| Author | Message | ||
| Mandy H. |
I have been contacting restaurants during the past few days to see if there are any that are safe. I did pass along the list of "hidden MSG" terms for them to check on as well. A local restaurant called the Polaris Grill (Columbus, OH) emailed me back to say I was safe with everything except for the ranch dressing. And Chipotle, of all places, said that they use absolutely no MSG whatsoever. I know some people are senstive to things other than MSG and its aliases, but as far as MSG goes those two restaurants claim to be safe. For what its worth, I thought I'd pass the info on. | ||
| Lisa Marie |
Hi Mandy, That is odd, what the Polaris Grill said. I was in Nashville, TN in May, and visited the Longhorn Steakhouse. (I took my own sandwich) But I talked to the manager and he claimed to have taken a class about what is in their food. He said, "Everything we serve here is safe, except the ranch salad dressing." I informed him of the numerous other names which MSG goes by, and he admitted that he hadn't heard about that. I just say, proceed with extreme caution in these restaurants. Sometimes they mean well, but they just don't get it. | ||
| Judith |
A lot of it will depend upon how extreme your reactions are. I hate to say this but even with the list I have been told it is safe in restaurants (from cafes with one cook to four star French restaurants)and I have ended up sick, sick, sick. Eventually I just decided not to trust anyone anymore. There are other people on the list who are more adventurous, and others like me, who have gotten burned--or poisoned--one too many times. I am sure we all echo Lisa Marie's advice to proceed cautiously. Sauces are the worst for additions of a little teaspoon of this bottled pepper sauce or that, that might contain "flavor". I have also been made dreadfully sick by eating butter flavored grease used making pancakes. As I had specifically mentioned this, I was pretty angry when I got sick. I swear the only thing that saves these restaurants from our ire is the fact that when we are the most furious we are too sick to do anything about it! | ||
| Judith |
I should add though, I was once at a golf tournament dinner a few years ago. The chef apparently heard I was not eating and came out to speak to me. He went through each ingredient with me and made me a dynamite Cajun steak, then came out to sit and chat with me while I ate it! Sometimes there are just the kindest people out there. It happens! | ||
| Jerry Story
|
A Google search on "Polaris Grill" reveals that Polaris Grill is just one more example of the general rule that no restaurant is safe. Restaurants are in the MSG selling business. They use food as a MSG delivery system. Do not touch restaurant food with a ten-foot pole! | ||
| Judith |
Trust your intution. Invariably when I have been uneasy, despite assurances of the food being safe, that is when I have ended up sick. Intuition is there for a reason and is part of our biological wiring. Use it. Handier if you have a sandwich in your purse though. :-) | ||
| Connie M.
|
I feel bad b/c my husband sometimes wants to go out to eat. He kind of makes me feel quilty b/c we can't go to the places we used to. We did not go to that many nice places before, mostly some fast food. I told him my chances of finding something to eat might be better at a nicer place,LOL. I was going by a list I found here.I have yet to eat at one of the nicer places. But what do you do when your spouse makes you feel quilty? He says things like I don't think a little bit will hurt you or I don't think it will bother you. I feel like I have to lecture(educate him), I hate that.How many times do I have to keep doing that? I do fix us stuff to eat at home. He is a picky eater but he has never cooked anything at home in 19 years, well I think once he fixed pancakes!!!! Made a big mess!!!! He will get himself a little bit to eat like cereal, etc.. I have been so sick before and I could of used some help from him in the kitchen but he refuses to do certain things, many!! I guess he thinks that is just for women to do. I get so aggravated sometimes. Sorry for that little vent. He is not always the most considerate person, can you tell? | ||
| Jerry Story
|
Connie, That sounds like it might be a problem for Dr. Laura S. on the radio show. A delicate people type of problem. But I know what I would do. Dunno if it would work for you. I ain't got no tact or diplomacy or manners. I wouldn't give a rat's They end up accepting that that's the way I am, because they have no other choice. Sometimes THEY feel guilty and make unsolicited excuses for their bad habits. | ||
| Lisa Marie |
Go along with him, but take your own food. Then, an hour later, when he is sluggish and lethargic, point out to him that hey, YOU are not feeling so well now, huh? I did that to my husband and he started noticing that he did NOT feel so well after eating fast food. Now he points it out to other people. He took his secretaries out to eat for Secretaries Day, and they all went back to the office comatose. But he had only eaten a chicken salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing (not okay for some) and he felt fine. Also, the better I started feeling the more he noticed I wasn't complaining of being sick and feeling tired and so when he saw first hand that I felt better he realized I can't tolerate eating at a restaurant. As I started cooking better stuff at home, we will now finish a meal and he will say, "You can't get this kind of good food at a restaurant." | ||
