Gluten sensitivities can definitely put a damper on holiday get-togethers. A little bit of planning can help. Here’s seven lucky tips for you to follow:
1. Let your host know that you can’t have gluten and offer to bring a dish. This guarantees that you can safely eat at least one dish at the party. Need some ideas? There’s two recipes at the end of this post that you can try.
2. Before you head out the door, eat something. If you don’t go hungry you’ll be less likely to drool over those off-limit items. My go-to snack before a social event is two slices of Rudi’s gluten-free multigrain toast with peanut butter.
3. Pack an emergency stash. Worst-case scenario, you won’t be able to eat anything at the party BUT you’ll have something gluten-free to nibble while mingling. Bring some homemade Rustic Tortilla Chips and fellow party-goers will wish they brought some too!
4. Your host’s intentions might be good but, when in doubt, don’t eat it. Unless you are 100% sure the dish is gluten-free, it’s totally okay to ask to see packaging, check an ingredient list, or pass.
5. Be aware of cross-contamination. The dish might be gluten-free to start but someone may have accidentally glutened it. Ask your host to label the dish to remind party-goers that pretzels, crackers or utensils from other dishes should stay away.
6. Host your own party! Sure, it’s a bit of work but you can recommend a short list of safe foods for people to bring. It’s worth the peace of mind knowing that all your fiesta foods will be okay for you and your friends to eat.
7. When all else fails, focus on family and friends not the food. Have a favorite drink, listen to some good music and have fun!
A little rusty about proper serving and kitchen practices? Brush up and share those tips with your holiday party host. The NFCA has a great printable guide that lists all the ways to avoid gluten contamination. For more info, visit celiaccentral.org
Check out Sarah’s recipes that work great for holiday snacks and meals:
For more recipes and tips to get you through the holidays and every day, visit my blog, www.sarahinthekitchen.com
About Sarah in the Kitchen: Sarah grew up a “restaurant kid” and spent most of her childhood pretending to be Julia Child. Her blog is a place for gluten-free kitchen musings and her food writing, photography and illustrations. You can find and chat with Sarah on her blog, sarahinthekitchen.com, on Facebook and @OkatteKitchen on Twitter.
