Lunch is a very vague meal. It can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. For example, someone that sleeps late would consider lunch their first meal of the day. Others intentionally skip or eat a light breakfast and then eat a big lunch. Some wake up early, eat breakfast, and then wait until mid-afternoon to eat lunch. Back in the day, lunch was called "dinner", and dinner was called "supper". It's no wonder that at "lunch" time in NYC you can eat anything from pancakes to a salad to a fried chicken megaton.
Whatever lunch means to you, I've compiled my favorite places to grab a fast gluten free meal during the day. Most of these places are national chains, so even if you don't live in New York you'll still be able to use this guide. Hope you enjoy!
1. Chipotle
Everyone knows Chipotle. They've become a nationwide sensation with fresh, flavorful Mexican food. And they care about folks with special dieting needs. Just take a look at this page on their website. It's amazing - the ONLY things at Chipotle that have gluten are the flour tortillas! Go ahead and get yourself a burrito bowl or a fajita burrito bowl, they're great! And, if you don't load up on extra guac, your meal comes in at just under $10.
2. Whole Foods
I'm not sure if this is the best place to talk about Whole Foods' lunches as "Fast Food". When that line gets long, it's anything but fast. But, if you're like me and eat lunch at 2pm, it's the fastest healthy food you can find. The great thing about Whole Foods is they always show the ingredients for the foods in their salad bar and hot bar areas. And if something looks vague, you can ask and they're always willing to help. My favorite at Whole Foods is the soup and the cold salad bar because they have salad ingredients that I'd usually never purchase (lots of different kinds of sprouts and greens). Eric is in love with the "Naked Wings" at the hot bar section, which are just plain fried chicken wings (none of that gluten-filled breading!). In the hot bar section, you can get a main (for him, the wings) and 2 sides (like potatoes and greens) for about $9.
3. Grey's Papaya
While this may not be the most health-conscious meal, Grey's Papaya hot dogs are cheap and greasy, perfect for those days when you stayed out too late the night before. You can ask them for 2 dogs (or more, if you'd like) without the bun, and they'll put it in a little paper container. Top it off with some of their great fresh juice, and you almost have all the food groups. This is one of the cheapest meals you can get in NYC. Don't quote me on this, but if I remember correctly you can get 2 dogs and a drink for around $5 or $6.
4. Maoz
I first discovered Maoz while frolicking around Amsterdam during my college semester abroad. It was love at first bite. The perfect combination of falafel and salad bar. I sincerely hope you have a Maoz near you. Here's a link to a document they have listing potential allergens in their food. Stay away from the pita (obviously), french fries (cross contamination with other fried foods), broccoli, fried eggplant, and barley and tabouli salads (which naturally contain wheat). They offer a falafel salad, which is perfect for those that are gluten free. You get a bowl of lettuce topped with a few falafel balls, and then you get to go crazy at their salad bar! The salad plus drink costs about $10, without drink closer to $8.
5. Hampton Chutney Co.
This chic Indian cafe (one uptown, one in Soho) serves up dosas, which are like giant crepes made of chickpeas and/or rice. They're gluten free and delicious! You can choose from traditional Indian flavors or more US-friendly toppings (like chicken, avocado, arugula, monterey jack cheese). I recently had a fall-themed dosa with roaster butternut squash, beets, and goat cheese. Check out their menu here. A little more pricey than some of the other options I listed (between $10-15 depending on the type of dosa), but definitely a treat!
No comments:
Post a Comment