| MEMorrisNJ
|
Connie - I always have a frozen batch of food ready when someone says let's eat out (e.g., little pieces of chicken, meat loaf, etc). I bring my own bread sometimes. I have a little insulated bag that fits in my large handbag and I have lots of little cool packs. This works well in fast food restaurants as well as the more up-scale ones. Sometimes, I try to eat something quick at home before going to avoid going hungry and increasing my chances of ordering something I shouldn't. I usually order something that I know is definitely safe or small/inexpensive enough to just "rent the table" -- like a salad (which I may or may not eat) where I can put the meat on the side without calling the waiters attention to it. Or I just get a cup of tea ---- Lately, I get pleasure in just being served a cup of tea by someone else so I try to take advantage of the chance to get out -- I am the cook in my family but I love to get out. I make a big production out of drinking the tea --- gives me pleasure to be served, get out and maintain control of my health. | ||
| Judith |
Everyone's right here. It is all about strategies. When you do cook a real meal at home and there is barely one serving leftover, don't throw it out, or stick it in the fridge where it will get forgotten. Put it in the freezer in a bag you keep with leftovers--where you can dig it out for such occasions. It will also come in handy the nights you get home too late to want to cook when the rest of your family may opt for fast food. I have to say I have not had much success using the list of MSG and its deadly little relatives in restaurants. When I first talk about MSG in restaurants, the staff boldly proclaim "of course!" they can cook something safely for me. But then when they take the list into the kitchen, they typically emerge 10 minutes later to say maybe it "would" be safer not to eat anything. I will NEVER forget the first time that happened. But it wasn't the last time, and the other circumstances where people did think they could make me a safe meal they were wrong most of the time. And I get really, really sick. Being adventurous isn't an option for me anymore. The challenge for you is to be strong and not to bow to pressure to eat out because you will just end up resentful and sick both. I have brought my own food to restaurants. However for myself, I eat before I leave, then join everyone at the restaurant as I find this is the best way for me. Then I can eat in peace and don't feel cheated out of a good meal. Once at a restaurant, sometimes I will stick a bun on my plate or as MEMORRISNJ said, take a salad but don't eat it. Then by all means have a beverage that is safe for you, even if it to order hot water for your own teabag. I have found waiters and all sorts of people will insist there is "something" they can fix that is safe. But eventually you will end up with such anxiety, it is truly easier not to take the chance. I am just firm now and give a wave of my hand with a big smile and say "Oh I'm allergic to EVERYTHING", and say if they would be so kind as to bring me a pot of hot water I would be thrilled. That usually works and gets them off my back at the same time. Sitting arguing about it in a restaurant with family members or restaurant staff got old a long time ago. So this is what I do. This also comes up for me during business meetings. If I can have people to my house and cook for them, I try to do that. It's more work but I enjoy it so much more, and try to do things a day ahead to make it less work. But I don't find it very professional to be at a business meeting arguing with restaurant staff about what I will eat, and have honed this strategy. With people you don't know, talking about allergies is about as exciting as my mother-in-law's last surgery! So I just briefly explain, yes, that lets out everything and move on to the topic at hand. As for the lack of understanding with your husband, I have lots of experience with unsympathetic or understanding family members. It was hard for me to rise about that. They are supposed to love me! But often people are basically selfish, and resistant to someone else's change if they think it is going to inconvenience them. There is a great deal of truth to the fact that over time by eating healthier, your husband will come to see that he feels better when he doesn't eat like that. That said, in all honesty, this can be ONE LONG HAUL. Just be good to yourself, and fix yourself treats when you can. There are several members here who have turned into crackerjack cooks in their own right now, and maybe never would have otherwise. And if you read the papers, everything causes cancer, isn't good for you, and so on. The way we eat on this list, IS good for you. So no matter what, whether you are eating to avoid MSG or eating healthy, they equal the same thing, and will improve your quality of life. If you have seen improvement consistently when you eat without MSG, then the solution is clear. You have no choice. You must eat this way. Act with chutzpah and stick to your guns. If you won't argue, there is no argument. You will have to be the big one, and ignore all negative behavior. You don't give it power if you don't give in to it. Hard lesson learned here already but for me the most effective way. And look at it this way: The next time you are at a restaurant with others, everyone will have something stuck in their teeth except you! | ||
