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

Big Reunion Weekend!

tarnalberry

By tarnalberry
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

What does this have to do with gluten free, you ask? Well... let me set the stage - newbies, keep reading!:

(Yeah, yeah, I can be a little verbose... bear with me. :) )

10 years ago, nearly to the day, I started college, along with a number of other people. The administration and upperclassman organized orientation to get freshmen acclimated to the college and to meet each other and form friendships and so we did! Yay! Friends!

*zzspsdpad* (that's the sound of the fast forward button

This weekend, three of those wonderful came out to stay with us, and six of the group who live in the area popped in and out for the festivities. There was poker, bowling, video games (hey, we were reliving the old days), lots of chatting, a party where we all got dolled up (and at least one hangover the next morning!), berry picking, and lots and lots of food!

Ah... now you see where I'm going!

Food?! Oh noes! But I'm gluten free and dairy free, and no one else has any food intolerances. And there was not only the party, but two smaller dinners, two lunches, two breakfasts, and one big barbaque. While my husband did have his snack food out, and there was partaking in non-gluten free twizzlers and graham crackers (and hence much amusement at my direction to eat over the carpet so I can more easily vaccum up the crumbs than I can from the leather couches), everything else was gluten free. That includes the:

* chicken stir-fry with bell peppers and sugar snap peas and onions

* the salmon with saffron rice and green beans and carrots and salad with balsamic vinaigrette

* the apple muffins and blueberry muffins

* the pancakes with homemade blackberry syrup

* the bean salad with avocado and onion and tomato and jalapeno and bell pepper

* the guacamole with tomato and onion and lime

* the pork chops and tri tip and sauteed carrots and onions and roasted rosemary potatoes

All 12 people who partook of the food enjoyed it, complimented me on it, and were quite well satisfied, leaving me with little in the way of leftovers, despite the fact I always cook a lot of food!

To top it off, I didn't want to be missing out on the fun, so most of these meals were relatively quick, and not very involved at all. It was still a lot of cooking, but I wasn't in the kitchen all the time (though I did run the dishwasher four times in three days!), and didn't slave over a stove any more than I wanted to.

I wanted to post this for the newbies or those who haven't yet shared the diet with their friends and family much. You can entertain others and share entirely gluten free food (in this case, dairy free, nut free (by chance) and it could easily have been made soy free and egg free as well - the only thing with it was the stir-fry). They not only needn't know the difference, even if they do, the food is still just as good, if not better! Don't let the diet isolate you, even when it comes to food, if you don't want it to. Of course, if you don't care, then there's no need to worry about it, but if you do, it doesn't have to stop you, or slow you down at all!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


TCA Contributor
TCA
Posted

Way to go! I'm always cooking for folks and they wouldn't know the difference if we didn't tell them. We eat like everyone else, just better!

floridanative Community Regular
floridanative
Posted

Wow that is wonderful and thanks for sharing. I have a goal that my hubby's family reunion in three weeks will not be a drag for me - not sharing a cabin with all the gluten eaters since that's all they know of food and I'm not kidding. At least you inspired me to make sure and take lots of gluten-free goodies to share and I'm sure they will not believe Pamela's cookies and 123 gluten-free pan bars are gluten free! We were also just asked to bring our own breakfast to a timeshare weekend with in-laws which aggravated me at first but then I decided to bake a lovely breakfast casserole (sub out bread with potatos) to take up, and offering to share. I'm sure they think my food is awful, and if I don't let them know it's not, they'll continue to be misinformed. Due to the cost, I have not shared anything with them since I saw them right after my dx. Now I know it's very important for me to do that, extra cost or not. Thanks for your inspiring story.

Mango04 Enthusiast
Mango04
Posted

That's awesome. Just to further prove that it really can be done, my family had a graduation party for my brother a couple months ago and the whole thing was gluten, dairy and soy free. The food was awesome and nobody knew the difference. We served chicken skewers, shrimp skewers, quinoa salad, potato salad, guacomole, three or four different types of salads (I can't remember) and cupcakes. The gluten-free cupcakes were particularly popular :D. Everyone ate tons. So yeah, host parties and don't worry about cooking gluteny stuff for the gluten eaters...they really won't know the difference :P

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,893
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Sgp
    Newest Member
    Sgp
    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
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
    • trents
      How Come Gluten Didnt Bother Me In Italy

      By trents · Posted

      You state in an earlier post that you don't have celiac disease. Here in this post you state you will "be doing another test". What will this test be looking for? What kind of celiac disease testing have you had done? If you have used a Entero Labs it sounds like you have had stool testing done for celiac disease which is not widely accepted as a valid celiac disease diagnostic testing method. Have you had blood antibody testing for celiac disease done and do you realize that for antibody testing to be valid you must have been eating generous amounts of gluten for a period of weeks/months? 
    • Gigi2025
      How Come Gluten Didnt Bother Me In Italy

      By Gigi2025 · Posted

      No, I've not been diagnosed as celiac.  Despite Entero Labs being relocated to Switzerland/Greece, I'll be doing another test. After eating wheat products in Greece for 4 weeks, there wasn't any reaction.  However, avoiding it here in the states.   Thanks everyone for your responses.  
×
×
  • 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.