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Lesson: Never Take Food From Strangers

wsieving

By wsieving
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

wsieving Contributor
wsieving
Posted

Ok, I was at my health food store today buying my weekly goodies (they have the largest selection in the state, and boast about it... supposed to be VERY knowledgeable about gluten-free). Anyway, I'm checking out, and there was a lady behind the counter who said, oh! are you Gluten Free? I told her that yes I was, that my entire household is a gluten-free household. She said, Great! I have these crackers I am thinking about ordering, and I would love to get your opinion on them. So she hands me the first one to taste and it was OK, but not that great in my opinion (nearly needed steel teeth to chew it). Anyway, she handed me another cracker, something told me to break a little piece off to try this one. I began to chew it and she says, STOP!!! SPIT IT OUT!! I'M TRYING TO KILL YOU!! (wow... talk about dramatic...). So I'm frantically looking for something to spit it out on and finally another lady handed me a tissue and a cup to go rinse my mouth out with. The lady handed me a cracker that she *thought* was gluten free because it was a rice cracker, then began to read the box as I chewed it and realized that I should not be eating it.... *ugh* Then she quickly followed me into the bathroom with a pill to take that was supposed to make it "ok".... almost made me wonder if she did it on purpose so that she could turn me on to this little pill that supposedly pushes the gluten out of your system faster. I dunno, all I could think was... the gluten is still going to be in my breastmilk, which is half the reason I am gluten free anyway (my DD is 15 months and still nursing, and gluten-free). I never in a million years would have thought about asking her if I could read the box first considering they know all about gluten-free there, and knew I was gluten-free. Moral of the story I guess is NEVER under any circumstances take food from a stranger without first checking the box.....

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Hummingbird4 Explorer
Hummingbird4
Posted

Ugh, I'm sorry that happened. I don't think I would trust food handed out, either.

Today a friend of my daughter's announced that she is going to make me some gluten-free cupcakes. Hmm. Not that I don't trust a 15 year-old girl to keep my food absolutely gluten-free, but... I don't. Hopefully she will forget and not follow through.

Takala Enthusiast
Takala
Posted

Oh, geez, that store seriously needs to talk to ditz- woman and have her stop doing that.

I never take food from strangers, but if she had followed me into the rest room with one of those fake pills afterwards that would have been the last time she ever tried that stunt.

JNBunnie1 Community Regular
JNBunnie1
Posted
Oh, geez, that store seriously needs to talk to ditz- woman and have her stop doing that.

I never take food from strangers, but if she had followed me into the rest room with one of those fake pills afterwards that would have been the last time she ever tried that stunt.

Hear, hear!

A buddy at work keeps trying to offer to make me muffins. I'm like, just stop.

And the lady behind the counter is a whackjob, and don't ever take food from her again. I actually don't take anything for granted unless it's my boyfriend handing it to me. Even my mum has screwed up once or twice.

DarkIvy Explorer
DarkIvy
Posted

That's such a bummer. It's frustrating when people say something is gluten free and then it turns out not to be. Why would they even take a risk like that with someone's illness? I would never offer food to someone if they had say, a dairy allergy and say with authority "hey, this is dairy free!" because I'm not good enough at identifying its sources to say that. I might say "hey, I'm not sure if you can have this, but it's safe for you you can have some" but not "HAVE THIS ITS SAFE!!!"

But that's just me. I've had enough frustrations with people trying to convince me stuff is gluten free when I know better to ever trust.

My boyfriend is one of the only people I trust, too, and that's because he lives with me. I mean, he *knows* what its like to live with a celiac, haha. He's pretty good about knowing what has gluten and doesn't.... and I think both of us just tend to assume without question that his snacks have gluten.

On the other hand, he eats all of MY gluten-free snacks.... particularly the Gluten Freeda's cookie dough that you bake yourself. He eats more of them than I do, which is really saying something. I think we go through three or so boxes of them a week, hahaha. Usually if he offers me a snack, it's one of the cookies he's made, lol.

Speaking of being offered food though, does anyone else find it kind of irritating at malls when people offer you a sample of the food on a toothpick? The people at the mall where I work are actually kind of pushy. They're second only to the skeazy guys that offer lotion samples at kiosks. I hate that even more. Everytime I go somewhere on my lunch break they offer me a sample, and it's always "NO!" You'd think they'd recognize me by now... But I'm always scared the lotion will have gluten in it, as a lot of them do, and I'm not going to stand around and be like "well, I want to try it, but can I check the ingredients first?" Pfft. That's why I carry a bottle of lotion in my bag, so I don't have to. At least the people at the straightening iron kiosk don't offer gluten, but they're pushy and have hot irons... so yeah. Bah. I suppose I just don't trust anyone offering anything these days.

Green Eyes Rookie
Green Eyes
Posted

The fact remains, people who are not gluten free do not truly understand the precautions.

A neighbor had fixed a meatloaf for a neighborhood cookout and fixed it "gluten free." I'm usually not assertive enough to ask questions, but I did. I couldn't have it!!! But I was pleased this lady put forth an effort to try.

The best part of the cookout!!! I fixed a gluten free taco soup and it was the hit of the cookout!!! Everyone raved about the soup and gave me an opportunity to give a little education of utensil use!!! EVERYONE was great!!!

Jennifer

kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted
The best part of the cookout!!! I fixed a gluten free taco soup and it was the hit of the cookout!!! Everyone raved about the soup and gave me an opportunity to give a little education of utensil use!!! EVERYONE was great!!!

Taco soup sounds delicious. Could you post the recipe?