| Deb A. |
You guys are all so impressive! What great advice to all of us and to any newcomers. This is NEVER an easy task at first when we are in our first year of MSG avoidance. Connie, remember that what we share is a very serious and even life threatening for some, reaction to excitotoxins. They have ruined many a life and all of us here can share some real horror stories regarding our reactions. If we were diabetic, people would be bending over backwards to help us, and yet what we are up against is also a huge health challange. It is us to us continually maintain our good health. It is as simple as that. If someone else does not understand or have respect for that, that is not our fault. They are either close minded, selfish, or uninformed. I respect diabetics and more than that, I have such respect for all of my fellow sufferers here and those I have met over the years. You are not alone in this, and you have our concern and resect. What everyone here has shared with you is right on! | ||
| Anonymous |
It doesn't work to order a steak and steamed veggies when eating out? | ||
| Deb A. |
It may, but be sure to ask for NO salt, seasonings, pepper, MSG...nada, on your steak and season it yourself. Bring a homemade seasoning blend along if you like...and also your own dressing for a plain salad. Some people ask that their meat be sauteed in a clean pan with olive oil, since a grill can be contaminated with seasoning "salt". Steamed veggies are a good choice and again, ask for NO seasonings of any kind. Ask for real butter and salt and pepper to taste. A wedge of lemon is good, too. | ||
| Connie M.
|
Wow, thanks everyone for the great ideas.  This really helps me a lot!!! Really appreciate it!!!! | ||
| SincerelySeekinTruth |
Posting as SincerelySeekinTruth ......... May God richly bless you ALL for diligently taking the time to share such awesome awesome advice! I'm 25 and have been trying to eat more and more healthier for 6 years now, but it begin at age 19 when I permanently stopped drinkin pop of any kind but has now progressed to shopping at Trader Joe's and when at restaurants eating only salmon or turkey, vegetables and fruits and falling absolutely in love with Olive Oil. I'm still not where I want to be in my discipline of the food and snacks I eat but this thread has been a wonderful encouragement to me! Thank YOU!! Much Love, God Bless, Peace. | ||
| MEMorrisNJ
|
Continue to be careful at Trader Joe's! Labelling is often lacking --- despite their remarks that there are no additives, etc. For example, their cans of "Tuscan Beans" made me terribly sick! | ||
| SincerelySeekinTruth |
Thanks for the heads up MEMorrisNJ! So who would you suggest has one of the safest grocery stores to shop at for people wanting to eat healthy? Have you heard of Wild Oats and Whole Foods? Or would you suggest just shopping at farmer markets? Thanks again MEMorrisNJ! Much Love, God Bless, Peace. | ||
| Anonymous Posted From: 72.211.197.151 |
i travel a lot and am always in a new resurant and always ask about MSG - i get the standard answer there is none and wind up sick or i get the chef coming out to tell me what to avoid on the menu and stating he will make sure I am OK - and 90% of the time I am OK. International travel is interesting - small local resurants seem great and the three stars will kill you. Can't we get a list of safe resturants and bad ones we could all use as a reference? Kind of a Zagat guide for MSG people. I would be happy to add my sugesstions. | ||
| Jerry Story Unregistered guest |
Rule #1: All restaurants are guilty until proved innocent. Rule #2: I'm not interested in any evidence that they are innocent. | ||
| EmilyS Unregistered guest |
As a general rule I don't eat at restaurants. Even if I spend an hour with the head chef on the phone and find ONE thing that is safe for me to eat, there always ends up being cross contamination and I get sick anyway. I guess it depends on everyone's sensitivity level on if they are comfortable eating out or not. However, there have been a few times where I really needed to find some place I could eat (client luncheon, etc.). This is what I have found safe for me in Utah: 1. Tio's Mexican Restaurant. Housemade salsa is safe (tortilla chips are not). 2. Carvers Steak House. Chef is amazing and willing to make a custom meal that is safe. Steak with salt and pepper only. Freshely prepared salad with a lemon wedge on the side is also safe (no croutons, no meat). Baked potato with real butter is safe. 3. Gecko's Mexican Restaurant. Owner is amazing. Willing to read over every label and custom prepare a plate. Cleanest label by far. Nacho Grande with no meat, no sour cream. Black beans not refried beans. Chips and salsa are safe too. He doesn't make his own tortillas but makes just about everything else from scratch. He was even willing to make a safe tortilla just for me- he really is amazing. Hope this helps. | ||
