Dept. Dinner Full Of Gluten

[floridanative]

Every year my DH's boss hosts a holiday dinner just for his people at his home. This year, the boss is out with heart problems so the event is being held somewhere where the hosts' first language isn't English. Of course I know I have to take my own meal and it's not a fancy event but many of the people there will not know anything about my diet and last year they all saw me eat whatever I wanted. What things have the rest of you said to explain why you're not eating what is offered? I'm not planning on educating everyone on Celiac at this particular event. DH already does that with everyone he works with but some of these folks don't work directly with him so they most likely will not have heard of Celiac or gluten. I know questions will come up with some that know me but I don't want to spoil everyone's dinner explaining what happens if I eat gluten. Truth is worst case for me is painful bloating or horrid stomach ache but still, it's not polite dinner conversation to speak of such things....except when eating at a gluten-free event of course.

[zansu]

Every year my DH's boss hosts a holiday dinner just for his people at his home. This year, the boss is out with heart problems so the event is being held somewhere where the hosts' first language isn't English. Of course I know I have to take my own meal and it's not a fancy event but many of the people there will not know anything about my diet and last year they all saw me eat whatever I wanted. What things have the rest of you said to explain why you're not eating what is offered? I'm not planning on educating everyone on Celiac at this particular event. DH already does that with everyone he works with but some of these folks don't work directly with him so they most likely will not have heard of Celiac or gluten. I know questions will come up with some that know me but I don't want to spoil everyone's dinner explaining what happens if I eat gluten. Truth is worst case for me is painful bloating or horrid stomach ache but still, it's not polite dinner conversation to speak of such things....except when eating at a gluten-free event of course.

If someone inquires, I start with a simple "food allergies" That takes care of 75% of those that inquire. If pressed I go to the "my body perceives wheat, rye and barley as poison" then if REALLY pressed I go to the glance at their food and the statement with dramatic inflection, "you really don't want to know while you're eating".

BTW, I'm a native Floridian as well. Currently displaced in Pittsburgh.

[Nooner]

I'm going to be at my DH's work-related holiday party in a couple of weeks dealing with a similar thing. My first big social event since being diagnosed. It's a huge, semi-formal, catered event, and I won't be able to bring my own food without looking really strange. (Going to call the caterers but not expecting to be able to eat anything) I'm just planning to eat beforehand, smile a lot, and ask people about themselves! It'll be awkward at the table during dinner, but at least dinner is only part of the event, and I'm hoping that a bright smile and a cheery "food allergies!" will do the trick. I think as long as you project a positive attitude, people will respond well. They'll remember how nice you are, not what you ate. Just think, "Holiday Cheer!" all evening.

BTW, I'm a Floridian too, just not native.

[Guest cassidy]

I don't know your personality, but could you make a joke about it? I have been on work trips where my food looks better than what everyone else is being served and they seem sort of jealous that I have good looking food. I usually say something like "I guess I'm just special" or make some sort of a joke. Then I tell them I have severe food allergies and they don't usually ask anymore.

[floridanative]

Thanks for all the great advice and tips on what to say. The largest part of the party is actually socializing before we sit down to eat so that should be good. I'm not sure what I'll take for me to eat....contemplated taking lasagne so others would envy me but that seems more trouble that it's worth. I'll take my pecan mini pies which no one will know until after they rave about them that they are in fact gluten free!

I'm lucky that with the large company party this year, they moved it to the GA Aquarium and Wolfgang Puck catering is the food but they said most of the buffet food is off limits to me. The caterer is making me something special and gluten free but I think that means plain as many have commented that at the actual WP places, they bring out boring food for gluten free diners. In any case, I'm eating something beforehand in case there is a pc. of bread on my 'special' meal and I'm packing snacks in my purse in case I get hungry and can't have anything there. Since it's not a sit down dinner it will be much easier to just enjoy the fish and have a few cocktails. I told DH this is the first time where my evening bag is more important than my outfit since it has to hold my gluten free food.

[tarnalberry]

I would say, "My doctor and I discovered this year that have celiac disease, that is, wheat, barley, and rye make me very sick. I don't want to risk getting ill, so I'm just being careful by bringing my own food. *insert subject change here*"

[Guest cassidy]

If it isn't a sit down dinnner then you should be fine. I have been to many events where you just get buffet food and no one realizes that you haven't eaten, or if you are eating your food they may think it is something that they missed on the buffet line.

If people are standing up and eating then I usually hold my husband's drink so my hands are full and it looks like we are taking turns eating (which we used to do when I could eat too).

Have fun.

[bearodilla]

Forget the second language barrier. I work in a business with all of seven employees and despite my multiple explanations of celiac and what I can't eat they still use my gluten-free food in the office kitchen which are labeled gluten-free DO NOT CROSS CONTAMINATE. for months i was getting glutened and couldn't figure out from where until I caught somebody using thier glutenny knife in my peanut butter they said "i thought that you wouldn't mind sharing" WHAT THE HECK!? I plan on spontaneously developing an illness before this years christmas party last years was not fun. Hours of people offering you food that you can't eat. Anyway i know that i sound pesimistic and i only hope that your event goes well but i am at the point where i feel if they don't get it before the event don't expect anybody to get it when they are having fun with a drink in thier hand, (oh yeah no beer and no wine, sulphites)

[Sophiekins]

After years and years and years of explaining again and again all the things I can't eat, saying "thank you for offering but I can't", "You're so sweet, i'm full", "I have allergies", etc. . .I have switched to a dead simple solution that works in all kinds of situations - work, social, formal, buffet, cocktails, birthdays, etc (and I've tested this - I temped for a living for a while, which meant a new office and a new set of explanations every single week, I'm also single and go to lots of communal events with near strangers, usually involving food of some kind): I eat before I go, I make sure I always have a safe drink in my hand so that I have something to sip in the conversation lulls where people normally take a bite (I usually have one glass of safe booze and then switch to non-alc. because I'm not eating - if it's a sit-down dinner, quietly ask your server to remove the tableware at your placesetting, place your hands or your handbag on the table and lean forward slightly . . .trust me, this will make people more relaxed about eating in front of you), and when people offer food or ask why I'm not eating, I smile brightly and say "Oh, I don't eat." They usually respond with a baffled "what, anything?" to which I say "Nope!" and change the subject - compliment the venue, the music, the speaker, crack a joke, whatever, but make sure that's all you say on the subject. If I'm pressed, I might bend the rule as far as replying "Nope, allergies." (a good trick when the boss's wife catered dinner herself and you have to stay on her good side without eating a bite), but I've been using this trick for about a year now, and I've not had any trouble with it - worst case scenario, people think you're on a diet, or just a little eccentric.

[dragonmom]

I'm getting ready to go to a function as I write-I've got my purse full of whatever I'll need for the evening because it is one of my husbands students, no one I know....so I'm just going to be ready to have my purse goodies to eat...otherwise I get cranky and am no fun to be around.