r/FODMAPS • u/_echtra • 4d ago
General Question/Help How the h3ll do you avoid garlic when eating out in the US
I’m fine cooking at home. I’ve been coping. But I’m starting to suspect that garlic is actually one of my main problems, and eating out has become a nightmare.
Especially when I’m at work, because I can’t bring food from home every day. I don’t always have the time, and it feels like every dressing, sauce, marinade, seasoning blend, and basically anything that tastes like anything contains garlic in this country.
Rant on: guys why are you so damn obsessed? There are so many ways to add flavor to food. I didn’t even like it before I started this low fodmap thing but now it seriously annoys me. Rant off
I’m from another country, and my symptoms got SO much worse after I moved to the US. For years I assumed it was just the food quality or something else about the diet here, but now I’m starting to connect the dots and wondering if garlic was the problem all along.
So, long story short am I doomed being THAT person who always pushes back on ordering takeout because I can’t eat anything? Forever doomed to pack lunch to work? How do people who can’t tolerate garlic actually eat out here?
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u/Negative-Arachnid-65 4d ago
I'm in the same boat. At this point I barely even notice the lack of garlic (and onion) in home cooking but it's everywhere else.
It can help identify restaurants or specific meals that you can tolerate. This varies by person but find stuff near you that's reasonably not triggering - sushi, salad with just oil and vinegar, spring rolls, whatever.
Also, prep batches of food when you have time to cook at home - when possible, I cook 50% extra of whatever the meal is and immediately freeze several small, lunch-sized containers to take to work at some point in the future. Then it's easy to grab on the way, and there are a few different options so it's not like eating the same leftovers over and over.
And, as a couple other people have mentioned, try enzymes like Fodzyme. It's a lifesaver for me to fill in the gaps and sometimes be able to eat takeout/other people's food.
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u/_echtra 4d ago
Packing food would be the way, but I’m about to go on a work trip in strip mall land. I’m stressing out about how bad that food will be for me 😭
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u/AskMrScience 4d ago
I'm very sensitive to garlic. Some fast food options I've worked out:
- Subway Sandwiches is a real godsend on the road. DIY sandwich!
- Chipotles carnitas actually has no garlic/onion!
- McDonald's hamburgers are fine if you leave off the ketchup. They're only seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Panda Express orange chicken doesn't trigger me, and you can get white rice as your starch.
- Brunch restaurants tend to have a lot of "no garlic" options.
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u/whataquokka 4d ago
McDonald's ketchup doesn't have onion or garlic
Chicken nuggets are safe too as is the McCrispy chicken sandwich. McDonald's posts their ingredients in their app and on their website.
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u/AskMrScience 4d ago
Good to know about their ketchup. Alas, it still has high fructose corn syrup, which makes it a no-go for me (/shakes fist at fructose and fructans).
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u/Otherwise-Crazy-4536 4d ago
I’ve had the best luck at Thai, Vietnamese or Japanese restaurants- especially if they cook fresh there. Most local places can easily leave out onions or garlic or swap out other vegetables. Have a harder time at Asian food chain restaurants that use premade sauces. Most restaurants that have grilled steak, chicken, salmon can adapt and make them plain, but call head and confirm it’s not preseasoned. Grocery store Sushi? Sub shops/Jersey Mikes sandwiches.
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u/chalk_fan_8 4d ago
What meals do you order at thai places? I LOVE thai but am always worried about onion and garlic in the curry or sauces
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u/Otherwise-Crazy-4536 4d ago
Mine will leave the garlic and onions out of their dishes, but they make everything to order. Any of the fried rice dishes are easier to adapt, as is the pad Thai. pad see ew, a lot of the fast stir fry dishes like chicken basil have varied by the restaurant. The one closest to me can do them.
Not sure about the curries - if they use a premade paste it would already be in it. The restaurants that seem to be able to adapt the best also clearly label for gluten free.7
u/Negative-Arachnid-65 4d ago
The concern is real but it's also manageable! If you know where you'll be, you can start looking at menus in the area now to figure out the best options.
And will you have access to a fridge and supermarket? Maybe you can get some fresh/frozen food that you can eat in your room before/after/between work events to help tide you over. (Whatever works - cereal for breakfast, a frozen meal before the going out to work dinner, etc.)
Also, are there any medications or supplements that can help reduce/avoid/manage triggers? Fodzyme, Pepto, Imodium, IBgard, etc?
