How Gluten Free Is Your Home?

[Merika]

Hi,

I would like to know how gluten free other folks with celiac keep their homes. I was diagnosed 3 or 4 years ago with celiac and made my house gluten free except for one small kitchen counter and the dining table which dh can eat his gluten on. Dh is very careful, washes his hands, etc, etc. Everything was fine until this summer.....

I also have 2 kids - ds age 6 and dd age 1. Until this summer, from about the time I was diagnosed, ds has been gluten free. We were unable to test reliably for celiac, something was going on with him, so to be safe (and help keep me safe) we have fed him gluten-free. This summer, though, we ran the newer genetic test and he does not carry either gene. Yea! BUT now he is eating gluten. DD is allowed to eat gluten as well.

So do I allow them to eat it in the house? Do I feed it to them, or does just dh? I am not used to having gluten all over the house and all over the kids. Mistakes have been made. A non-careful relative came to visit. Somewhere along the way, I got glutened, from my own house.

I know I don't personally want to feed dd age 18 months gluten. That is just too close to the gluten for me and way too messy. But dh is forgetting to wash her up after he feeds her. And she likes to eat off everyone's plate, so she'll go to him, then me, then him, etc. This is new to us.

Ds age 6 is used to food going on every counter (except of course the gluten counter) and makes a huge mess at the dining table (and floor, chair, etc) especially with anything crumbly and bread-y. And he forgets to wash his hands after eating. He tries, but it is new to him, and he is still young. And I don't always remember to remind him.

In addition, I am very into eating healthy, and I find myself having mixed feelings about feeding ds rice bread with fillers and garbage added to make it like bread, when he could be eating sandwiches on wheat bread without icky additives. He does not like the rice breads I have made, though he does like other gluten-free baked goods.

Oh boy, changes! We had a good system for a while, but it needs updating. I guess I am looking to see what other people do, and see what advice you all might have.

Thanks,

Merika

[Salem]

I live alone, so my place is 100% gluten-free. Even my cats are gluten-free.

I don't know what I'm going to do when my situation changes. When I have kids, I know that I will raise them vegetarian, and gluten-free. It is a healthier lifestyle, and would be much easier than cooking 2 meals and having to worry about CC. I work with teens in a group home. I'm supposed to eat the same food as them, but the CC issues are huge. I won't even cook my own food there. Kids aren't capable of keeping their gluten to themselves. I think it isn't realistic for me to expect a child to keep a kitchen safe for me. For that reason, I would not allow gluten in the house.

[ShayFL]

My policy is NO GLUTEN INSIDE. DH and DD can eat in the garage or on the porch for gluten foods. Gluten foods do not even touch my countertops or my dining table. This makes it so I at least have one place in the world to relax: MY OWN HOME.

The reality is that neither of them eat much gluten foods anymore unless they are out away from home. DD still likes her organic pop tart thingies, but she just toasts them in the garage (we have a small microwave, toaster and fridge out there for their gluten foods) and eats them on the porch.

It certainly is easier when they get older. My DD is 12. Bless you!

[MyMississippi]

I don't even try to keep a gluten free house. Everyone uses the same counters, tables, pantry, etc. The only thing in my house that is gluten free is me and my wooden spoons and iron skillets. I'm not paranoid about gluten. I cook gluten foods for my husband and the kids and grandkids when they visit.------- and don't give it a second thought. I just don't EAT their food. And I don't let cross contamination occur to MY food.

[samcarter]

I don't even try to keep a gluten free house. Everyone uses the same counters, tables, pantry, etc. The only thing in my house that is gluten free is me and my wooden spoons and iron skillets. I'm not paranoid about gluten. I cook gluten foods for my husband and the kids and grandkids when they visit.------- and don't give it a second thought. I just don't EAT their food. And I don't let cross contamination occur to MY food.

This is how it is in our house. I just recently went gluten free, and I knew going into it that I wouldn't expect our budget to expand to include all five members on gluten free foods. I will probably lose weight just because i'm not eating the kids' scraps left over from breakfast, lunch and dinner! I'm no longer tempted by grilled cheese crusts, or their cookies or their crackers. In fact, today I just made a batch of cupcakes for them. Wasn't even tempted to lick the bowl or spatula the way I might have pre-gluten-free.

[Merika]

Interesting. I would like to hear from more people too

Shay, I totally get where you're coming from. I don't think my own dh would go for it, though he does lust after building an outdoor gluten kitchen (he used to bake).

Which brings me to you guys, sam and ceecee. I get where with a large family it can be impractical to have a gluten-free house. But PLEASE don't tell me you are baking or cooking with wheat FLOUR. That stuff flies up in the air and goes everywhere including your nose and digestive system (I'm speaking from personal experience too).

