Many people today follow a gluten-free diet because they have celiac disease, a gluten allergy or a gluten intolerance. Eating this way often makes it difficult to eat in fast food restaurants because so much of the menu is made up of items that contain gluten. However, many restaurants are increasingly becoming aware of this health condition and making gluten-free options available for those who want them.
Salad
Fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten-free and choosing a salad at a fast food restaurant is usually a safe choice. Dressings and croutons, however, often contain gluten. Many fast food restaurants also feature salads with meats on them. Grilled meats are generally safe to eat on a gluten-free diet, but you should avoid breaded meats as they contain gluten on the outside coating, says QuickCare.org. The Chicken Bacon and Ranch and the Spicy Italian salads at Subway are both good gluten-free options. Both the ranch and red wine vinaigrette dressings at Subway are gluten free. A side garden salad without the croutons with ranch dressing is a safe choice at Burger King.
Bunless Burgers
Choosing a burger or sandwich without the bun often renders it a safe choice, according to QuickCare.org. Skip the breaded chicken or fish sandwiches and stick to grilled beef or chicken. Many fast food restaurants offer to wrap your sandwich fillings in a piece of lettuce to create a wrap as an alternative to the bun. Corn tortillas are gluten free and can be used to make a wrap if they are available. A Whopper Jr. without the bun at Burger King is gluten-free, as is a bunless burger at Sonic.
Eggs
Many fast food restaurants that offer a breakfast menu that serves up eggs in the morning. Egg sandwiches should be avoided because the bun contains gluten, but eggs wrapped in corn tortillas are safe as are eggs served with bacon, reports QuickCare.org. Some fast food places don't always use a dedicated griddle for eggs so you can ask to be sure if you are very sensitive to gluten. Most potato products that accompany eggs are safe to eat as long as they are not fried in the same oil as chicken nuggets or other fried foods. Burger King's breakfast bowl is gluten-free. An Egg McMuffin without the bread and a breakfast burrito without the tortilla are both gluten-free options at McDonald's.
Soft Serve Ice Cream
Soft serve ice cream is safe to eat if you follow a gluten-free diet, reports QuickCare.org, but skip the cone. In addition, some of the sauces and toppings may not be gluten-free, so scan the ingredients list. Dairy Queen and Sonic serve gluten-free soft serve ice cream. The shakes offered at McDonald's are gluten-free as well.