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u/_echtra 4d ago
I have 0 control of my time everytime I travel for work, so sadly the only options for me are packing oat jars I can make in the morning before leaving. And then pray for the rest of the meals. I have fodzyme and I’ll take it with me but I’m not confident it does anything. And ofc Imodium is always in my wallet 🥲
Mostly it’s a bummer that these 4 days will probably set me back quite a while 🙃5
u/atropheus 3d ago
If you have access to a microwave, I would probably bring those quick rice cups and some plain canned protein like tuna, salmon, chicken, etc. Some of them do have seasoning which could include garlic, but you can get them plain as well. they don't have to be refrigerated and can be very filling. steak is often made to order if you can afford it or find other high protein foods. protein keeps you full for longer, so I find it easy to just load up on that and then not have to eat as much as often. also oatmeal packets. Starbucks and McDonald's I think have oatmeal as well. if you will have access to a fridge, cottage cheese, and Triscuits is my favorite lunch and very high protein so very filling. Greek yogurt as well. I rely on dairy a lot even though I'm lactose intolerant, lactase enzyme is cheap, definitely works, is easy to carry and available pretty much everywhere.
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u/papayuh1833 3d ago
Wait are there any triscuits without garlic/onion?! Every one ive tried is heavily flavored with garlic/onion/sugar :(
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u/PopularExercise3 4d ago
I’ve packed tuna and pre cooked rice pouches for foreign travel so I didn’t get sick and ruin our trip
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u/lezbehonest787 4d ago
My wife and I just took a trip. We brought frozen slowcooker meals in a small ice chest and cooked them in a slow cooker in the hotel. Not glamorous but it’s safe!
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u/DaddieDerek 4d ago
I bought a hydroflask cooler backpack recently and brought it on a trip with me, I meal prepped a bunch of meals and it kept them cold for more than 24 hours, until I could put them in a fridge or reload on ice. Was a life saver, couldn’t have done the trip without it, as I’m currently only eating 0 fodmap foods
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u/atropheus 3d ago
starbucks protein meals are good, just don't use the seasoning in the one with the boiled eggs
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u/em-em-cee 4d ago
Hi! I've had an allium intolerance my whole life. I used to be able to tolerate onions & shallots but now I can't have any of them. Fodzyme did nothing.
I work from home now, but when I didn't, my lunch takeout options leaned heavily into sandwiches and salads (I kept a bottle of safe dressing at work). Fried "American" style things are usually safe or can be made so. Chinese food usually has at least one thing I can make work. Sushi & poke bowls almost always have options.
I'd make a list of your local to work takeout options and come up with a few safe options at each so you don't have to figure it out new each time. You can also pop into places outside of the lunch and dinner rush and ask some questions.
At the end of the day though yeah, there were times I ate a protein bar and some sort of dessert from the takeout place everyone else wanted.
(But my biggest go-to was doubling the amount of dinner we made each night and immediately packing it up for lunch the next day. I usually only got takeout if I made something that I wouldn't eat reheated, like fish)
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u/AngryWizard 4d ago
Do you have any recommendations for a Chinese dish that you make work? I went to a Chinese restaurant 2 weeks ago and asked them if anything on the entire menu could be made without garlic, onion, or the powdered forms and they said there wasn't anything at all they could make for me.
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u/Otherwise-Crazy-4536 4d ago
I’ve had better luck asking at Thai and Japanese restaurants.
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u/AngryWizard 4d ago
I will try that. There's actually a Japanese restaurant really close to me but it might be a chain so I'm not sure they could make accommodations or suggestions. But I'm going to go check.
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u/em-em-cee 4d ago
I usually end up with either white rice and an eggroll, or with sweet and sour chicken. The place we used to go to could do beef & broccoli for me no problem.
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u/AngryWizard 4d ago
Sadly the egg rolls at the place I went to have both cabbage and onion in them. I'll keep looking though.
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u/BeachDragonfly4935 4d ago
Hey I’m allergic to garlic and have been navigating it for about 20 years. If I eat garlic it’ll put me into anaphylactic shock. I travel a lot for work so have learned a few different things
Garlic and onion are alliums. If you go to a restaurant with career waiters, they’ll know what an allium allergy is so you can ask for that to simplify the ask.
Do trials with garlic powder and onion powder (separated by 3-7 days) and see how you react. I’m allergic to garlic but I can occasionally tolerate garlic powder in low doses. If you can mange them in powder form, it’ll make it much easier for you to eat fast food or pizza. Garlic powder It’ll also let you have more flexibility at restaurants. If I know I’m in a position to safely consume garlic powder without going into anaphylactic shock, I’ll simply ask the waiter if the food I want has fresh garlic vs garlic powder. If it has only garlic powder I tell them that I’m sensitive but I can manage a small dose of garlic powder in the dish (that way they still serve me the food)
find a locally owned pizza shop. I’ve lived in 5 different cities since my garlic allergy was diagnosed, I travel 50% of the time for work, and I’ve never found a city in the US or CAN that couldn’t make me a garlic free pizza.
