Gluten Free & Low FODMAP Food at Culver's
What is Culver's?
Culver's is a fast casual dining establishment founded in the midwest. They have chains across the United States. Culver's has food ranging from burgers and fries to sweet treats like custard, milkshakes, and floats. Their large menu and variety of options allows many people who are on Gluten Free or Low FODMAP diets create a meal that works for them!
Potential Low FODMAP Options
ButterBurgers with Gluten Free Buns
Culver's has fresh made burgers and Udi's Gluten Free buns. If you order a gluten free bun, you'll likely receive a deconstructed burger with your desired toppings with the bun on the side. Hamburger meat is typically okay on a Low FODMAP Diet; however, the fat content can affect gut motility. Therefore, you may opt for a single patty.
Cheese is an option, but it's American cheese. Hard cheeses are typically okay in certain portions on the Low FODMAP Diet, but if dairy is an issue for you, you may want to steer clear of cheese as a topping. If garlic is an issue for you on the Low FODMAP Diet, you should also avoid pickles.
The Udi's Gluten Free bun comes wrapped separately as to avoid cross-contamination with any other wheat products in the restaurant. Because of this, the bun can sometimes become soggy due to condensation when set next to hot foods. I like to toast my bun when I get home and then reconstruct my burger on a plate. The lettuce also becomes fairly soggy, so I replace it with my own lettuce.
You'll want to avoid the ketchup at Culver's as it's likely to contain High Fructose Corn Syrup (another high FODMAP ingredient). Instead, you can prepare your own ketchup in advance by making your own Low FODMAP ketchup in less than 10 minutes.
Culver's Low FODMAP Side Items
Gluten free fast food fries are difficult to come by, because most restaurants don't use dedicated fryers like Chick-fil-A. There's also the issue of cross-contamination with onion if you're on a Low FODMAP Diet and there are onion rings on the menu. Culver's has onion rings as a side item, so I avoid the fries here just in case, but you can always ask your local Culver's if they use dedicated fryers. There are forums that go either way on the subject, so I use caution and make my own fries at home or opt for a broccoli side instead!
Yes, Culver's has broccoli as a side! Not something you thought you'd see at a fast food joint, huh? Me either. And I'm so happy about it. Not that I don't get a little sad that I'm eating broccoli instead of fries, but whatever doesn't trigger IBS symptoms makes up for it!
There's a potential drink option, too!
Luckily, Culver's carries Tropicana Light Lemonade, which doesn't contain High Fructose Corn Syrup or Caffeine (two culprits that trigger IBS symptoms for many people). It basically contains water, lemon juice concentrate, and sucralose, or Splenda. Now, before you rush out and grab this drink, let's talk FODMAPs. Lemon juice does contain Fructans and is only safe in 1/2 cup serving sizes. However, Tropicana contains concentrated lemon juice, which probably means the serving size of lemon juice would need to be even lower. There's also mixed opinions online about the affects of sucralose for those with IBS. I've mainly read that it's untested. So, the big takeaway here, and really in anything you consume, is to test it for yourself first. Things that are safe for me may not be safe for you.
Making a Gluten Free, Low FODMAP Meal at Culver's
It's very frustrating when you want to grab something fast, but can't because you would still need to find a side item and a drink to go along with the burger you've already modified to death. But, at Culver's you can actually make a pretty decent gluten free and Low FODMAP meal at Culver's. As always, test these items for yourself to make sure you don't have any reactions!
