Cook gluten-free foods at home, practice recipes in advance, and bring homemade foods to parties. Celiac disease affects the digestive tract and makes it difficult to process gluten. Use recipe websites and cookbooks specifically for celiacs, and ask questions about the ingredients in foods at events.
The best tip for spending a gluten-free Christmas is to cook as many foods as possible at home. Practice the recipes in advance and ask others to taste them to see if they are successful. While attending parties or events where there will be food, bring homemade foods with you. To prevent any problems, bring up celiac disease weeks before Christmas. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask what’s included in the meal.
Those who need a gluten-free Christmas are probably doing so because they have celiac disease. It is a digestive disease that creates difficulties in absorbing nutrients from food. Celiac disease affects the digestive tract, especially the small intestine, and makes a person unable to properly process gluten, which is found in barley, wheat and rye. The most common symptoms that people with the disease may experience include diarrhea, a rash, sores, depression, and swelling; some people have no symptoms at all.
The best way to spend a gluten-free Christmas is to cook at home, so it’s clear what exactly is in the food. There are recipe websites and cookbooks specifically for celiacs. Standard cookbooks and recipe websites may include gluten-free recipes, but have a list of possible foods to eat available for you to compare against the ingredients list.
Gluten-free foods don’t necessarily come out with the same texture or taste as regular foods. Instead of cooking and serving, practice gluten-free Christmas recipes in advance. This gives you plenty of time to tweak recipes as needed without having to rush and do it at the last minute. Allow others to taste your food to get more opinions.
There are typically at least a few events and parties to attend during the holidays, which means plenty of foods that celiacs can’t have. To make sure there’s at least one thing to eat, cook a gluten-free dish or two and take it with you. Showing up with food to a party is also respectful and courteous, especially when it comes to bringing something that those on a specific diet can eat so the guest doesn’t feel bad about not having it.
Family and close friends are probably already aware of your loved one’s dietary restrictions, but others, or those who are just forgetful, may not be planning on giving or providing gluten-free food at parties or as gifts. At least a month or two before Christmas, casually mention eating only gluten-free foods—bring it up in conversation, ask for recipes, or suggest you get together to go to a specific restaurant. It will provide a little reminder to party planners and donors so they don’t feel bad for not knowing or remembering.
To have a gluten-free Christmas, you may need to ask a few questions in advance. At a restaurant or party or while talking to a host before an event, don’t hesitate to ask what’s in the food that’s going to be served or if there’s anything they need. Most people are happy to answer any questions, especially if it helps accommodate some dietary restrictions of their guests.
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