The Formidable Task of Eating in Restaurants

I have always been one of those people who hate to ask for anything special in restaurants. i would never ask for a substitution and in fact rarely ever send food back even if i am completely dissatisfied.
So you can only imagine the discomfort I now have when I go out to eat with my daughter who has celiac disease. Not only do I have to ask for something special, but I have to essentially drill an often uninformed server.
But stronger than my own discomfort, I recognize that it is important that I never show that anxiety. It is vital that I ask the necessary questions about ingredients and cooking methods with confidence and tenacity. In part because my daughter's health depends on my being thorough, but also because I am a role model for my daughter. She will have to ask questions for the rest of her life. It is my job to give her the tools she needs to do so without apology or anxiety.
So it is with that in mind, that we have finally ventured into the world of eating in restaurants again. Here is the advice I offer on making this doable:
For those times when you are eating on the go or decided to eat out at the last minute Mexican food is a great choice. More than many fast food and other casual restaurants, a lot of Mexican food is naturally gluten free. Also, because there are fewer gluten-laden ingredients used overall, the incidence of cross contamination is lower.
For those times when you are planning a dinner out, choose high end dining. Fine restaurants usually make most of their food from scratch which means they likely started with whole foods and that they will know every ingredient going into a dish. Often dishes are made to order which means that the chef can make adjustments to recipes to accommodate the gluten-free diet.

Eating out is an experience I am not willing to give up even if it is a little bit harder these days.