Sometimes while doing GAPS, you will find yourself at a restaurant…what do you order?
At first I thought this would be very overwhelming or impossible, but after eating at restaurants a few times since starting GAPS, I have found that it isn’t as bad as I first thought.
Most restaurants are very willing to work with you and your dietary restrictions. If you go to a fast food place this might be harder, but most sit down restaurants have a wide range of fresh foods.
I really enjoyed my Chipotle experience with Brenda.
I took my kids to a restaurant and I ordered all of us Cobb salads. I asked if they could switch out the cheese for something different and I chose a balsamic vinaigrette. Although this probably had soy oil in it…Brenda once mentioned that if her family is planning on going to a restaurant, she will bring a small jar in her purse that has Extra Virgin Olive Oil, salt and a few spices-just so she knows exactly what i in her dressing.
Later I also realized that the bacon in the salad probably wasn’t good for us and I should have asked for it to be kept off…I was so used to buying sugar and preservative free bacon that I didn’t even think about this bacon having stuff in it that isn’t GAPS legal!
I have been glad that many restaurants now post their menus online…feel free to call the restaurant and ask questions too!
If in doubt-ask. I was sad when we visited a popular restaurant to find that  all their soups came pre-made in a bag and when I asked for butter for my steamed veggies…I found that it wasn’t real butter.
Be as polite as you can, but do remember that you are paying for this food and it will go into your body!
For my husband’s birthday recently, his parents took him out for dinner (well, the whole family-isn’t that kind!?!)…and he loves Mongolian Grill!
This actually proved to be a really good option while on GAPS. The kids always love getting to choose exactly what is in their dinner too!
Look at Auston peering into all the meats…adorable!
The only part we knew we needed to be concerned about was letting the kids know that this time they couldn’t get noodles and a few foods (they offer fake crab) and we wouldn’t let them get all of the “sauces” options at the end. We did try to be careful and only got things that probably were fine, like the garlic, ginger, cooking sherry, etc. We figured that many of the options would have soy oils in them, sugar or preservatives.
All in all, we felt great afterwards…even when the kids went through the line to refill their plates 4 times each (ok, Keaton went through 5 times, but the last time it was only shrimp! lol!
I love being able to watch them cook my food right in front of me…nothing going into it that I didn’t choose!
Hudson had a fabulous time too! (And yes, if you noticed we were all wearing Denver Bronco outfits…it is Tim’s favorite team and Keaton (he’s 8) asked everyone to wear it…so we did. Hudson looks very adorable in the Bronco sweatshirt that his Daddy wore when he was a baby!)
Every once in awhile you will find yourself eating out…be it from needing a break, a family celebration or just eating at another home…be as kind and polite as you can, be careful not to eat anything that might hurt your own body, and most of all-enjoy it!