I guess I DO have a CC issue at the moment. I am so used to a nearly gluten-free house that I am not careful enough about CC issues with newly-glutened ds and dd and kitchen counters, etc. I cook all my meals from scratch for the family, every day - so I am in the kitchen A LOT and cooking a lot.

Thanks for everyone's posts!

Merika

[Beth in NC]

I am the only one affected in my home, but *I* do all the cooking, so if I make it, it's gonna be gluten-free. I have one son left at home, age 17, and my husband. I have a cart with wheels that I put their toaster on in the corner of the breakfast nook, beside the table. That cart and the table are the only places gluten is allowed...well, other than the kitchen sink. I never consider it "safe."

I think it's POSSIBLE to have both in the house, but I can't imagine not having some limitations. With young kids, it's gonna be hard to have both and them understand where they can and can't have gluten products. I would personally stick to foods that are more naturally gluten free so that you aren't doing a great deal of baking with the more difficult recipes. I buy regular bread for my two, but it stays in a bread box on that cart. They make their sandwiches on that table. But they are adults and can clean up after themselves. I also keep them some cookies too, but they know where to eat them.

I know there is more expense to gluten-free foods, when you get the specialized stuff, but there are good prices online for much of it. And the less processed foods you get, the less chance of CC anyways, ya know? But also consider that what money you are spending on food, you are saving in doctor bills.

[Hummingbird4]

It's only been a few weeks, but my kitchen is completely gluten-free. I have a DH, a 15 y.o. DD, and a 17 y.o. DS who is leaving for college next week. I do the vast majority of the shopping and the cooking. The kids do dishes. So far it's been OK....

The trouble I'm finding is when people give you things - like my stepmom gave my DH a pie for his birthday. My MIL sent us home with some leftover cake last night. She also gave my DH a big tub of red vines. Or my son will go out with friends to eat at a restaurant and come home with leftover lasagna. You get the idea. Where to put these items? I don't want them in my kitchen. So the pie went into the garage freezer for now. The cake into the garage fridge. The red vines into my husband's office. Leftovers go into the garage fridge.

Part of me thinks I should cave in and let my kitchen become a mixed kitchen (but no wheat flour allowed). I'm afraid that my family will be lax, though, and I will end up being glutened.

With young children though, Merika, you're going to have to be on them like a hawk to make sure their hands and faces are washed after eating gluteny foods.

[MaryJones2]

My house (not just my kitchen) is gluten-free except 1 pot and a few utinsels that my husband uses to make ramen noodles once a week or so. He has a dedicated counter for prep and cleans up immediately when he's finished. He's more obsessive about cleaning than I am so I never worry that he's contaminating anything. We choose to keep a gluten-free house because as my husband puts it it's the one place that I should be able to eat or do anything without worrying. He refuses to keep anything else with gluten in our house and says that if I can't eat it too then he can either do without or eat it when he's not home.

[Rya]

I had one roommate, an avid lover of all things sweet, glutenous, and baking sweet, glutenous things, who glutened me just a tiny little bit every time I turned around. It was too little to really have a reaction, but enough to send me to the doc to see what was up. Doc was less than helpful, but I felt better after I got away for a weekend, then came back and had true reactions when I stayed there.

I live with my boyfriend, who's gluten-free, and a non gluten-free roommate now. The non gluten-free roommate is very considerate and doesn't really eat much gluten except packaged stuff; my boyfriend cooks most of the meals and we share with him. As far as I can tell I'm not having any problems.

Kids are another story, though, like others have said. I think priority one is your health.

Maybe you can send the older kid off to school with packaged gluten food and have hubby feed the little one gluten something once per week. That way the kids are at a decreased risk of developing Celiac and then you don't have to be contaminated - which we all know is less than fun.

I love the idea of a mini kitchen in the garage - I may use that one day 15 years from now.

[MyMississippi]

Merika,

Not to worry------- There's no wheat flour in my house

No I don't BAKE gluten items from scratch for my husband---- what are you kidding ???? If I can't find it in the grocery store bakery, he will do without

It's hard enough having to bake all my own stupid tasteless bread from scratch, pizza crust from scratch, muffins from scratch, pie crusts, etc. etc. etc. ----- (what a pain in the backside that is )

I sure wouldn't add useless work on top of that chore !

l

[Merika]

Ceecee - whew! I am happy to have misunderstood your post, lol. I buy my dh pre-made gluten things too.

Janetw - your dh sounds wonderfully supportive. And it seems you have a similar set-up to my old one (which I really liked!).

