Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Bday Parties

jaimi alderson

Recommended Posts

jaimi alderson Enthusiast
jaimi alderson
Posted

Hi everyone/anyone! My kids have not been diagnosed with celiac but I was 2 weeks ago. I am having them genetically tested next week if all goes as planned. They are gluten-free now as I don't want another second to go by with a chance of all that damage. So if they are little celiacs what do we do at bday parties? my 4yo has one next weekend! Just let her have ice cream? What if it isn't vanilla? Or is even all vanilla ice cream safe? And what if they don't have ice cream!!!!!!!!! Should I bring her a gluten-free brownie?

thank you!!!!!!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


taweavmo3 Enthusiast
taweavmo3
Posted

I would bring a brownie, cookies, or frosted cupcake. The cupcake worked best for us, b/c it at least resembled what everyone else was eating. And the ice cream, if it's just plain vanilla, most are okay from what I have found. But beware of cross contamination.....at the last party we went to, someone put a spoon in the ice cream that had touched the cake. So try to get the first scoop!

I would also be sure to bring plenty of food. gluten-free pizza, or another food your child really likes. And safe candy is good to have on hand, in case the goody bag contains gluten filled treats. I always pack way too much food, but it has saved me in many instances.

Good luck! Welcome to the board, and I think it's great you are making the bold move to make your kids gluten free now, rather than later. It's much easier when they are young, it will just be a way of life for them. It takes SO much longer to heal after there has already been damage, it's a long and difficult road to recovery. I only have one daughter that tested positive, but we are all (except hubby) gluten free. I didn't want to take any chances with them. Take care!

Kasey'sMom Enthusiast
Kasey'sMom
Posted

We do the cupcake thing as well. I usually make a big batch and ice them. I flash freeze the cupcakes and put them in freezers bags. They defrost really well and are a lifesaver to have in a pinch. :D I freeze cookies, brownies and pie slices as well. I've found that having a few things made ahead of time help with my strees factor. :lol: Most of the time I don't have time just to bake but I will put the leftovers in the freezer. My dd is dairy free as well so I pack a quart of dairy free ice cream in our cooler for her. Sometimes I try to find out what they're having to eat and duplicate a gluten-free version. Sometimes I haven't known ahead of time so I just fixed something I know she'll love. :)

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted

I would bring her own food to the party. Even if their ice cream is gluten-free, they could have put ice cream in ice cream cones and then contaminated the whole ice cream container.

lonewolf Collaborator
lonewolf
Posted

I also bake cupcakes ahead, frost them and then freeze them. It has come in very handy for birthday parties and any occasion at school where treats are handed out. The last birthday party my son went to was a pizza party - I made an Amy's pizza for him and sent a cupcake and some sorbet. (He avoids dairy for the most part, but I allow him a little cheese now and then, but not ice cream.) The birthday boy's mother was very nice about it - as have all the mothers been. One mom even called ahead and asked what he could eat and bought it for him!

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

I always send a frozen cupcake with dd when she goes to a party. I always find out what the food is going to be ahead of time and send her with gluten-free versions, like Amy's pizza... I agree it's better to overpack and have a variety of safe foods and just be prepared... We've been at parties before where I didn't know they were going to have a pinata with candy, and I had to trade her out with known gluten-free candy after we got home... (I've always got a supply of safe candy at home now to trade out with her)

mommida Enthusiast
mommida
Posted

I call the host/hostess of the party find out the meal plans. My son is almost 7, with his age I ask him about what he wants to eat at the party and what the planned menu is. Sometimes he chooses an ice cream bar instead of cake and ice cream. I have a big container of gluten-free candy to trade treats. He is very good about just handing over the gluten candy to other kids at the party.

Always have those cupckes or brownies in the freezer ready to go.

L.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Dietcokehead Rookie
Dietcokehead
Posted

Hi! I always talk to the host and explain the situation, and then ask if it's ok for my son to bring brownies to share. That way they're prepared at home, but he can enjoy the same foods as his friends if they would like one too. I always ask if they have decided on if there will be ice cream and what brand it is. A lot of vanilla is ok, I keep it simple and tell the people Breyers or the Kroger store brand of vanilla if they need a suggestion.

Most people are more than happy to accomodate! Good luck!

JakeARoosMommy Newbie
JakeARoosMommy
Posted

I am dreading my DD and DS birthday's this year! The last six weeks have been exhausting! I keep hoping that the test results were wrong or maybe he will 'outgrow' this, but I know this is real and lifelong. I have become quite adept to baking and nutrition now. I just feel so tired of spending all this time in the kitchen making special foods from scratch. I know that it is necessary. I am happy that I found this board. I am a single mom. The kids' dad is in the Middle East. I don't really think that he would be of much help anyway. I don't have family in the area, so I am making a go at this alone. Sorry, I just needed to vent.

SueC Explorer
SueC
Posted

Anyone have a really good cupcake recipe???

2Boys4Me Enthusiast
2Boys4Me
Posted

This gluten-free Wacky cake is pretty good. I use the Carol Fenster sorghum/corn flour blend and it doesn't taste gritty at all. Can't remember how long to cook for cupcakes, though.

Wacky Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Bette Hagman flour mixture or acceptable gluten free flour mixture

1 1/2 tsp xanthan gum

1 cup sugar

3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 Tbsp vinegar

6 Tbsp oil

1 cup cold water

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, soda and salt.

2. Make three wells in the flour mixture.

3. In one put vanilla; in another the vinegar, and in the third the oil.

4. Pour the cold water over the mixture and stir until moistened.

5. Pour into 8 x 8-inch pan.

6. Bake at 350°F. oven until it springs back when touched lightly.

========

1 1/2 cups sorghum flour

1 1/2 cups potato starch or cornstarch

1 cup tapioca flour

1/2 cup white corn flour (I use yellow corn flour, I've never seen white)

I usually have some of these in the freezer in case of a cupcake emergency. My gluten-eating husband likes this cake, too. He calls it pudding cake.

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

I use either the Gluten Free Pantry's Old Fashioned Cake and Cookie mix or their Chocolate Cake Mix, or our personal fave is Pamela's brownie mix made into cupcakes... it has a recipe for cake on the bag.

lonewolf Collaborator
lonewolf
Posted
Anyone have a really good cupcake recipe???

The gluten-free Pantry mix is great. You can also make them from scratch following the White Cake recipe in the recipe section here. Sorry I'm not good at doing the links. My kids all loved the cake and I'm going to make cupcakes out of it next time. (I added a pack of coconut pudding mix to it, but you don't have to.)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,557
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    kghorne3
    Newest Member
    kghorne3
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.