Tips On Helping Family/friends Understand Cc

[NotMollyRingwald]

'Morning,

 

Apologies if this is a duplicate post...I've looked around a bit and didn't really find what I was looking for...but that could be operator errror (I'm capt of the space cadet squad today).

 

I was wondering if you gluten free veterans have some words of wisdom or maybe have favorite websites/resources for helping family and friends understand cross contamination.  At this moment, I'm the only one in my family gluten free, and most of my family has never had to worry about something as small as a random bread crumb.  Especially my husband.  I'm going to be an absolute nazi about "safe" cookware, kitchen space, etc...but I can't seem to find the right away to explain how careful Celiacs/NCGSs need to be and am a little worried about him accidentally using my gluten-free butter/jam/etc and not realizing what he's done.

 

Any advice/experience/resource information is appreciated!

 

Thanks!

 

Amy

[cyclinglady]

'Morning,

 

Apologies if this is a duplicate post...I've looked around a bit and didn't really find what I was looking for...but that could be operator errror (I'm capt of the space cadet squad today).

 

I was wondering if you gluten free veterans have some words of wisdom or maybe have favorite websites/resources for helping family and friends understand cross contamination.  At this moment, I'm the only one in my family gluten free, and most of my family has never had to worry about something as small as a random bread crumb.  Especially my husband.  I'm going to be an absolute nazi about "safe" cookware, kitchen space, etc...but I can't seem to find the right away to explain how careful Celiacs/NCGSs need to be and am a little worried about him accidentally using my gluten-free butter/jam/etc and not realizing what he's done.

 

Any advice/experience/resource information is appreciated!

 

Thanks!

 

Amy

Amy, excellent post!  I have the same concerns.  We're going to visit my family for a month and I really need to get them on board!  

[kareng]

In your home, there will be a big re-learning of habits.  So make everything as easy as possible.  2 pb jars -the gluten-free one with a big piece of red tape on the top.  Stuff like that. 

 

If your husband or family doesn't understand how serious it is, show them some info from a "real" medical Celiac center like this:

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

If that doesn't work - well, I don't have a lot of patience for that type of selfish or mean behavior.  I would not be around people like that - related or not.

 

When I go to someone else's house, I don't expect them to learn the habits it has taken months for my family to learn.  Keep your food and cooking utensils separate and well labelled.  If they still use your pb or drain gluten pasta in your colander, it may be time to move on.  Go back home or get a hotel with a microwave and fridge for the rest of the visit. 

 

I have posted a lot about travelling and how I set up my kitchen if that is the stuff you are looking for?

[pricklypear1971]

Honestly, at my house, I just went gluten-free except for bottled beer and an occasional piece of candy or single serving bag of snacks for my son. Anything crumbly - no way. You sit in the patio and eat it - I don't care if its 110. Why? I knew that with my family it wouldn't work. Tried it a little, it was a disaster.

As far as communicating cc in the kitchen, when visiting my parents....I explain it like salmonella that can't be cooked away. You can't see salmonella, smell it....it must be washed off with soap and hot water. They get that.

I take my own cutting board and colander when I visit, and wooden spoons. I wipe down the counters with soap, and suspiciously eyeball every piece of flatware, etc. They let me serve myself first at meals....they are bad about touching food after touching gluten, but that's normal.

I do not let my parents bring gluten in the house while visiting. My Dad eats bread on the patio, if he wants bread.

It's one thing to watch a video or read about it. It's another to learn it. Don't be afraid to toss the gluten out. They'll live over it.

[nvsmom]

I made the house gluten-free too. I'm a celiac and 2 out of 3 of my kids have a gluten intolerance of some sort. It just seemed easier, and more fair to all my kids, if we went entirely gluten-free.

 

I did start off with some seperate and labelled foods like butter and jam and then over 3-5 months I switched everything to gluten-free. I don't think my husband took it all seriously though until I became sick from a supposedly gluten-free beer (Daura (sp?) which is gluten-free to 3ppm but I didn't realize it was made with barley). I had been getting better and my stomach flattened out and then that beer had my gut poofed out within hours with a migraine that lasted for a few days... It was easier to see after I had been well for a while.

 

Good luck. 

[Celiac Mindwarp]

One comparison that sometimes gets made round here is to ask if they mind if you just put a little rat poison in their food?

I am in a mixed house, and we have segregated counter space, shelves, sections in fridge and freezer, dishclothes etc. We have doubles of jars. I have a whole set of utensils in purple. Toaster, breadbin, purple. I use kitchen roll to clean up, wipe the table etc, and foil when grilling, roasting.

When I started, I got cc 5 times in 6 weeks. I gave an ultimatum that if everyone didn't get it sorted, the whole house would have to go gluten-free. No problems since.

You can do it!!!

I have had so many improvements in a few months. I am so excited to see how you get on

[stanleymonkey]

My husband made stickers with our kids pics on saying gluten free they get stuck on anything the kids use, it works well.

[NotMollyRingwald]

One comparison that sometimes gets made round here is to ask if they mind if you just put a little rat poison in their food?

I am in a mixed house, and we have segregated counter space, shelves, sections in fridge and freezer, dishclothes etc. We have doubles of jars. I have a whole set of utensils in purple. Toaster, breadbin, purple. I use kitchen roll to clean up, wipe the table etc, and foil when grilling, roasting.

When I started, I got cc 5 times in 6 weeks. I gave an ultimatum that if everyone didn't get it sorted, the whole house would have to go gluten-free. No problems since.

You can do it!!!

I have had so many improvements in a few months. I am so excited to see how you get on

Love the idea of having different colored utensils! I think that will help keep hubby mindful of what he's doing...bright pink oughta do the trick. Hopefully it won't come to it, but I'll keep the ultimatum idea in mind, too.

I saw some dishwasher, microwave, & oven safe labels online (cant remember the brand...); anyone used these? Are they worth the money?

[NotMollyRingwald]

My husband made stickers with our kids pics on saying gluten free they get stuck on anything the kids use, it works well.

Cute idea! That might help my son (only 3) learn what he can touch and what he needs to keep his fingers off/out of.

[stanleymonkey]

Mabels labels are dishwasher safe ( don't tell me off moderators but if you go to their website and go to cpc preschool fundraiser my daughters preschool - who have been awesome in relation to keeping her safe from gluten exposure - get a share!)

I know the mabels labels last my nephew has them for daycare, and they have held up, I know people that get the to label everything, they are even so sturdy you can stick them on clothes, and wash and dry them.

My husband saw the same kind of thing at staples. We are going to get some for things like cereal containers, glass spice jars etc.