| Judith Unregistered guest |
Emily's story reminds me of one good restaurant experience I had. I was at a small banquet event, the kind of venue with even more red flags than a regular restaurant in terms of possible safety issues. But the chef heard that I declined a plate and came out to speak with me. He took me through every ingredient in his own Cajun seasoning, prepared a steak separately for me, and then sat sat down to join me for dinner where we discussed the bastardization of good food! It was wonderful, but atypical of my universally bad experiences with trusting restaurants. When traveling, almost all of the regulars to this list bring their own food. There are several past postings about our methods. We all travel, go to conferences, business trips and live to tell the tale. We would rather go to the trouble of bringing food than risk being ill away from home. There are some benefits as well, including obvious ones like cost. Plus, it leaves more time to adventure! | ||
| kristy Unregistered guest |
I just want to say that I keep paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils, sea salt and garlic powder in a bag in my truck all the time. I also have a couple of little soft-side travel coolers for cheese, tuna, yogurt, water from home, etc. One of the worst mistakes I used to make on the road was using regular salt. I just didn't think about it and since I am allergic to corn as well as fga toxic, just a small amount of table salt is a big problem for me. I am currently looking for a good travel salt shaker to keep in my purse.... | ||
| EmilyS Unregistered guest |
I forgot to mention I attended a week long business conference at Disney World in FL and had an amazing experience. I had two conference calls with the head chef who was over all of the events. Him and his team read over every single ingredient and recreated menus for me. They used separate pans and utensils for preparing my food and were very well accustomed to working with food allergies and sensitives. They also emailed me a detailed list of the menu plan for me along with the strict instructions for all the chef's involved during the different events. When I would attend a banquet dinner, once I was seated I would let the server know I was Emily and they would nod and smile. When the food came out my plate would look almost the exact same as everyone else (a different cut of meat, no spices, no sauce, no seasonings on the vegetables, etc.). But NO ONE at my table would know that I was eating something different or had a "special plate." During the buffet lunches, I would again let a server know who I was and they would bring out a custom plate prepared special for me. It was an amazing experience- reaction free! I couldn't believe how great they were to work with me. I was worked 14-16 hours a day there and had zero time to even go to my hotel room to grab my own snacks so it worked out perfected to work with them for all of my meals. I was sure I was going to become deathly ill that first day but after 8 days there, I went home with zero reactions and the greatest respect for the staff at Disney World. | ||
| kristy Unregistered guest |
Hi EmilyS, That sounds fantastic! I am blown away by that story. I was just thinking yesterday how great it would be if I could just get my Mom to switch to sea salt instead of iodized salt. I can't tell you how many times while visiting I have fixed our meals so carefully and then ruined it by adding salt from her shaker....Frustrating to say the least. My kids and I went to Gulf Shores, AL this summer for a week and had a blast. We stayed in a condo so we were able to cook all our own meals. (The condos on the beach are not any more expensive than hotel rooms) It wasn't any more work or planning than usual and we didn't get sick the whole week. Of course, it would have been nice to sample a nice restaurant while we were there but we just didn't want to risk it. | ||
| Di Unregistered guest |
Emily, I had a similar experience when I went with my daughter to Whistler, BC, Canada. We were there at a 5 star resort to honor the top sales people in her company. She spoke to the head of the serving/kitchen staff before each meal and had them prepare the same menu for me without any additives and without looking any different than everyone elses. It was a wonderful 5 day experience with no reactions....and the food was great too. | ||
| Deb A. Unregistered guest |
More people need to speak up like you all did. We need to make more people aware of the growing need for healthier food, no matter where we are. Thanks for sharing your stories...gives us all good ideas and hope. |
