Often fish is offered "pan fried" or "Pecan-crusted." At first glance, one wouldn't know to avoid these options. Pan fried fish is typically drudged through a flour mixture before dropped in a fry pan. Pecan crusted or Almond crusted or anything else listed as "crusted" means that bread crumbs were probably used to form a crust on the fish. There may be a small amount of nuts added for flavor. Another term to avoid is "stuffed." Most times "panko" bread crumbs or other crumbs are added to help form a cake or stuffing mixture.

Instead try this: Broiled or baked are usually safer choices. Another way to assure that your choices are gluten free is to request that any sauces are placed in a side dish. This way you can examine the food without it contaminating other foods on the plate. Of course, deep fried foods are out of the question due to the flours used in this process.

Though it may not be your first choice, grilled steaks and baked potatoes are almost always a good bet. Be sure to ask for mushrooms in a side dish. They may arrive in a gravy sauce which you may want to avoid.