Wendy’s Menu Updates–September 2011
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Sep 16 2011

Wendy’s Menu Updates–September 2011

With the change of season comes menu changes.  Many restaurants, fast food & sit down alike, have begun to remove summer menu items and add fall-themed items.  Wendy’s has always been good at keeping their website up-to-date with gluten-free information.  When I went to check it today, I was pleased to find that in addition to updating the menu, they have also added a page entitled “Living Without Gluten: Avoiding Gluten in the Diet”.  It isn’t often that you find a fast food establishment with such an explanation on their website.  They even referenced the Celiac Disease Foundation for information.

Seasonal menu items – we get all excited when a new season comes around & our favorites are available again.  Now, just because the seasonal item was gluten-free & safe to eat last season doesn’t mean that it is safe to eat this season.   Remember, just like the food you shop for in the grocery store – suppliers change, ingredients change,  and companies make items “new & improved”, which unfortunately sometimes makes a food now unsafe for us.  It is a pain to have to contact companies again, I know, but I treat it just like I do many other “chores” that I complete at the change of a season.  I even put a reminder in my calendar to check the places that we frequent for changes.

Wendy’s has locations across the US and Canada.  One point I want to make sure to touch on is the French fries at Wendy’s, as they are not on the gluten-free menu.  The fries themselves do not contain gluten and are safe to eat if they are fried in a dedicated fryer.  Not all Wendy’s locations use a dedicated fryer, so this is a question that must be asked each & every time you order the French fries, if you choose to do so.  Never trust that a dedicated fryer is being used if you don’t ask.  I know that Jon likes to order the French fries, but makes sure to check before ordering, or at least he tells me that he does.

The updated menu has some salads that weren’t on it previously and the old stand bys – the chili & baked potato are still there.  I think of all of the fast food places that offer gluten-free choices, Wendy’s is the most versatile.  Even though it may not be what I am craving, I know that a chili, baked potato & side salad will fill me up & hold me over until the next meal.

Do you eat at Wendy’s?  If so, what do you order? 

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Article Written by:

Kimberly Bouldin is a gluten-free wife, runner & blogger with two children in Columbus, Ohio. After her celiac diagnosis in 2006, she has made it her mission to embrace an entirely new approach to nutrition in a gluten-free world, exploring options that run the gamut from "made from scratch" homemade bread to sampling and reviewing the gluten-free prepared foods that are continuously being introduced to the market. While navigating the waters of becoming gluten-free, Kim shares her experiences and passes along valuable product reviews in addition to helping other moms of celiac kids develop healthy menus that are kid-friendly and palatable. Kimberly is a valuable resource for those who are newly diagnosed, as well as for the more seasoned gluten-free veterans. Follow @KBouldin on Twitter

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  • http://gf4hm.wordpress.com Janelle

    Wendy’s is our go to spot if we’re really in a bind. I love their chili and the baked potato fills me up (but let ‘s be honest, i want the french fries.) Good to see such an awesome menu from Wendy’s. I always recommend it as a quick and easy GF friendly stop.

    • http://glutenfreeislife.com/ Kimberly Bouldin

      Janelle – I know, right? One thing with being GF is that I don’t eat fries nearly as much as I used to!

      Kim

  • Sara

    Wendy’s is also my go-to if I am in a bind and don’t have time to get something else or if I am somewhere that I don’t know the local restaurants. I usually get chili and a salad. Of course, I also must have a frosty :)

    • http://glutenfreeislife.com/ Kimberly Bouldin

      Sara,

      Gotta love the Frosty! :)

      Kim

  • http://www.delightglutenfree.com Tiffany

    If given a chance, I’ll always choose Wendy’s over any other fast food place. I go for the chili and a baked potato and ask them not to cut it in the back. One less chance of them messing up the meal ;) Once in the middle of rural GA, I ordered a burger with no bun at Wendy’s and the person said over and over on the loud speaker “you don’t want no bun?”. I kept confirming that indeed I didn’t want a bun but the thought of that was so foreign to her that she could not wrap her brain around it. It caused quite the stir to say the least…lol!

  • MB

    I love Wendy’s and I always know that I can get my gluten free chili or baked potato (and a frosty) I never go to the other fast food places anymore. There is nothing there for me.

  • Sarah

    Thanks for the update on Wendy’s. Any idea about how they are making their new burgers with ‘buttered buns’? I’m weary that the grills will now all be covered in gluten but I can’t find any info online yet.

    • http://glutenfreeislife.com/ Kimberly Bouldin

      Sarah – I don’t know, but that is a valid question. If I remember correctly, the buns have always been cooked/toasted on the grill, but in a separate area. I have a friend who works at Wendy’s corp, so I will ask her & let you know.

    • http://glutenfreeislife.com/ Kimberly Bouldin

      Sarah,

      Following up…..they do not put the buns on the grill…they go through a toaster.

      Kim

  • Cheri Crank

    My son was diagnosed with celiac a couple years ago. Life is definitely changed. Eating life mostly of course. He LOVES Wendy’s as well. Just like everyone else, chili, baked potatoe and salad. Not sure if he eats the frosty’s but probably does. Which dressings are GF at Wendy’s?

    • http://glutenfreeislife.com/ Kimberly Bouldin

      Cheri,

      There should be a list of GF dressings on the GF menu link above. Please let me know if you have trouble viewing it and I can send you the information in an email.

      Kim

  • Joan

    Its been a while since I worked for Wendy’s but we used a toaster for the buns. They weren’t supposed to be allowed on the grill. Sure hope that is still the case!

    • http://glutenfreeislife.com/ Kimberly Bouldin

      Joan,

      Thank you! I just heard from a friend who works at corporate & she confirmed that they do use a toaster, they do NOT go on the grill.

      Kim

  • Sarah

    Great, thanks so much for looking into that!

  • Margot

    We Americans are so passive! Do you know they have GF buns in Northern Europe at all the fast food restaurants? I just returned home from Italy (which is not Northern Europe) and I ate freely at every restaurant of GF pasta and other wonderful dishes. I never once got glutened. Everyone in Italy is tested for gluten problems at birth. We don’t DEMAND better treatment here in the States—the land of the wheat fields. And until we do–we’re going to be limited…