Gluten-Free and the holidays can be tricky…to say the least. Being Celiac, and having to go to many corporate gatherings and social events that revolve around food, can cause some serious anxiety. Never fear, I am here to encourage you and to give you some tips and tricks that have helped me over the years.
- It is completely normal to get anxiety around the holidays. Even the most seasoned Celiac veteran feels some stress when it comes to food-related events. The dreaded thought of having to explain your disease to everyone can be quite the feat. Although this in itself can be exhausting, there are some things that you can do to make the event run smoothly. Sometimes it helps to think of it as an opportunity to bring awareness to Celiac Disease. Since it took me well over a decade to get diagnosed, I choose to be very open about it in hopes that I can help someone get diagnosed more quickly. It does tend to be a good icebreaker and conversation starter. Some questions that may come to mind are: How will I know that the food is safe for me to eat? What if I get glutened?
- Call or email the restaurant ahead of time. I often find comfort in emailing the restaurant to ask about their confidence level in their gluten-free preparation. When emailing, or calling, I use the term “severe gluten allergy.” I also always mention that even the smallest crumb or cross-contamination will make me sick for weeks. While Celiac is not an allergy, I do find that people take me more seriously when they think that I have an allergy. Questions that I often ask include: What is your protocol for gluten-free dishes? Do you have a separate prep area for gluten-free food? Do you require the chef to wash their hands and change their gloves before preparing gluten-free dishes?
- Bring your own food or eat prior to the event. I know, I know, this is not the fun answer to attending an event, but it is often the safest (at least for someone who is super sensitive to gluten like me). Personally, it can often alleviate a lot of the anxiety that I am having, and make the event more enjoyable overall. I hate drawing attention to myself when having to tell the restaurant that my food is in fact NOT gluten-free. I will often eat before and then grab a drink (soda, wine, whatever I am feeling that day) to enjoy while everyone else eats.
