My food journey is an on-going education in which I’m continually being surprised. Here is something I’ve discovered along with something that has most definitely surprised me.
At restaurants, I’ve discovered, it is very important when asking the waitress if a particular food item comes without onions (or any of the other items I have issues with) to also mention that I can’t have any onions because they make me sick. Very often, before hearing why I’m inquiring, a busy waitress will tell me she doesn’t believe there are any onions in a dish. But after hearing why I’m asking the waitress will go back into the kitchen and ask. Most often the waitress will return saying yes, there is onion powder in it and I’ll have to make another choice.
Sometimes just asking if a dish does or doesn’t have an ingredient in it is not enough because of the ingredients alter ego – ‘other names’. That’s one reason why I don’t eat out as much as I would like.
Before researching the ‘other names’ of my known allergens, I had no idea all the places they can appear. For example: Corn goes by other names ‘corn meal’, ‘corn syrup’, and ‘dextrose’. It is often an ingredient of maple syrup (oh, how I miss maple syrup), grits, powdered sugar, Vitamin C, and … get this … according to the Keiser Permanente website … adhesive on stamps and envelopes. I had no clue.
As you know, no matter if we’re ordering out, eating in, or mailing a letter we have to be careful. I’m still shocked about the stamps and envelopes. I’ve never seen that listed on a box of envelopes or on the cover of the booklet of stamps.
I invite you to join me in the journey and share your insights and thoughts. Follow on Twitter @specialorderplz and on Facebook by liking Special-Order-Please-The-Series . I believe it is possible to eat well … even with restrictions.
