A dangerous subject we know. Should you really be eating fast food? Well, most of the time, no, but sometimes it may be required. We all have those moments when sustenance is essential, but we find ourselves trapped in an airport food court, in a late night conundrum looking for food, or allergic to the kitchen. If you must, you should know your best options. Utilize our tips for dairy free navigation of the fast food maze:

• Go Green. Opt for the salads, sans cheese, and reach for the vinaigrette, honey mustard, and French dressings. With fast food, dressing almost always comes on the side. Ask what your options are, check the ingredients where readily available, or go without!
• Eat Real Food. Choose the most “whole” looking options. If it is fried, and thus unrecognizable, it is probably in a coating with unknown ingredients.
• Head East. Asian fast food eateries, as well as Asian menu options, abound. Avoid the fried dishes if you can, this should still leave you with a myriad of choices.
• Think South of the Border. Fresh Mex was a growing trend in the ‘90’s and may still benefit you today. Homemade salsas and tortillas stuffed with a mix of creations; hold the cheese and sour cream, please.
• Pick the Best. Sandwich shops and delis vary in quality, but a good sandwich needs no cheese. Mayo is almost always dairy free, but use it lightly for the sake of your overall health. Avoid the croissants though; there is enough butter in these to make anyone’s stomach churn.
• Check the Soup Board. Bean, Tomato, Vegetable, Mexican Tortilla, Split Pea and the ever so popular Chili. Most fast food places have daily soups, but you may have to look around.
• Treat Yourself. Seek out the “fancier” fast food restaurants. Thank goodness for the growing trend of “fast-casual” chains. They try to offer the quality foods of nicer sit-down restaurants in a fast food atmosphere. Check out our Top 10 fast food picks and our “Little Guys” list for some fast casual suggestions.
• Try Middle Eastern Fare. Check out the Greek and Indian options. Many of these dishes are dairy free. For both countries the primary dairy staple is yogurt, lowest on the offensive list for the lactose intolerant. Also, the yogurt is usually in the form of a sauce, which you may opt out of.  Always ask the "chef", they should know which dishes were prepared without milk products.  
• Always Ask. Never hesitate to ask at the smaller or fast-casual chains if the product contains dairy. If you inquire at the golden arches, you are likely to get a blank stare, but these emerging fast food eateries are targeted more specifically at the health conscious consumer and the special dieter. If they don’t know, most fast food eateries (including the golden arches) have a handy book or poster of ingredients prepared.
• Use Good Judgment. For the majority, a dairy free lifestyle is very straightforward. Scan the menu for your best, and most enticing, options. It is likely that you will quickly learn to pick the winners!
• Plan Ahead. You will always need to check that the menu item is still being prepared "safely" for you and that the ingredients have not changed, but it may help to take a peak at our fast food listings to be prepared with a short list of possibilities.

Remember, the above tips are general guidelines, but there are no dairy free guarantees when dining out. When in doubt, ASK!

	13-03-2007 12:03
	most resturants and fast food places are very nice about ommitting cheese and other dairy products from your order

shenean

	01-04-2007 02:41
	I wasn't aware that mayo was dairy-free. I know vegan-aise is dairy free.

Luiza

	01-04-2007 12:58
	I am sure there is a stray one out there somewhere that contains some type of milk product, but I haven't found it yet! Mayo is primarily a combination of eggs, oil, and vinegar. This is what gives it that creamy look. Of course, the brands that will be used in many fast food outlets may contain hydrogenated oils. But in stores you can purchase all natural or vegan mayo easily.

Alisa

	13-08-2007 10:05
	Re dairy free mayo I use Helmans mayo at home but beware of the low fat version which actually contains cream. So much for low fat then!

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	20-08-2007 15:35
	Re dairy free mayo The Greek fast food chains we've been to all say everything contains dairy - breads, meats (marinades)--everything. We've found that soups often also have margarine in them as well. Always be sure to ask!

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