by Allison Prater |
When you have adverse reactions to foods containing Gluten, such as wheat, rye, barley and oats, the holiday season can seem foreboding at first glance. Whether it’s sit down dinners with family and friends, or tables full of sweets at the office, all the stuffings, gravy’s, pies, cookies and other traditional holiday fare can blend into an entire spread of “can’t eat em’s”. If you are hosting a holiday get together, you may be unaware that many people with Gluten sensitivities have not even realized that their common symptoms of aching joints, depression, eczema, and exhaustion, could possibly be due to Gluten intolerance. Or, perhaps you have a guest who knows that they are Gluten intolerant, but is afraid to speak up, for fear of seeming difficult or picky. Do not despair! Here are some Gluten Free Holiday Survival Tips for guests and hosts alike:
1. Remember that Gluten intolerance is a form of allergic reaction, and an allergy gives you no reason to apologize. Inform your host or hostess of your dietary needs ahead of time if possible. Most hosts are perfectly happy to accommodate a guest with specific dietary concerns. It is better to be open with your host, than to leave them wondering why you spent the whole evening chewing on nothing but lettuce leaves.
2. If you feel comfortable with your host, let them know what you can eat. Some easy Gluten-free substitutes include: corn, potatoes, rice, amaranth, and quinoa. There are also some flours made from beans and nuts that are quite good. Your host may be able to alter a favorite recipe with one of these substitutes, without sacrificing consistency or flavor.
3. If you do not feel comfortable approaching your host about your dietary needs, offer to bring a dish or two of your own to share. This is a great way to introduce your loved ones to new ways of eating. For some awesome recipes with mouth watering photos go to http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/. Right now this blog spot is featuring many delicious holiday recipes. There are also plenty of great Gluten-free recipes books such as “1,000 Gluten Free Recipes” by Carol Fenster and “Nearly Normal Cooking For Gluten-Free Eating: A Fresh Approach to Cooking and Living Without Wheat or Gluten” by Jules E. D. Shepard.
There are also a host of easy, pre-packaged Gluten-Free baking mixes at Whole Foods, and The Great Basin Community Food Co-op. Gluten Free Mama carries a great variety of pizza crusts, cake, cookie, pancake, and even pie crusts! YUM!
4. If your work has organized a holiday party at a restaurant, call ahead to inform them of your allergy and ask what meal options are safe for you to enjoy. Be mindful of hidden gluten additives in salad dressings, soups, and other processed ingredients that the restaurant may use. The word “allergy” can be really helpful to use, to make it clear to the wait staff that you truly cannot have foods that contain Gluten.
5. Keep Gluten-free treats in your car or desk at work, that way you can indulge in something sweet when that office cookie tray is looking just a little too tempting. Nana’s Gluten (and sugar free!) cookies can be found at Whole Foods Market along with a host of other delicious Gluten-free sweets.
Finally, to all our gracious hosts and hostesses this holiday season: It shows great consideration for your guests (and saves you a lot of trouble) to communicate with them about any dietary issues they may have. Whether they are Gluten-free, vegan, or deathly allergic to nuts, you will be grateful you asked before hand, and so will they. Happy Holidays!
References:
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten-free_diet
- ezinearticles.com/?Gluten-Intolerance-Symptoms—How-Do-You-Know-If-Gluten-Is-Making-You-Sick?&id=479404
- www.wholefoodsmarket.com
- www.amazon.com
- glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/
For more info, contact Great Harvest at (775) 323-7733.
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