Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I know this is kind of an "eh...." question, but with the amount of travel I do, I'm pretty nervous about being able to eat out! I'm usually in a hotel room with 3-4 other people, making food storage a bit of an issue.

I'm fine with finding salads, grilled fish and the like, but I'm wondering if there's any sort of directory or list of acceptable-ish meals for bigger chain places like P.F. Changs.

By Paleo-ish I mean not fried, low sugar, low additive. It doesn't have to be "pure" paleo or anything like that, just something that wouldn't be ORANGE CHICKEN WITH FRIED RICE or what have you.

Thanks you guys, I'm really liking this community, you've been a great help and encouragement!

flag	asked Dec 17 2010 at 23:38 Sigil 552●2●5●11

Stephen-Aegis · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-08 18:39:18Z UTC

Any Meat.

Request it to not be cooked in Vegetable Oil, Soy Sauce(unless GF) or Fried.

Request Real Butter, be sure to clarify that Margarine is NOT real butter.(yes this has been a repeated required explination)

Steamed Veggies(any)

Potato- mmm.see Real Butter requirement.(dont eat the skin)

avoid gravies(wheat) and most dressings(vegetable oils, blech) unless they can clearly list ingredients.

Some of my favorites eating out:

Outback: Steak Big one, Medium Rare. Potato with Cheese and Butter(im lacto-paleo) Steamed veggies(usually broccoli/cauliflower/carrots) psuedocheat: they have a gluten free dessert Chocolate Thunder down under. wayy too much sugar :)

Carrabas. Chicken Caesar Salad, no croutons.

Any Japanese Teppenyaki: bring GF Tamari if they dont have it available to cook with.

Local Chinese. Discuss with them that you are GF, otherwise they can handle.

PF Changs: has a GF Menu, just watch for the heavy vegetable oil use.

Chipotle: watch the veggies, cooked in heavy soybean oil. you can request fresh veggies no oil at most locations if youre willing to wait a few minutes(you should!)

Mexican: Fajita plate sans shells.

Sushi. be careful of the fake crab sticks, they have wheat in them, very minimal, but its there.

BBQ: All Day Pulled Pork can be amazing, question them about sauce ingredients, sugar content is often thru the roof. sometimes they use thickeners. I get a pound of pork at a local place, vinegar based sauce, never have leftovers. so good.

Sams Club: my 2 local ones, and I presume now everywhere, now have Gluten Free Rotisserie Chickens for $5. Easy Grab and go GF Paleo meal.

Longhorn: Flo's Filet, steamed veggies, baked potato.

Ted's montana grill: Buffalo!

so many of the big chains have GF Menu's now... just make sure that youre checking what they are using to cook with. Dont blow a healthy meal with a bolus of vegetable oil.

Edit: Moes now has Grassfed Steak and gluten free labeling!

THATgirl · Answer 2 · 2011-01-10 13:41:18Z UTC

I normally go with a burger...minus the bun. Of course if its grass-fed then all the better but normally its not specified and/or they don't even know.

I do is get a burger (no bun) and load it with as many paleo friendly toppings as I can...for example, mushrooms, a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, etc. As for the side instead of fries I ask for steamed veggies. Places like Glory Days are very used to this and happy to comply.

Good luck! What a great question, I'm about to travel for work and this is great info!

jenna · Answer 3 · 2010-12-17 23:48:58Z UTC

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I always go for a grilled chicken caesar with no croutons and the dressing on the side. If the dressing looks gross i set it aside and ask for oil and balsamic vinegar.

