Secrets, secrets, hurt someone. Have you ever heard that rhyme before? Often you may hear little kids using it with each other, but today the rhyme came into my mind as enjoyed breakfast this morning at a local diner. So far, today has already been quite productive on this end! I’ve gone out to breakfast, went grocery shopping, baked two pans of my Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Bars for my cousin’s birthday party this afternoon, AND got in a vinyasa yoga session and ab workout.
Now it’s time for a much needed shower, but before that I wanted to talk a bit about that little poem we may have heard before and how it applies to choices in our diets.
I sipped on a hot mug of tea as I browsed through the breakfast menu, and I began to think about many hidden, “secrets,” in restaurants, whether they be ingredients or cooking methods.
For example, while often menus state that their omelettes are made with three eggs, what they sometimes fail to tell you is that they also add a little pancake batter to make the omelette fluffier. Other examples are flour added to gravies to thicken them (which can cause a reaction for those with a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance), loads of butter being added to sauces to make them richer, and whole milk used to cook oatmeal to make it creamier. There are tons!
These hidden ingredients and cooking methods can add extra fat and calories, cause those with a food allergy to have a reaction, or make those who have a dietary preference, such as vegetarian or vegan, to unknowingly stray.
If you are someone who is health conscious for any reason, it is so essential to communicate with your server and not be afraid to ask questions. If your server does not know the answer, they can always go in the back and check with the chef. This morning I was sure to ask my server if the oatmeal was made with milk or water. She kindly went back and asked, informed me it was made with milk, and also let me know that the chef could certainly make the oatmeal with water for me instead – no problem. 
With so many dietary concerns and allergies, most restaurants are more than happy to modify your meal and accommodate their dishes to make their customers happy. Sometimes it may cost a few extra bucks here and there, but all you have to do is ask.
Before going to a restaurant or ordering take-out, I usually look over the menu online, which most restaurants now provide. I then pick a dish that sounds fantastic, ask questions, and tweak it to meet my wants and dietary needs.
Catch you tomorrow friends!
Quote of the Day: “You cannot be all things to all people. Be unique. Be different. Give to others what you want yourself. And do what you were made to do.” – Robert Kiyosaki
Question of the Day: Have you ever ordered something later finding out it was made with hidden ingredients?
