I eat out about once a week, with very little trouble. Take your time making your selection, read the menu carefully, and ask the waiter as many questions as you need to. If you're going to a less familiar restaurant, try to check out the menu a day or so ahead. This way you can feel confident that there are things you can eat. And if this turns out not to be the case, you have time to change your plans. When my DH and I were on vacation this past fall, we would ask to see a menu before sitting down in a restaurant. If the food wasn't safe for me, we left and repeated the process somewhere else. Bring peppermint tea bags so you can have a cup after your meal.
I usually do very well with Thai and Vietnamese, but I've had no luck with Chinese. Summer rolls/fresh rolls (as long as they have no pork) make safe and tasty appetizers at Thai and Vietnamese places. Make sure not to get anything with coconut milk, as it will be too high in fat.
Steakhouses, at least in the US, are suprisingly good options because they usually have baked potatoes as a side which can also be ordered as an appetizer. And they almost always have good, simple seafood dishes.
I do quite well with Indian, but I have to be quite careful about what I order. Vegetarian dishes have proved to be the best options. Make sure to ask your waiter is there is any cream or yogurt in the entrees. I order my naan dry (not brushed with butter) and get them to bring it first rather than with the entrees. Also, safety of the food can vary among restaurants, so if things don't go well with one place, try a different one.
Pub food can be trickier. Chips are right out, so if you can't get a substitution, just don't eat them. Veggie burgers are getting more common, which is a big help. Grilled chicken dishes are usually safe.
Take away is a great way to try something new, because you will be able to eat at your own pace, in your own home. So if things go wrong, you'll have plenty of comfort and privacy.
Remember to relax about eating out. My philosophy about trying something new (always staying within the EFI guidelines) is to worry as little as possible. Either it will go well or it won't. If things go perfectly, the anxiety will have been a waste of time and energy. If things go badly and it proves to be the last time I ever eat that dish/at that place, I'm better off having enjoyed every last bite.
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-Carol
IBS-A
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Re: eating out
