People with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities have to cut out nearly an entire food group. Gluten appears in bread, pasta, crackers and baked goods, plus some surprising sources, such as soy sauce, lunch meats and processed cheese. Buying groceries is hard enough, but restaurants often seem like a lost cause.
In recent years, restaurants have started adding gluten-free options to their menu. For some, this seems like a lot of work to serve a small percentage of the population. However, gluten-free dining benefits everyone, stimulating the economy and accommodating a new audience.
More Options for Gluten-free Diners
For people with gluten allergies, even a small amount of gluten damages their small intestine and causes flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, bloating and constipation. As a result, dining out can be risky. They can't even eat salads because they contain croutons.
Gluten-free options allow them to appreciate restaurants again. Instead of nibbling on thin soups and raw vegetables, they can enjoy hot breakfasts and hearty entrees with their loved ones. This increases their quality of life and provides nutrients that their diet often lacks.
Healthier Choices
Since gluten appears in many condiments and processed foods, celiac-friendly dishes tend to focus on fruits and vegetables, lean meats, eggs, nuts, legumes and fresh dairy products. These meals are richer in vitamins and minerals, resulting in better health and weight loss.
Similarly, gluten-free diets are low on cookies, muffins, brownies, pastries and other baked goods, inviting diners to focus on healthier desserts. Fresh fruit, yogurt and rice pudding are a few popular selections.
Wider Appeal
You don't need a special diet to try gluten-free dishes. In fact, many people are surprised by how much they enjoy gluten-free meals. This expands their palates and gives them a greater appreciation for what people with celiac disease experience. When they leave the restaurant, they might try replicating these meals at home for their gluten-free relatives.
Food Industry Growth
Staying in business means adapting to the times. Eateries with gluten-free options reach a new clientele and stay ahead of their competitors. As more people visit the restaurant, positive word-of-mouth spreads until the place becomes a community establishment. This also encourages more places to adapt and provide celiac-friendly options.
Better Variety
What would a restaurant do if it couldn't serve traditional pasta, pastries, sandwiches or hamburger buns? They'd have to innovate to survive. Gluten-free menus encourage owners to get creative and explore dishes that they wouldn't try otherwise.
Sometimes, they simply replace an ingredient, such as making spaghetti with chickpea noodles. Other times, they develop new dishes that diners can't find anywhere else, driving more traffic to their eatery.
Plus, accommodating celiac diets encourages owners to look beyond American cuisine. Traditional sushi, Indian curries and tacos with corn tortillas are just a few of the options for people with gluten allergies.
If this post is making you hungry, Midtown Cafe & Dessertery serves all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner. Visit today to try our signature gluten-free dishes.