There are some chains, like Houlihans, that make everything fresh. When I go there, i just tell them what I want and they make it. It really depends on the chain.

answered Dec 17 2010 at 23:48

jenna
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do you care about grass fed or mass fed? – oak0y Dec 18 2010 at 1:11

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Only when there is an option. At home, we order from KOL Foods (organic, grass fed, happy kosher). When I am on the road, I do the best that I can to stay in the game and not be a miserable (starving) mommy. Sometimes I cheat, but I can live with that. – jenna Dec 18 2010 at 23:54

Whitney · Answer 4 · 2010-12-18 00:15:20Z UTC

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Don't forget breakfast for dinner...veggie omelet

answered Dec 18 2010 at 0:15

Whitney
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eating omelets out, be Very careful that they are using Real Eggs, and that they are not mixing them to thicken it. Alot of places add wheat flour or pancake batter to thicken them up.. Sigh. – Stephen-Aegis Dec 18 2010 at 0:22

I was just thinking that about the omelets. I know at cracker barrel and waffle house they're real eggs from my experience...but somewhere like Denny's, ehhh – Sigil Dec 18 2010 at 1:50

Hmm the cracker barrel here in Georgia uses real eggs + thickener. Just make sure you ask , maybe it's a regional thing? – Stephen-Aegis Dec 18 2010 at 3:38

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I feel very lucky that one of the diners near me uses free range eggs from a local farmer! – Adam Crafter Jan 10 2011 at 14:30

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Order them sunny side up or over easy -- then you know they are real eggs. – Jodi Jan 10 2011 at 18:57

show 4 more comments

W8liftinmom · Answer 5 · 2011-01-10 06:13:19Z UTC

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I try not to eat out often, that being the case, I don't sweat the small stuff and just stay away from bread, battered foods, corn, and beans.

answered Jan 10 2011 at 6:13

W8liftinmom
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I like your approach. – Adam Crafter Jan 10 2011 at 14:34

JoeBranca at paleoplusone.com · Answer 6 · 2010-12-18 00:03:26Z UTC

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I ended up at a PF Change outing not too long ago, and despaired over the menu until I saw the seared lamb. I got that and a side of asparagus and was good to go!

My general principle is to ask for substitutions, usually to swap out sides of rice/potato/white carb for some veggies. This is what can make the ultimate pollo bowl at El Pollo Loco somewhat paleo. Chipotle have highly flexible options.

Though in many cases, the follow up is needed: "that's okay if it's an extra charge." But usually worth it for me.

answered Dec 18 2010 at 0:03

JoeBranca at paleoplusone.com
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	I really gotta get over being afraid to say I'm GF! Maybe because it's never been "diagnosed", I almost feel like I'm lying, but after seeing the changes in just 3 weeks...It's probably not a lie at all! I'll remember that phrase about it being okay for extra charge...it is totally worth it! – Sigil Dec 18 2010 at 0:10
	I tell them I am Gluten Intolerant, I have NEVER been charged extra. The only places that charge extra are if you want a GF Hamburger Bun or something silly candy cigarette like that. Eat real food. PF Changs has a GF Menu btw. – Stephen-Aegis Dec 18 2010 at 0:17
	If you're seeing changes after just a few weeks GF, then it's not a lie at all! However, you do need to sit down and really contemplate a gluten-free life before you go telling your friends and family. It's not a "I'll go GF on Monday again" sort of diet. – Heather Dec 18 2010 at 15:26

ricechek · Answer 7 · 2010-12-18 00:15:15Z UTC

What works for me (but it's never perfection):

Ask if food can be cooked in butter, when possible (like eggs for breakfast, or sauteed greens).
Ask for EVOO, if possible (uncanny how many places have barrels of canola oil!).
No added sugar (sometimes I fib and say I'm "pre-diabetic" so they take me more seriously). This is a must at Thai restaurants.
No wheat (although hard to escape if gravy or breading is involved). Gluten-free choices are a value-add!
Usually no starch, add extra veggies (but I occasionally eat small amounts of potatoes and white rice).
Grilled meat with no added salt.