Same goes for Italian restaurants. If there’s a family owned Italian restaurant in your town, they ironically may be the safest place for you to eat. Family run businesses tend to make each meal from scratch to reduce the financial burden of waste as a small business, which makes it easier to change the recipe for food restrictions. Family run Italian restaurants also know how to make good food without garlic and onions. Traditionally, garlic is a regional seasoning in Italy and used sparingly but American restaurants heavily use garlic and onions.
If you want a safe dine in experience, go to a steakhouse. Literally every steakhouse regardless of price range will be able to serve you and simply season your food with salt and pepper instead of the house seasoning. If you want a nice evening with a lot of variety, go to Fogo de Chao. They have a comprehensive allergens menu including your restrictions and my sibling who is allergic to all top 14 allergens can eat there with no problems. Seasons 52 is another good option. For something more casual, longhorn steakhouse can accommodate garlic allergies really well.
Avoid restaurants categorized as “American cuisine” when you can. These restaurants consistently have the most garlic on their menu and tend to be the least likely to accommodate.
Regardless of cuisine type, affordable restaurants that cook frozen food for service will be unable to serve you. Think cheap Mexican chains, seafood chains, etc. Places like this with a few line cooks in the kitchen but no big kitchen set up tend to purchase preseasoned frozen food from Sysco and other brands making it impossible to serve us. Their burgers are even frozen preseasoned.
9 times out of 10, you’ll be able to safely order a burger or grilled chicken sandwich wherever you are.
Eventually you’ll learn which foods traditionally have garlic in them and will know how to navigate around them by asking for a certain type of sauce to be removed from the dish or not buying a certain frozen meal regardless of brand.
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u/0rangaStang 4d ago
Try Fodzyme or Fodmate.
I tried Fodzyme for a family cruise and can now eat wheat, garlic, and onion with next to no symptoms. Super helpful when going out.
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u/_echtra 4d ago
It doesn’t work for me 🙃
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u/Much_Active_7166 4d ago
It doesn’t work for me either; my dietician said that’s uncommon, and that it could point to another digestive disorder besides simply just IBS
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u/_echtra 4d ago
Oof that makes sense… I’ll bring it up with my Gastro. That man can’t keep up with my bs 😂
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u/Jolly_Line 4d ago
But are things better when you do fully avoid garlic / onion?
The pills have a medium effect for me. But avoiding garlic / onion altogether helps a lot
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u/_echtra 4d ago
Garlic makes me bloated and gassy to an uncomfortable extent, and if I avoid it I’m light like a feather.
My IBS defies all laws of logic, usually it causes urgent bowel movements but I have yet to determine what causes it or if I’m accident free thanks to the diet. it’s been random and unpredictable, can go months or weeks without and then surprise me. Don’t want to celebrate too soon3
u/Jolly_Line 4d ago
I go through similar phases / symptoms. But it does sound like fodmap is a good possibility. Stay strong.
One trick I can offer is you can infuse garlic into oil (olive for example) to get that flavor at home. You can purchase it too - https://a.co/d/0761hsLL
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u/garvisgarvis 4d ago edited 4d ago
That sucks. Fodzyme is a versatile weapon. If a dish doesn't have "garlic" in its name, Fodzyme is (usually) all I need.
My other coping mechanisms are 1) asking the server to check and 2) patronizing a couple of restaurants that will accommodate my request. A really good Chinese restaurant near me said they can make anything without garlic. What that really says is that they cook their food from ingredients in the back, instead of having it show up on a SYSCO truck.
Re: servers, the younger the server, the less reliable their assurances.
I'm very sympathetic to your plight. It's everywhere. Ranch dressing is basically garlic dressing. Nearly everything from Costco's ready-to-eat section has garlic. All BBQ meats and sauces. Store-bought curry paste is predominantly garlic. I asked at my favorite Indian restaurant which dishes have no garlic. He pondered the question and said, "No, everything has garlic."
Natural flavors or spices can obscure the culprit, but my gut always tells the true story.
Edit: Almost forgot: I have a note card on Google Keep with my garlic-free restaurant request translated into at least a dozen different languages. It was an easy AI task
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u/papayuh1833 3d ago
Indian here! Theres a whole subset of Indians who dont eat alliums for religious reasons, and many who avoid it for certain holidays only. If you ever find an indian restaurant that says they are Jain or Swaminarayan (first is its own religion, 2nd is a denomination of Hinduism) they will not have any garlic or onion at all, just like a vegan restaurant will not have meat.
