The holidays are such a great time to enjoy with friends and family. It is also a time where food is very plentiful. It can be difficult to navigate favorite holiday foods when you are sensitive to gluten. Below are a few tips and ideas to help you enjoy the holidays just like you deserve to.
How to Plan Ahead:
- Offer to bring a dessert or side dish to gatherings. You can make a gluten-free side dish or dessert that you can be certain won’t stir up digestive symptoms and will still be delicious. Try this recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes at your next holiday gathering. Something else you can do is to make a gluten-free version of dishes you know won’t be gluten-free. This can include dishes such as stuffing, gravy, or pie crust.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions! When you are with friends and family, don’t be ashamed to ask them what ingredients they used in certain dishes. It will save you in the long run.
- Offer to help the cook! You could always ask the host ahead of time if you could help them cook the meal. While you are helping, you could suggest ways to make certain dishes gluten-free. For example, if making green bean casserole, you can suggest to use gluten-free cream of mushroom soup instead of the regular. It is a simple fix that no one will notice.
- Fill your plate with foods you are certain are gluten-free such as vegetables, sweet potatoes/mashed potatoes, and turkey. You can still enjoy foods you and your family and friends make, just be conscious of what you are choosing. Check out this list of naturally gluten-free foods to get more ideas.
- Don’t be afraid to go first! To be sure that serving utensils have not been cross contaminated from one dish to the other, try getting in front of the line to avoid the confusion and worry.
- Inform family and friends ahead of time. While it may be difficult explaining to loved ones why you need to avoid certain foods, it is important that they understand ahead of time and can try to make adjustments.
The holidays are such a wonderful time filled with delicious food, you shouldn’t have to be anxious about what foods you can or cannot have. Prepare ahead of time so you can fully enjoy the day.