PF CHANG'S EXAMPLE: I'll order the northern style spare ribs appetizer and one of the gluten-free entrees like beef/broccoli. Since I know I can't escape PUFAs there, I load up on fish/krill oil beforehand. YMMV

Adam Crafter · Answer 8 · 2011-01-10 21:23:49Z UTC

Instead of a list, I'll just say that Bonefish Grill has been the best for me in terms of service and gluten free menu.

Once the waittron notices that I have asked for the GF menu, they are very helpful, and are even suggesting other ways to make dishes paleo that i had not thought of right away.

Adam recommends the ceasar without croutons, with anchovy fillets on top.

They never charge me extra for the extra fish on my salad, and i love them so.

bittykitty · Answer 9 · 2011-02-08 19:31:45Z UTC

Do NOT use Olive Garden!I asked for a gluten free menu,made it clear I was ordering from the gluten free menu, and was treated to a big plate of wheat pasta(nothing else on the menu in my price range but the gluten free penne, and I was out to dinner with my boss)+ three days of stomach pains,intestinal bleeding,mouth ulcers,nerve issues ect.They were nice enough to apologize and refund the money,but from other sources, I am by far not the first person this happened to.Mexican places are normally pretty easy to work with, and I've heard Bonefish is as well.

UrbanStoneAge · Answer 10 · 2011-01-09 22:11:21Z UTC

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There's a new iPhone app that provides exactly what you're asking for! It's called PaleoGoGo, and you can check it out at www.paleogogo.com.

answered Jan 9 2011 at 22:11

UrbanStoneAge
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	I don't have any i-products, so I'm afraid that's a pass for me XD – Sigil Jan 10 2011 at 7:43
	at $5 it's expensive, and as noted in reviews, doesn't adhere to paleo very well, which is important for the people that actually NEED help. – Stephen-Aegis Jan 10 2011 at 23:05

Chickenosaurus Rex · Answer 11 · 2011-01-09 23:40:22Z UTC

Unless you have celiac or severe gluten intolerance, Subway can save the day in pinch. I get the foot long Philly cheese steak made into a salad. They'll make any sandwich into a salad. With the wide choice of veggies, it's a pretty good option, though next time I'm going to ask for double meat. A serving of meat at Subway isn't much.

I am sensitive to gluten and other grains, and I didn't get sick the last time I stopped at Subway. I made sure they used clean gloves and kept my food away from any bread, bread crumbs, etc.

TedB · Answer 12 · 2011-04-21 21:52:33Z UTC

Just heard about this place which is somewhat paleo friendly:

. Roam Artisan Burgers in San Francisco

Roam Artisan Burgers offers diners a choice of grassfed beef, freerange turkey, all-natural bison or house-made organic veggie burgers.

All of Roam’s meat comes from a select group of purveyors and is humanely raised on open pastures.

What’s more, Roam’s fries are cooked in rice bran oil, pickles are made in house, the sodas are sweetened with low-glycemic agave nectar, and nothing contains corn syrup or added trans fats. Meals are paired with organic milkshakes, house-made sodas, wine and kombucha on tap and local beers.

Joshua · Answer 13 · 2012-01-25 15:17:52Z UTC

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Cheesecake Factory Farmhouse burger w/out a bun - awesome

Chipotle Burrito Bowl or Salad w/double meat.

Sonny's BBQ, meat + salad bar (if I'm fairly desperate)

Those are my 3 go-to places.

answered Jan 25 2012 at 15:17

Joshua
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LianeMJ · Answer 14 · 2012-05-09 22:51:19Z UTC

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Wait wait wait - BUTTER? Is that paleo? You are confusing a newb here!

answered May 9 2012 at 22:51

LianeMJ
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Julie · Answer 15 · 2013-01-22 03:37:49Z UTC

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Chili's has some great Paleo options...steak and steamed veggies, mango salsa chicken and veggies.

answered Jan 22 at 3:37

Julie
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List of Paleo-ish Options at chain restaurants?

15 Answers

They never charge me extra for the extra fish on my salad, and i love them so.