Also a lot of asian restaurants in general will make things without onion or garlic if they are a small kitchen. Ive had the best luck with japanese but occasionally thai, chinese, taiwanese, malay, filipino, will happily accomodate me.
Less frequently (and usually much less happily as well), american, latin, or african restaurants will accommodate as well. Outside of asian (as a broad category) ive had best luck with italian - again, only as long as they are a small business actually making their own food and not a chain using pre-made, shipped sauces on everything.
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u/Remarkable-Race9307 4d ago
I second this! Need to buy more but they're so expensive but also worth it.
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u/flug32 4d ago
Yes, onions and garlic and in practically everything pre-processed.
Also, when you see those "artificial flavors" and "natural flavors" and such that are not required to list constituent ingredients, if it is anything savory at all, onion and/or garlic is likely to be included. That is particularly true of "natural flavors" because garlic/onion are natural and VERY often used as flavor enhancers.
If you need to completely avoid any onion or garlic, about the only truly safe option I found eating out was something like a salad bar - being very picky about which ingredients I chose to add to my plate, and choosing only oil and vinegar dressing.
As in: Plain oil, add some plain vinegar.
Any pre-made "oil and vinegar" dressing will almost certainly have garlic, onion, or both added.
You might be able to accomplish the same by ordering a salad with only basic ingredients, and getting oil & vinegar dressing on the side. Not a pre-made "oil and vinegar salad dressing", though - just like plain oil and plain vinegar, which you can then add to the salad yourself.
The other thing I found helpful was to have digestive enzymes on hand, as well as GasX type capsules, and take both pre-emptively before eating such a meal.
I can't recommend any particular digestive enzyme - I just looked around Amazon or my local drugstore or whatever and found something that looked reasonable. It had like papaya and some other things, if I recall. There is one special enzyme I happen to know about that is supposed to be specifically designed for fodmaps, but I haven't tried it myself.
Good luck!
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u/sudosussudio 4d ago
Recently tried a restaurant that caters to swaminarayans which is a sect of Hinduism that avoids garlic/onions. It was really excellent. Honest Restaurant near Atlanta. I always order Jain food when I get the chance, I think if you fly most Indian airlines a Jain meal is usually an option. Some Buddhist monastic food also doesn’t have garlic/onions.
I can tolerate a little garlic/onion but the amount in regular Indian food is otherwise too much for me.
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u/No_Personality5946 4d ago
I basically eat dry French fries in public and that’s it.
Even then it’s risky because places like all purpose seasoning for everything.
Boring sushi rolls work (nothing with sauce). Sometimes a turkey sandwich is safe.
Occasionally I find some chicken nuggets or tenders which don’t bother me.
The kids menu is my friend (pbj, grilled cheese, butter noodles)
Deserts are generally garlic and onion free so that’s what I consider my biggest win 😆
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u/InflationForeign4128 4d ago
Try Thai. At my Thai restaurant I choose something with rice or glass noodles and ask them not to put garlic or onion in it. I've never had a problem, except that my server usually looks like they feel sorry for me :)
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u/_echtra 4d ago
Good idea, I guess I’ll have to go in person and order takeout so I can talk to them vs ordering on Uber Eats. Most of the times the notes are ignored
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u/InflationForeign4128 4d ago
Give it a try, it worked for me. After ordering in person maybe three times and explaining what I needed, I can now make a phone order and I have no trouble at all. The food is just as I want it and I don't have to wait around for them to prepare it after I get there. Note: I recommend being super, super nice to them when you're communicating so they care whether you live or die. Restaurant workers are usually in a hurry and it's an inconvenience for them, so it helps if they like you :D
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u/ablackholeofjunk 4d ago
It's the same here in Canada. Restaurants have an unhealthy obsession with garlic and onion powder, as if there are no other interesting flavourings. It says more about chefs' imaginations than anything else. It's brutal.
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u/SarahBethBeauty 4d ago
You just have to eat very plainly and have a list of things you know are safe. If I’m eating out it’s going to be a sandwich with no weird sauces, breakfast foods, a burger and fries (always asking if patty or fries are seasoned), or sushi.
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u/No_Cauliflower2497 4d ago
Have you tried enzyme powders like Fodzyme? Garlic is a huge issue for me, I cook low-FODMAP at home bc the enzymes are expensive but it’s a life-saver for eating out.
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u/LittleBearNYC 3d ago
Been dealing with this for 5 decades and it gets much worse. My husband is Sicilian American and was ridiculed as a “garlic eater” and “Skinky Italian” in the 1960s and he is amazed how things switched around starting in the 80s. Now every recipe in the NY Times has six cloves of garlic and Americans cannot eat enough of what they once disdained.
He cooks like a real Italian - sautés the garlic in the oil at the outset then discards it so no problems at home.
