Perkins

I have updated their menu today.

Over the counter meds and you

After being diagnosed allergic to milk, I was told that I could take Benadryl if I accidentally ate something with dairy in it.  Me being the saving money type, I bought the store brand instead.  Bad mistake!  My husband bought some Allegra for his summer allergies, and reading the label, he said that I could not take them.  Then he said, (grrr)  wouldn't that be funny if you were allergic to your allergy meds?  *me...not so amused* So, I went to read the label.  Turns out, I AM allergic to my allergy meds!  It has a milk product used as a binding agent.  Checking alot of other labels in the house, turns out there are alot of things in your over the counter meds you need to be aware of.  If you are gluten free, be aware that some companies use modified food starch, pregelatinized starch (usually from an unnamed food source) as a filler/binding agent.  The same with Dairy free.  Many companies use Lactose Monohydrate which is a milk sugar and if you are severely allergic WILL cause you problems.

So, READ, read, read your labels!  

I will be attaching a list of over the counter meds that are gluten and dairy free soon!


Advil
200 mg tablets
caplets
gel caplets
Liqui-gels
Advil Migraine

Tylenol
Everything that is currently available(not every product
is available due to changes in their manufacturing plants)
is gluten/dairy free (as of June, 10, 2013)

Tums
Everything they sell is fine except the Tums Dual Action
Berry Flavor. Gluten free can have them, Dairy free can not

Vicks
includes Nyquil, Nature Fusion, Sinex, Formula 44

Benadryl
All products

Claritin
Reditabs
Liquigels
Tablets are gluten free, not dairy free

Claritin D
12 hr is not dairy free
24 hr is dairy and gluten free

Claritin Childrens
Chewables
Syrup
Reditabs
Sudafed
Sudafed 12 Pressure and Pain  (not dairy free)
Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (contains pregelatinized starch no source)
Sudafed Congestion (contains pregelatinized starch no source)
Sudafed PE Congestion (same as above)
Sudafed PE Day and Night Congestion(same as above)
Sudafed PE non drying sinus (same as above)
Sudafed 12 hour good for both
Sudafed 24 hour good also
Sudafed PE Sinus and Allergy (pregelatinized starch)
Sudafed PE Cold and Cough  (same as above)
Sudafed PE Severe Cold good for both
Sudafed Triple Action (pregelatinized starch)
Sudafed PE Triple Action (same as above)
Children's Sudafed Nasal Decongestant Grape Good for both
Children's Sudafed PE nasal decon, Raspberry  good for both
Childrens Sudafed PE Cold and Cough Grape  good for both

Pediacare
all products are gluten/dairy free

Goody's
Extra Strenght headache powder  (not dairy free)
Extra strenght caplets good for both
migraine releif caplets good for both
PM Powder (not dairy free)
Body Pain Powder  (not dairy free)
Cool Orange Powder good for both


Alka-Seltzer
Fruit Chews (not gluten free)
Original  good for both
Extra Strength
Lemon-Lime
Heartburn Relief
Gold

St. Joseph's
Aspirin  all types are not gluten free
Maximum Strenght Flu good for both
Cough and Cold HBP  good for both
Chest congestion and cough HBP  good for both

New Restaurants

If you have any restaurant you would like to see on my blog, please post a comment and I'll put it on there.  I will also do Dairy Free listings for you.  I am still in the works of updating the current list with dairy free.

No Milk for Me!

After 6 months of being gluten free, I was talking with my Dr about the problems I am still having, so he sent me for allergy testing.  Turns out, I've been severely allergic to milk all this time not the wheat!

I will be keeping up the Gluten Free Dining and adding a separate menu for each place for Dairy Free.

1 week off of ANYTHING dairy, I am feeling much better, but slightly depressed when I think of everything I can't eat now.  I will get over it.  He says I am also slightly allergic to beef and caesin.  So  just keep the cows away from me and I'll be alright!

Updating Menu's

As of this post, I have made a few changes to some of the Menu's listed here.  I will be trying to contact each company about their menu's (and possibly making some suggestions).

If you are worried about anything anywhere,  just ask your server or manager.

French Fries

If you are addicted to French Fries (like me)  you really need to be careful when ordering them anywhere.  Chris took me out to eat this week at Applebee's.  I was happy to see fries on their gluten free menu.  However, after questioning the waitress, I found that they are fried in the same oil as everything else in the restaurant.  I mean EVERYTHING!  Fried Chicken, onion slices, shrimp, anything that is 'fried' on their menu is fried in the same vat of oil.  It is actually frightening to me.  Imagine if you have a shellfish allergy and it says you can eat these?  I am especially sensitive to wheat and can not eat foods that have been fried in the same oil as flour coated foods. So be aware that not all that is listed is golden.  ASK, ask, ask and if the waiter/waitress doesn't know, ask for the manager.  One small slip on a menu can mean bad days of suffering!

Gluten Free? Now what do I do?!

Ok, so, you've become intolerant to Wheat.  As this blog progresses, I will give you a list of restaurants that offer gluten free menus and suggest alternatives to some of their regular menu items that will be gluten free if you exchange one item for another.  Most restaurants have no problem doing so to make you happy.


Having done a lot of restaurant research, I have found that a good amount of the 'gluten free' restaurant lists turn out to be 'buy my book' sites.  This one is completely free.  I will continue to update and add to my list as time goes by.  If you know of a restaurant you would like added, please feel free to ask.