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Lactose Free Dining Out Tips |
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A nice evening can be ruined by an intense stomach ache, so follow these tips for a pain-free dining out experience.
 Breakfast is pretty much off limits unless you don’t mind making a lot of stipulations for your waiter or waitress. I find that I get the best results when I tell my waiter that I am allergic to dairy products. Most of them genuinely try to make your dining experience a pleasant one, but there are some that do not understand the importance of your request. You may have to remind him/her that dairy products include milk, butter, and cheese, but not eggs.
Watch out for margarine or butter alternatives used at restaurants. They most likely contain dairy in one form or another. Ask for your food to be cooked in oil. If they cannot use oil, then choose another item. It is very rare that you cannot find a single dairy-free item on the menu.
All bakery items, pastries, cookies, and cakes are off limits – all of them contain either butter or milk.
Italian food, Latin food, and American food contain a lot of dairy – try sticking to dining out at Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Barbecue establishments.
Seafood and battered items usually contain milk.
Side dishes like potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and rice often contain milk or butter. Ask for a plain baked potato instead of mashed, and ask for your veggies and rice to be cooked in oil or water, not butter or margarine.
Soups and salads are easiest to order because their ingredients are often listed right on the menu. Avoid cream-based soups, and remember to order a cup of chili without cheese and sour cream.
Sandwiches can be tricky. Bread and buns may contain dairy, but usually very limited amounts. Always make sure to order a sandwich without the cheese, and watch out for creamy sauces.
Always check your food before you leave a fast food restaurant if you’ve asked for no cheese. Most workers are so used to adding cheese that they will often accidentally ignore the special request.
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Lactose Free Restaurant Menus
