Eating Single Ingredient Foods When At Gatherings

[BlessedMommy]

I just wondered what other people do in regards to eating single ingredient items when out of the house. How far do you take precautions to avoid CC? Do you literally never eat anything that's come from anyone else's house or has been arranged or chopped by them?

 

What about fresh fruit or vegetables or cooked vegetables? Do you eat carrot sticks or black olives from the relish tray? 

 

Have you ever been glutened by eating a single ingredient food in a social situation?

[mamaw]

In my eleven  years  being a  very strict  celiac  I  have  never  been  glutened  by  fresh  veggies  or  fruit.........you  can add  cheese  tray to  that  as  well....

[nvsmom]

I agree. As a general rule, single ingredient food is fine. Anything cooked should be questioned though because who knows what the seasoning had in it that was sprinkled on the green beans. KWIM?

 

I often ask to read a label when in doubt. If I'm still not sure, I skip it.

[BlessedMommy]

I guess that my thought was that you don't know if the person chopped the veggies or fruit on a wooden cutting board that had been previously used for gluten items. Apparently, though, that's not much of an issue and maybe is an extremely remote risk?

 

What about salads that are all fruit/veggies with no dressing of any kind already on them?

[NoGlutenCooties]

I've taken my chances with veggies, cheese, chips, etc.  So far they have not come back to bite me.  Single food items that basically come out of a package and onto the serving tray - to include some summer sausage, etc (for that I check the label first).  My friends tend to have a cutting board that they just use for fresh fruits/veggies and never use for bread - it just kinda happens that way.  I just ask them to wash it really well first.  That said, they also either let me get my plate of snacks first or set one aside for me while they're preparing.  Once someone who has been eating sandwhiches or saucey chicken wings dips their gluteny hands into the chips or grabs a handful of cheese, carrot sticks, or whatever else I don't touch them after that.  If there are crackers on the same plate as the cheese, I don't touch the cheese.

[Harpgirl]

I've had family who had nothing to cut up fruits and veggies on except a wooden board. I've had them cover it in wax paper first, or just use a clean plate to cut on. I'm quite sensitive, so any extra precautions are worth it. It's the whole reason I don't eat at Subway, though they have "just salad."

[kareng]

I don't really worry about this wooden cutting board thing.  If it has been washed, I doubt we can really be glutened by it.  I worry about people with lax cleaning habits and who might have cut things on actual bread crumbs.  But you know who they are.  

 

what I do worry about at these gatherings is the crackers and stuff that people drop on the cheese or the fruit bowl.    If I get to the cheese tray early in the party, I might pick a piece or 2 of cheese from the bottom of the pile.   It really depends on the type of party & other food being served.  - all adults drinking wine  & using tongs to pick up cheese - is a different party than a rowdy bunch watching football and dipping stuff.  The more children involved - the less safe.

 

 I judge these things on a per party basis.  I never rely on party food - always eat first or have some emergency food with you. 

[BlessedMommy]

So does that mean that I'm okay to eat stuff prepared at my MIL's house if she washed the cutting board beforehand? 

[kareng]

So does that mean that I'm okay to eat stuff prepared at my MIL's house if she washed the cutting board beforehand? 

 

 

That is up to you.  If you think it is washed well it is OK.  You know her. You could get her a cute plastic one to use. too.  

[BlessedMommy]

So really the bulk of the concern over wood is mostly about using wooden utensils, because of their extensive content with gluten items. (i.e. stirring pasta, etc.) It doesn't seem to me that bread crumbs would absorb into wood, the way pasta water would.

[cyclinglady]

Buy a set of "gluten free" utensils to use at your MIL's house.  I did that at my Mom's.  It is kept in a plastic bin with my name on it.  I feel safer, that's for sure. 

 

I also help out preparing the food and I make sure that my husband and are are the first to be served at all buffets and we do not go back for seconds!  

 

Other homes?  Depends.  My one SIL gets it (she's got a dairy and nut allergy kid like me) and the other SIL doesn't get it at all!  Friends?  They know that I will bring my own food.  They are kind of used to it since my husband's been gluten-free for 13 years.  

[mamaw]

Anyone  can get  glutened  anywhere  including  Grandma's!!!!! You know  your  own  family  so I think  you & you alone  can be  the  judge  on whether  you would  feel  safe  eating  at  another's  home.... I  have some  family & friends  that bend  over  backwards to make  sure  there's  no gluten , others  forget  it , they  don't  care...

I  think  having  your  own utensils  at  parents  house  is a wonderful  way  to  stay  safe.....

I know  you didn't  ask  this  but  as  a reminder eating out::::::::: remember  some  restaurants add  pancake  mix  to  scrambled eggs, gluten-free  pasta  being  cooked  in the same  water  regular  wheat  pasta  is cooked  in.....grill  paste  that  contains  gluten....( used to keep the grill  items  from sticking....

And  it  isn't  just  wooden utensils,  it  is  any  porous  item  that  can  be  scratched ie: plastic, wood,  Teflon..  other  things  that  harbor  gluten  : toaster, strainer,hand  mixer( just  check out  the  air  vents)!!! bread  machine( look  where  the  holders  are  attached, can't  get  in there  to  clean) plus  many  more.

[BlessedMommy]

If plastic utensils can't be shared between gluten free and regular food, wouldn't that rule out any eating anywhere that isn't dedicated gluten-free? 

[GottaSki]

If plastic utensils can't be shared between gluten free and regular food, wouldn't that rule out any eating anywhere that isn't dedicated gluten-free? 

 

You can eat safely in places other the dedicated gluten free facilities.  It takes thought along with preparation and a bit of patience to educate those around you, but many celiacs live safely in homes with shared kitchens.

[BlessedMommy]

I don't have a shared kitchen, my kitchen is actually dedicated gluten-free, but I was more thinking along the lines of restaurants and the like.

[psawyer]

If plastic utensils can't be shared between gluten free and regular food, wouldn't that rule out any eating anywhere that isn't dedicated gluten-free?

The concern is trapped particles. Some things, by their design, cannot safely be shared, regardless of material: sieves, strainers, etc. Plastic in good condition should not be a problem. We had a shared kitchen for several years, and did fine. Proper washing is essential.

[mamaw]

If  plastic  utensils  are  scratched  & can hold  crumbs  & such  it  could  become a  problem. Honestly  most  restaurants  do  not  use  plastic.  that  I have  ever  seen  when  being  in  their  kitchen.. Many   do  use  color  coded  utensils   to  be  able  to  separate  the  wheat  utensils  from  the  gluten-free  utensils...

[NoGlutenCooties]

If plastic utensils can't be shared between gluten free and regular food, wouldn't that rule out any eating anywhere that isn't dedicated gluten-free? 

 

My uncle was diagnosed with Celiac over 15 years ago and my aunt keeps a mixed kitchen - gluten and non-gluten.  She does not separate plastic utensils or plastic storage containers and my uncle does not get cross-contaminated.  And he is very sensitive.  The plastic stuff just needs to be washed well between uses.