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spunky Contributor
spunky
Posted

That lady sounds like a psycho!

I'd probably call the store manager and explain why they just lost my business.

Green Eyes Rookie
Green Eyes
Posted

I would be honored to share the Taco Soup Recipe. This is a recipe I used pre gluten free and I just had to change brands on some of the ingredients. For those of you who use fresh or frozen I'm sure those items will work as well. This is my throw in the crock pot and it is ready when I get home recipe.

2 cans whole corn

4 cans of beans (any type)

2 cans diced tomatoes (I use mild chiles w/tomatoes)

1 can v-8 juice

2 taco packets (McCormick is gluten free)

2 pounds of lean ground beef

1 bag of corn chips

Shredded cheese (I use cheddar)

Brown ground beef and drain. Add all ingredients (do not drain) except corn chips and shredded cheese in a large crock pot. Cook 4 hours and serve in bowl with corn chips and add cheese as desired.

I hope you like it!!!

Jennifer

JNBunnie1 Community Regular
JNBunnie1
Posted
I would be honored to share the Taco Soup Recipe. This is a recipe I used pre gluten free and I just had to change brands on some of the ingredients. For those of you who use fresh or frozen I'm sure those items will work as well. This is my throw in the crock pot and it is ready when I get home recipe.

2 cans whole corn

4 cans of beans (any type)

2 cans diced tomatoes (I use mild chiles w/tomatoes)

1 can v-8 juice

2 taco packets (McCormick is gluten free)

2 pounds of lean ground beef

1 bag of corn chips

Shredded cheese (I use cheddar)

Brown ground beef and drain. Add all ingredients (do not drain) except corn chips and shredded cheese in a large crock pot. Cook 4 hours and serve in bowl with corn chips and add cheese as desired.

I hope you like it!!!

Jennifer

That looks AWESOME!

wsieving Contributor
wsieving
Posted
  • Author
That lady sounds like a psycho!

I'd probably call the store manager and explain why they just lost my business.

I wish that were an option... they have the largest selection of gluten-free food in the state :(. Her boss was there though, and promptly got in the gluten free freezer and warmed up a delicious chocolate chip cookie to give me. I think she was pretty miffed. Hopefully that crazy lady got an earful after I left...

kim:) Apprentice
kim:)
Posted
Ok, I was at my health food store today buying my weekly goodies (they have the largest selection in the state, and boast about it... supposed to be VERY knowledgeable about gluten-free). Anyway, I'm checking out, and there was a lady behind the counter who said, oh! are you Gluten Free? I told her that yes I was, that my entire household is a gluten-free household. She said, Great! I have these crackers I am thinking about ordering, and I would love to get your opinion on them. So she hands me the first one to taste and it was OK, but not that great in my opinion (nearly needed steel teeth to chew it). Anyway, she handed me another cracker, something told me to break a little piece off to try this one. I began to chew it and she says, STOP!!! SPIT IT OUT!! I'M TRYING TO KILL YOU!! (wow... talk about dramatic...). So I'm frantically looking for something to spit it out on and finally another lady handed me a tissue and a cup to go rinse my mouth out with. The lady handed me a cracker that she *thought* was gluten free because it was a rice cracker, then began to read the box as I chewed it and realized that I should not be eating it.... *ugh* Then she quickly followed me into the bathroom with a pill to take that was supposed to make it "ok".... almost made me wonder if she did it on purpose so that she could turn me on to this little pill that supposedly pushes the gluten out of your system faster. I dunno, all I could think was... the gluten is still going to be in my breastmilk, which is half the reason I am gluten free anyway (my DD is 15 months and still nursing, and gluten-free). I never in a million years would have thought about asking her if I could read the box first considering they know all about gluten-free there, and knew I was gluten-free. Moral of the story I guess is NEVER under any circumstances take food from a stranger without first checking the box.....

Haha I know what you mean! Since I am still in school and all people bring food into class and what not for speical events..... but anyways, my friend baked me cookies and cut out the recipie and all and told me that she used a clean mixer/pan and all. She was just begining the gluten-free diet and so I was like um okay. I ate it and 5 minutes later I get sick. It turns out that she had used Pam with flour :( I was so frustrated because I hate getting sick and I have been on the diet for 4 years now and I should no better. But like you learned to I guess you can never really take food from people without COMPLETLY! checking the ingredients.

kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

I *might* have to make an unscheduled trip to the grocery store to make that taco soup. Tacos are my favorite thing ever, and this is a great way to "disguise" the fact that I eat them several times a week! :P

JNBunnie1 Community Regular
JNBunnie1
Posted
I *might* have to make an unscheduled trip to the grocery store to make that taco soup. Tacos are my favorite thing ever, and this is a great way to "disguise" the fact that I eat them several times a week! :P

That's it! Your secret's out!!!!!

lpellegr Collaborator
lpellegr
Posted

I hate having to discourage well-meaning people who want to bake you something gluten-free, but when I politely explain to them about cross-contamination of their house and utensils with flour, etc, they usually give up. If they are persistent and say they will use a gluten-free mix or something, and they just have to provide me with something, I counter with something pre-packaged I can eat, like Pirate Booty or Kozy Shack pudding. As for the people passing out samples, if they are annoying and persistent I just toss out the words "Food allergy" or "Allergies" as I go by. That gives you a good excuse to say no. I also tell people I have an unbreakable rule that I never put anything in my mouth unless I can read the label. When they ask what will happen, I start with pain in the gut, hint at more gastro-intestinal distress, then finish with, "you really don't want to hear it, believe me."

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