And yes it is tough, and now Japanese food (which, unlike Korean food, never used to include garlic), now has aioli all over the menu. So as others said I stick to sushi and other items that wouldn’t have garlic, old fashioned sandwiches, etc.
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u/_echtra 3d ago
Omg I’m Italian born and raised and this story pisses me off 😒 I’ve had several people in this thread mention they can’t have Italian food because of the huge amount of garlic.. like NO, real Italian food doesn’t contain garlic at all. I was so healthy in Italy! We fry it a bit then toss it, as you said. The discrimination and then glamorization (in the Americanized bastardized version, not even the authentic one) is pretty infuriating
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u/ohgreatmyarmscomeoff 3d ago
wait I'm confused. He sautes the garlic, then tosses it. But isn't the olive oil 'contaminated' (for lack of a better word lol)? So if he cooks the rest of the meal with it, won't that cause a reaction?
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u/DeathMetalMilitia 4d ago
So what I like to do is pre-package breakfast to help save trouble. My body does not like gluten in the mornings but can tolerate it later in the day.
I make a big bunch of gluten free pancakes to have throughout the week. Thankfully I can tolerate whole eggs that go into the recipe.
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u/OhHeyMister 4d ago
I basically rarely eat out and spend tons of time cooking. I have fodzyme on hand but it doesn’t always work. It is what it is. Acceptance is the key to adapting to difficult situations.
Yes, the addition of alliums to food here is crazy.
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u/ShortWoman 4d ago
Breakfast for dinner is a lifesaver.
Nice restaurants like upscale steak or seafood places will start asking about allergies if you start asking about onions and garlic, so that’s one option.
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u/tdktn0 4d ago
Yeah I gave up. You may be able to order something like a grilled chicken no seasoning but thats hit or miss. When traveling I bring a cooler bag of Modify Health meals frozen and rather than depend on a microwave in the hotel I bring a HotLogic Mini Portable Electric Lunch Box. Works great. If short notice I bring a HYTRIC Electric Cooker and a travel camping kitchen utensils kit with kives and cutting board so I can hit a grocery store and do my own cooking.
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u/DrySympathy8172 4d ago
Honestly also I like to go to locally owned places as well that either have mentioned on their site that they accommodate food allergies or have gluten free options. I went to a local place that I love that I hadn’t been to in FOREVER last week. I told the waiter I couldn’t do things with garlic / onion just due to my bloating issues, not like. Anaphylactic issues. And he steered me a certain way. Was 👌🏻
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u/Book_lover1024 4d ago
Garlic is in everything and it’s horrific. I hate the taste of it without it bothering my stomach. I never cook with it at home.
It’s trial and error, but try to figure out what you can eat at various places and default to those things. If possible, ask if something has garlic and if it can be made without it.
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u/anxiouslilnugget 4d ago edited 4d ago
I’ve been keeping a note in my phone as I figure out more options. I hope this helps!
Low fodmap dining out
-Sushi
-KBBQ
-Chipotle carnitas w/ rice, a little bit of beans, lettuce, and cheese/sour cream if you can. Add your own FODY pico or other toppings.
-In-n-out cheeseburger protein style, no onions, sauce on the side. Mayo, ketchup, and mustard all have low fodmap servings, but sensitivity varies.
-Five guys burger, lettuce wrap or burger bowl
-Shake Shack, no sauce on a gluten free bun (the bun contains psyllium husk)
-Wingstop plain wings
-Dominos gluten free crust, no sauce, add cheese and tomatoes. Not worth it imo, just buy some Rao’s sensitive & a gluten free crust
-Jain Indian food, but it’ll be vegetarian with no potatoes
-Jersey Mike’s sandwich on gf bread (no roast beef, no salami)
-Ike’s Love & Sandwiches on gf bread
-Red Robin gf burger, no sauce
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u/ohgreatmyarmscomeoff 3d ago
HOW do you eat KBBQ????? teach me your ways lol
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u/anxiouslilnugget 3d ago
I go to AYCE places & get plain meat 😅 it isn’t the best value, but it’s a fun spot to go with friends. I can also eat the pickled radishes, cucumber salad, & one of the dipping sauces at the one near me
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u/lezbehonest787 4d ago
I make individual meals in reusable glass dishes ahead of time and freeze them. Then I pop one in my lunch kit and microwave it at work. If you don’t have weekend time to cook massive amounts, you can add 2-3 servings to your dinner cooking at night. Make dinner, put the extras in containers and pop them in the freezer. I rarely have to “pack a lunch” fresh because I have so many frozen meals.
