Poll : 09 February - 22 February 2011

Analysis

This was an interesting one, and we’re glad that the majority of respondents have no dietary concerns, although plenty of you do, evidently. Las Vegas has definitely moved a long way toward catering better to vegetarians, those with gluten intolerance, diabetes, and so on, although there could still be more options, and from the feedback below, it’s evident that not everyone is being catered to yet. We pay attention to this subject and try to keep our Dining listings up-to-date – you’ll find options for gluten-free menus, vegetarian-friendly suggestions, kosher, halal, and more. If you know of somewhere we missed, let us know. Meanwhile, here’s what you said:

• "I have an allergy to onions. I have to be VERY careful when I go out. Onion salt, flakes, seasoning, fresh, cooked, and so on. So I have to ask where ever I go." [Ed: We’ve never heard of an onion allergy before. That must be difficult.]
  
  
• "My diet requires no dairy. This is hard when at breakfast I just want a bowl of cereal and there is no soy milk. It is also available in little cartons, so how hard would it be just to stick some out there for those of us who need it?"
  
  
• "In regards to your poll, I am checking ‘other’ because I require lactose-free meals. This is difficult, because there are so many foods loaded with cheeses, sauces, and milk products. Thank you for the Poll."
  
  
• "I need In N Out Burgers and Freed's cake!![Ed: LOL]
  
  
• I want low-carb. I'm trying to do Atkins and getting sick and tired of protein. If I was in LV and there was a restaurant there that served a variety of GOOD low-carb food, I'd be first in line."
  
  
• "My spouse is not only restricted to a gluten-free diet, but also to a dairy-free diet. That is not to be confused with lactose intolerance. She has an actual allergy to dairy products - milk, butter, whey, and all derivatives. This is not as uncommon as you may expect and there are numerous websites dedicated to helping these folks travel and lead lives full of normal activities."
  
  
• "Low-cholesterol choices."
  
  
• "As a result of chemotherapy, I am now a diabetic. (You didn't know chemotherapy could cause diabetes? Neither did I until it happened to me. Apparently, many types of chemotherapy can induce diabetes in cancer patients.) Therefore, I have to watch my carbohydrates very carefully. I look for dishes which are high in protein and low in carbs. I can eat anything I want, but I do try to limit carbs in order to keep my glucose levels within desirable limits. I am attending more buffets than I did in the past because they allow me to pick and choose what I want to eat, bypassing dishes which are high in carbs."
  
  
• "While I don’t have any special needs, I appreciate the places that offer healthier alternatives. I usually try for at least one ‘not unhealthy’ meal a day in Las Vegas, even if the rest of my meals are from the heart attack-inducing side of the menu."
  
  
• "The high salt content of all the sauces and soups--really most every dish in the buffets ( and I do love the buffets) is really rough. Low-salt options would be nice. "
  
  
• "It’s better than it used to be, but when you ask a server what type of oil is in their kitchen, for example, they say ‘salad’ or ‘vegetable’ and can’t understand you need to know what IS it – peanut, corn, soy, what?"
  
  
• "When we come to Las Vegas, we go on a strict B&B diet – Beer and Beef – and try to consume as much of both products as possible, whether it be steak and eggs for breakfast, Ellis Island’s steak special for lunch, or Lawry’s prime rib for dinner, all washed down with craft beer. "
  
  
• "If I needed to watch what I eat and drink while in Vegas it would be a wasted trip!"
  
  
• "We have to look for restaurants that offer both great vegetarian AND meat options or someone in the party is disappointed.
  
  
• "Low carb is the way to go. But it's easy to just throw away the bread, potato, etc."
  
  
• "The only thing I need to make sure I get daily is a plentiful supply of lattes!"