Rya - glad you have found a safe living situation. It is super yucky to be glutened all the time

[oceangirl]

After repeatedly getting glutened for a year we have a gluten-free house except for the rabbit pellets. Cats and dogs gluten-free. I just kept getting sick and my kids, who are older- daughter leaving for college in a week and son who is 15 and a half- offered to have a gluten-free house. They eat gluten outside or in the garage. Spousal Equivalent also; he's mostly gluten-free anyway. I think it depends on how often you get cc'd and there's quite a learning curve. Good luck!

lisa

[greeneyes33]

I wish my house was all gluten free. I do have my own cabinet of food and my own cabinet of pots, pans etc. But they have their stuff throughout the rest of the kitchen. I have 2 little ones, 6 and 7 who just make a mess with everything. I tell them all the time to take their gluten smeared fingers away from me.

I'm going to see a nutritionist next Monday and DH is coming with me. She suggested that it would be a good idea. I said I thought so too since he thinks its ok to walk around eating pizza all over the place. So I hope that he actually listens to what she has to say because he thinks this whole CC is a joke. Of course hes not the one feeling like garbage everyday either. So we'll see...

As far as dinner goes, I do try to cook gluten free for everyone. On the occasion that I dont feel like making anything, they will get spaghetti and I dont go near the kitchen. Even though I know its lurking everywhere. I hate it...

Breakfasts and lunches, I make them sandwiches, etc. They get cereal in the morning, or english muffins. I will give them eggs, but they wouldn't eat them every day. Its very hard with little kids. I'm so thankful that they are negative, at least at this point. I think that would've been harder than me.

I'm still not feeling well and my diagnosis came somewhere around the end of June. I'm not sure if its CC issues, or its just taking me awhile to heal. Maybe the nutritionist will have some input.

[oceangirl]

It can take quite awhile to heal and other intolerances may show up first. It has taken me 2 to 3 years to feel REALLY well and I had lots to learn in that time. I'm sure it must be so hard with little kids; hopefully your husband will come around. Don't be discouraged; you may go up and down for awhile.I eat only whole foods I make myself (or Michael makes) and don't do any of the replacement baked goods. So, meats, fish, Greek yogurt, hard cheese, nuts, seeds, veggies and fruit are my foods. I did successfully go out to the restaurant where my daughter works and ate salmon and a salad with no cc issues, but she was overseeing the whole operation! I generally never go out and bring my own food wherever I go. This is because I discovered the hard way how sensitive I am- you may find you are not that way.

Good luck and feel better,

lisa

[gfp]

I had one roommate, an avid lover of all things sweet, glutenous, and baking sweet, glutenous things, who glutened me just a tiny little bit every time I turned around. It was too little to really have a reaction, but enough to send me to the doc to see what was up. Doc was less than helpful, but I felt better after I got away for a weekend, then came back and had true reactions when I stayed there.

Unfortunately this is the case for many...

We don't realize the little CC issues until we are gluten-free for some time, often longer than a weekend.

Sharing a kitchen, unfortunately we are constantly being CC'd because try as we might other people won't have the same mindset towards gluten as we would have. They don't need to be deliberately careless, just less than 100% ALL the time.

So many people share kitchen's but have never tried being truly gluten-free. They believe they are not CC'd, yet many times those that try will find they had little problems they hadn't attributed to gluten that go away when they are truly gluten-free.

If you do share a kitchen you are not strictly gluten-free, like eating CODEX wheat starch. For many it seems that the reaction is masked by the constant small amounts until they actually make the change to 100% gluten-free.

[casnco]

No question about it. My house is 100% gluten free! I host the family thanksgiving and christmas party for 30 people and I do all the cooking. Family members bring drinks and vegtables. Nothing else. I preapprove the dip. Am I a little uptight about this? YEP!

Recently I allowed my best friend to bring a PB&J sandwich into my home for her picky daughter. Well this lovely child sat her sandwich on the counter when she was done. her mom picked it up and threw it away. I come along. Being used to a gluten free home and sat some vegtables on the same spot. Cut them up and ate them. Guess what. Yep. Bad cramping. Cross contaminated. Never again. I love company and do not mind cooking. It is my thing anyway.

Sorry but my home is my haven. It is where I am protected from the world. NO GLUTEN!

[Katsby]

My house is 50/50. It's just my kids and I. I sometimes make them glutened foods (sandwiches for lunch). I use separate areas to make their food. I have separate jars for mayo, peanut butter, etc clearly marked. They are still small so I make their food and I'm aware of what I'm doing. I wash my hands a lot and keep all of my work spaces clean. I put a glass cutting board specifically for them under their food when I prepare it. I can see the potential for cc, but I am very careful. I react immediately. I find I have a harder time with glutened foods that have been prepared in the pots/pans/cooking utensils. I get pretty sick from that so I keep two sets of pots, including one that has never had gluten in it. We don't share a toaster and they don't use the microwave. So far so good.