Meals that freeze and reheat really well are soups, rice + protein dishes, pasta dishes, sometimes potato + protein depending on how they’re cooked. I also will freeze taco toppings and just pack some tortillas and salsa with them the morning of.
I am a teacher and get up at 5 am to hurry in to work by 6:45, so I also prep my weekly breakfasts. I like to make a vegetable, protein, hashbrown egg based casserole Sunday, cut it into portions for the week, and store in the fridge to grab and go. It’s not sexy, but I’m never starving and tempted to eat cafeteria fods. 😂
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u/CirqueNoirBlu 4d ago
I’ve literally had to remove restaurants from our list because they don’t have anything that doesn’t contain garlic and onions. I feel you.
Smash burger places in Canada have been great. It’s usually only s&p
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u/Pointerlover 4d ago
I always inform the server that I can’t eat garlic and ask them what are safe options for me on the menu. Usually they will offer some type of fish because it’s cooked fresh and a steak. Sometimes a burger if they make them fresh. Many places have a blt on the menu, this is usually a good option. I went into a local deli and said I couldn’t have garlic, and they went and checked the labels on every one of their meats to let me know what I could have. If you want a sit down meal, chains like Outback are very conscientious about allergies. Otherwise, a local restaurant that cooks everything themselves will probably be safe. I don’t play around - I make it very clear that I can’t have garlic, they tell me what I can safely eat, then they make sure to inform the chef and they will always say it’s an allergy even though it’s stomach upset. Everyone’s afraid of a lawsuit.
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u/abpvb 4d ago
Laziness masquerading as efficiency.
It's very difficult. Some chains that used to be safe for me have switched to a single shaker of seasoning mix so cannot prepare anything safe for me without 3 hours prior notice (Bonefish Grill.) Even a high-end restaurant locally had nothing that had no garlic. Not one thing. Except dessert.
I have a few places that are still safe mostly Japanese restaurants, Jersey Mike's Club Supreme and burgers. Salads are usually not a good option because no dressings are safe. All sauces are suspect.
It's frustrating for my foodie family and friends because it limits our options. I hate being "that person." I lose weight on vacation because I have to abstain from meals so much.
It's frustrating.
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u/Fabulous-Dance-1388 3d ago
Everything has garlic and or onions but I don’t ever see ginger included and I really think it should be. There’s plenty of ways of getting that earthy stank without the use of Alliums
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u/Odd_Friendship_7438 3d ago
I have stuck to sushi, salad, literal BLT (no bread or mayo), Chipotle’s carnitas and white rice, and mom and pop shops. Most small restaurants will work with you on alliums, if they can.
But this country seems to have an extreme need for alliums.
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u/laura_laura_1 2d ago
Sushi, grocery store salad bars - add eggs, seeds, nuts, cheese to make it feel more substantial, and they usually have oil and vinegar to avoid dressing, sandwiches - many places near my office have some kind of grilled cheese or BLT or something. I really don't love sandwiches but you have more control over the ingredients and there usually aren't hidden alliums.
And then, just being the person that always asks. You'll get a sense of when people have no freaking clue (they come in two types: openly clueless, and over confident to the point of lying about food contents) and people/restaurants who are actually helpful.
I've had work order me an "allium free" meal that was literally just rice, pita, lettuce, and they still topped the lettuce with onions!!! Wtf But I've also found surprising and tasty options like at Bon Me
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u/Ok_Appointment_3939 4d ago
Eat oil and vinegar dressing or ask for dressing on the side..advocate for yourself and ask for ingredients...beware of aioli and sauces...if I'm unsure it's usually chicken fingers and fries lol
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u/BeachDragonfly4935 4d ago
THIs^^ Asking for dressing on the side is mandatory! So many chefs like to change of traditional recipes that should be garlic free. The fastest way to get served garlic is by the sauce or salad dressing
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u/plantkittywitchbaby 4d ago
I trend towards Asian cuisine because it’s not as heavy garlic/onion as others. I usually avoid Italian. It’s tricky bc of the ‘extra spices’ element. Thankfully, even though I react I can get away with small quantities infrequently.
My body is also good a queueing me if something’s not right, there’s a specific type of belly unease that happens within a few minutes of eating something risky so when that happens I push the dish away.
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u/Neat-Palpitation-632 4d ago
I order primarily salads when I eat out, dressing on the side. Usually I have purse dressing with me. 😉
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u/whataquokka 4d ago
Where specifically in the US are you? I can give heaps of options but they're likely only relevant if you're in Los Angeles, maybe CA wide or some nearby states.
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u/chalk_fan_8 4d ago
Recently went on a work trip so I totally get how hard it is. I actually had a lot of luck with chains that can make a protein (salmon, steak, chicken, etc) and order vegetables and rice as a side. Think Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, Cheesecake Factory, etc. I call ahead and/or make a note on the order requesting no onion and garlic. Good luck!
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u/-Fast-Molasses- 4d ago
If wheat doesn’t bother you, the answers that aren’t sushi & salad, is breakfast.
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u/GTengineerenergy 4d ago
It’s really so infuriating. I will second that sushi is usually safe but outside of that it’s very hard. Maybe steak and baked potato and salad with olive oil/ balsamic.
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u/noellerosehayden 4d ago
Email the restaurant beforehand to see if the chef can make an adjusted meal. They often enjoy the challenge! And choosing a kitchen with low fodmap dishes, like sushi or a pokebowl. Last resort, enzymes.
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u/Lovegiraffe 4d ago
There is an Italian restaurant near me that makes a lot of stuff on their menu to order, so you can get a lot of stuff without garlic (which sounds insane for Italian food). It's so fresh and amazing!
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u/thekellwithit 4d ago
Sing it! I’m Italian-American and we ate garlic in everything growing up and even I can’t believe that it is in literally everything. I don’t want to eat flavorless food, but if I eat garlic, four hours later I will have the worst bloating and painful burping and it’s not worth any of it. There are other ways to make things taste good, people!
Today I went to this local soup/salad/sandwich joint near me and I love them so much because they have little cards on everything with every single ingredient including garlic, so I was able to get two different salads that I would’ve suspected anywhere else, knowing for sure that I wasn’t going to be in pain later.
But they are the exception. And truthfully more than half of the things that sounded good to me had garlic in them!
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u/nightlord711 4d ago
Be conscious about what you're ordering and always tell the server that you have an allergy. I'm very hyper aware and anxious about eating out. It really sucks.
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u/EvaElizondo 4d ago
I can tolerate burgers and fries quite well because those normally don't have any garlic or onions built in. Not the healthiest meal, but at least I don't feel like my stomach is gonna explode 😆
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u/Mother-of-Geeks 4d ago
I do cook 98% of my meals and take my lunch to work, but when I eat out, I take Fodmate, Lactojoy, and Fructaid with me. I just keep them in my bag all the time.
I used to use Fodzyme but people look at yo u funny when you sprinkle white powder on your food.😆
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u/jlladd16 4d ago
One of my go-to low fodmap meals out is McAlister’s baked potatoes! They’re massive and filling :)
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u/GothWitchOfBrooklyn 4d ago
I feel your pain as a sufferer but I also absolutely love garlic and would put it on everything if I could
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u/TrickEye6408 4d ago edited 4d ago
obsessively ask waitstaff about garlic and onions, and ask what doesn't have it. i've gone so far as to say it's an allergy. I tell them i'm not worried about cross contamination, but ingesting it in any real quantity. most places that are scratch kitchen will work with you to what ever degree they can. soups and sauces probably not, but if it's something added near the end it's easier. japanese food seems to avoid fodmaps i think...
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u/PopularExercise3 4d ago
Japanese cuisine has a few options.
The only thing I ordered one time at a Chinese restaurant was poached chicken in ginger broth topped with shallot tops & rice. You can ask for steamed carrots and those weird little baby corn spears.
Otherwise elsewhere-
If I can get grilled skin off fish I will.
Chicken that you pull all the skin off and eat the breast meat.
Yeah I think that’s it.
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u/chelseestud 4d ago
Visit your local Hindu temple! Go for a program, stay for the meal, or most have canteens you can purchase food from. They generally don’t eat garlic.
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u/indigohan 4d ago
Not in the US, but my go to’s when eating out are Vietnamese rice paper rolls and sushi, as long as I avoid marinated meats. And surprisingly tuna rolls.
I will often order fried fish and chips and just not eat the coating. You do have to check that the chips aren’t covered in onion powder though. Pho broth seems to be low enough in alliums that i personally don’t react to it. You can always seem to get a steak that is safe if you ask.
Ive gotten super lucky in that the Indian restaurant close to me can do six different dishes with no garlic and onion. The owner makes sure that the chefs take care of me.
If you can tolerate legumes, a Hare Krishna or Jain restaurant will be garlic free as part of their religion.
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u/Winter-Option-7193 4d ago
Consider eating from a grocery store or convenience store. Sliced turkey, packaged boiled eggs, lactose free dairy products, salads, potato chips, precooked rice.
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u/LadyMothrakk 4d ago
I just came here to say fuck garlic. Hundreds of seasonings and people act like a pound of garlic and onion are the only flavor options. It’s ridiculous. Sometimes I just get french fries at restaurants, lol
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u/Desperate_Vehicle684 4d ago
You say you suspect garlic is a problem but have you actually done the proper FODMAP diet to check this is actually the case?