[FaeLD]

Our house isn't gluten free at all. Normally, I eat stuff my family eats (chicken / potatoes / rice) but when it comes to stuff that contains wheat, such as pasta, my mum prepares my food first then prepares the rest of the food. That way, my food isn't contaminated and the rest of the family can still enjoy their food.

It works well. I have never had reactions of any kind and my family would be pretty disappointed if they had to cut their foods because of me, and I understand them.

But then again, my mother doesn't bake things that contain wheat, and all food is given by the pharmacy rather than made, so that could be a factor.

[dandelionmom]

We're almost totally gluten-free. My oldest daughter and husband occasionally like to have "real" pizza and in that case, it is only allowed on the "gluten side" of the kitchen table. That's all the gluten we have any more. There were too many accidental glutenings before and it just isn't worth it.

[dksart]

We have one small cabinet where my DH and DD keep their bread, cereal, oatmeal and snacks. There is also a dedicated "gluteny" toaster on the gluten-only counter. Everything else is gluten-free and if something becomes accidentally cc'd, we label it as such.

[Gemini]

Unfortunately this is the case for many...

We don't realize the little CC issues until we are gluten-free for some time, often longer than a weekend.

Sharing a kitchen, unfortunately we are constantly being CC'd because try as we might other people won't have the same mindset towards gluten as we would have. They don't need to be deliberately careless, just less than 100% ALL the time.

So many people share kitchen's but have never tried being truly gluten-free. They believe they are not CC'd, yet many times those that try will find they had little problems they hadn't attributed to gluten that go away when they are truly gluten-free.

If you do share a kitchen you are not strictly gluten-free, like eating CODEX wheat starch. For many it seems that the reaction is masked by the constant small amounts until they actually make the change to 100% gluten-free.

It's too bad that some have tunnel vision and insist that those who can manage CC extremely well are still being glutened. I know 100% that I am not being glutened at all by having a mixed kitchen because it's just my husband and myself and he's even better at CC than I am! He thought of things at first that I didn't but that could have been brain fog.

Maybe you feel that way because of self doubt or mild paranoia and that's OK, if that's what it takes for it to work for you. But there are many Celiacs who have taken the time to truly learn CC and how it can occur who do perfectly well in a mixed kitchen. To imply that we are not totally gluten-free or that it's comparable to eating Codex wheat starch is arrogant and, yes, ignorant. It's too bad because there are many people on this forum who give excellent, common sense advice, minus the ignorance that seems to imply you can't be in the same room as gluten without taking a hit!

[darlindeb25]

Maybe you feel that way because of self doubt or mild paranoia and that's OK, if that's what it takes for it to work for you. But there are many Celiacs who have taken the time to truly learn CC and how it can occur who do perfectly well in a mixed kitchen. To imply that we are not totally gluten-free or that it's comparable to eating Codex wheat starch is arrogant and, yes, ignorant. It's too bad because there are many people on this forum who give excellent, common sense advice, minus the ignorance that seems to imply you can't be in the same room as gluten without taking a hit!

Your remark is totally uncalled for. Gfp is simply stating facts, and honestly, the facts are correct. I do not feel the way I do because of self doubt or mild paranoia. I have been gluten-free for over 8 yrs now, and it's very easy for another to CC me, even when they think they are being careful. Sometimes the CC takes a while for us to realize. My home is totally gluten-free, yet when my daughter comes and stays for a month, I allow her to eat gluten. She is very careful, washes her hands all the time, never uses the counter I use...much more careful than many are...and at times, I still get CC'd. I have taken the time to truly learn so much about celiac, everything there is to know, as has Gpf, I can tell by the numerous posts. I do not always agree, but that can happen in any discussion. Sometimes you can't be in the same room with gluten and not take a hit, it depends on the gluten, and the handlers.

It's ignorant and arrogant to think you are always safe, no matter what. Gfp is just trying to make you understand that sometimes you can get glutened and just feel a little off, go for days not understanding why. It has happened to all of us.

[Guest AutumnE]

Me and my daughter are gluten free and inside our home is fully except the fish food. Out of the house my husband eats it a few times a year but not often. He doesnt eat it inside the home. Usually its when he is away on business.

gemini- I wont let my husband eat gluten food and he doesnt want to eat gluten food in our home. At first I was gluten free only. I was steadily glutened and I could never figure out how. I wont say that its impossible but its hard to not get cc'd. I am not paranoid but I dont want me and especially my daughter to get sick from it when we can find alternatives for everything.

[celiac-mommy]

Our house is gluten-free except for my bread and my cereal. I have a separate toaster in a separate area. We have a 2nd small kitchen in the basement, so regular pizza, if ordered is kept in that fridge as is any gluten snack that is brought in the house. No baking with gluten in the house though, EVER! I'm super paranoid of CC, so I'm constantly cleaning.