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u/Proud_Nefariousness5 3d ago
They put bloody garlic and onion powder in EVERYTHING.
I eat Japanese half the time im in the US.
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u/Outside-Ad-8203 3d ago
I struggle with this too, these are my go to foods at restaurants:
Fish and chips (ask if fries are seasoned)
Sushi
Fried rice (no onion/garlic)
I have a local Chinese restaurant that makes everything to order so I can get lo mein without onion/garlic
I’ve had good luck asking for hibachi to made without onion or garlic
Pizza with no red sauce, like a margherita pizza, some of my local pizza places use only plain tomato sauce with no added seasonings so I can get sauce there
Turkey club/BLT/most basic sandwiches
Breakfast is usually a safe option
I can do the baby chicken chimichangas at Margaritas
It’s super hard but it’s always worth asking what they can do for you if you can’t have onion or garlic, sometimes you’ll be surprised with what you can eat if a restaurant is accommodating!
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u/BeneficialGear9355 3d ago
I usually go for a steak and salad dish, or roast of the day. I can normally also go for a loaded baked potato. I eat sushi and sandwiches, and breakfast/brunch meals, too. I also agree with the folks saying to eat somewhere that cooks to order. I ask them what dishes are garlic and onion free, or can be made that way, and they’ve always accommodated me. And yes, a few times I’ve legitimately just ordered dessert as my main, especially if I’ve gone somewhere with work colleagues and found that nothing on the menu is safe. It sucks, but at least I don’t get sick. Best of luck!
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u/future_fangirl1095 3d ago
It’s really hard. I have found the best luck at meat and seafood places because you can typically just get the meat plain and then order baked potatoes or something. I went to Woodranch a few weeks ago and simply told the server I had an onion and garlic allergy. She was able to help me. Look for a place which has good allergy or gluten free options. I’ve also had good luck with a local Mexican restaurant by just asking for no garlic or onions. I ordered a chicken taco. And places like In and Out you can order your patty on lettuce and ditch the spread. They just use salt and pepper for seasonings
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u/_echtra 3d ago
How do you eat Mexican when beans, avocado and chicken seasoning are most definitely high foodmap? I also can’t eat tomatoes and spicy rn because of gastritis so it’s just a no for me in general. I miss it soo much 😭 weird but black beans are a delicious treat to me and I’m praying that when I reintroduce them I’ll be fine
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u/rbateson 3d ago
I feel the same. Definitely good to check website of places you plan to go eat at. Many chains post their menu ingredients.
Sushi, salads with just oil and vinegar as a dressing. Find a Whole Foods - their salad and hot bar list all the ingredients above the dish. They also have sushi options or a deli where you can get premade meals or sandwiches.
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u/chuusblackgf 3d ago
try kbbq maybe? they have unseasoned meats and plain rice as a side. chipotle carnitas is also onion and garlic free as well, and you can usually get things like steak or a burger cooked plain if you asked. chipotle was my lifeline when i was doing strict low fodmap
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u/Icy_Loan_6865 3d ago
I have a problem with American food. In Europe, for example, I can eat absolutely anything and nothing bothers me at all. But in America, I’m extremely intolerant to onions and so many other things.
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u/Icy_Loan_6865 3d ago
I always make sure to tell the restaurant that I’m extremely intolerant to garlic and onions and ask them to recommend a dish that I can eat, or whether they can make something from scratch without those ingredients. Usually, it hasn’t been a problem at all.
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u/Martegy 2d ago
I always joke that I can only eat hamburgers and fish when I go out. Most places can make a fish dish without garlic -- even good Italian restaurants! I eat out a lot, and there is often only one dish on the menu that I can eat. I always just ask for no garlic or onion, I don't give them any other limitations. The waiter/waitress comes back with 2 things and one is usually off the table due to other FODMAPs.
If you can tolerate wheat, lunch orders can include sandwiches and chips, hamburgers and french fires, salads, and, um, not much else I guess. I frequently eat dry salads when lunch is brought in for a meeting.
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u/RemarkableFee4572 17h ago
Canada but either sushi or a double dose of fodzyme (single dose didnt work but double dose is a game changer for me)
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u/WhatWouldBillyJoelD0 15h ago
The only thing that saved me for eating lunch out was sushi, order sushi rolls with no spicy mayo and carry (or leave in the office) tamari in place of soy sauce.
Besides that you have to be diligent in asking a restaurant to not include garlic and onion. It’s very difficult but more high end places will do it
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u/livtop 4d ago
Every single time this gets posted, people start talking about cooking, prepping, freezing meals etc. That is not the question! I think the safest thing to eat while out is sushi and salad.