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

Invited To A Dinner Party...what Do I Tell Them?

kochac

By kochac
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

kochac Rookie
kochac
Posted

I've just been invited to dinner at a professor's house and I want to go. They're from Spain so I feel like most of what they cook should be naturally gluten-free, based around potatoes, rice, and corn. However, I feel like I should give them advance warning about my celiac just to be on the safe side, but I'm not sure exactly how much detail to go into. Here's what I have so far: (this is going to be an email response to the email invitation)

"I'm happy to accept your invitation. I should let you know that I have an autoimmune disorder called celiac disease, which amounts to an allergy to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, oats, and rye, and products made from them (less obvious ones include soy sauce and beer). Generally I don't have many problems with Spanish food because I can eat potatoes, corn, and rice with no problem whatsoever, and certainly I don't need to eat everything that you serve, so feel free to still have things like bread and crackers. I just wanted to let you know in advance so that if I ask what something is made from, it doesn't come as surprise.

Thanks and please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about what I can or can't eat. See you on Friday!"

Is this too much info? Not enough? what do you do in situations like this?

Thanks!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Treen Bean Apprentice
Treen Bean
Posted

When it comes to your health, you can never give to much info! Well, I take that back... but in your case, your response is perfect. It opens the door for a good dialogue. I hope you have fun!

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

I think it is great! But take a dish of your own (with enough to share) just in case. Trust me on this one.

*lee-lee* Enthusiast
*lee-lee*
Posted

definitly a conversation worth having. i would not want to show up at a dinner party and not know if i could eat anything!

i'd probably be inclined to keep it short and sweet unless they inquire about details. i would probably say that i have food allergies, i can't have gluten (which is wheat, barley and rye) and then ask what's on the menu.

there's something about the line "...and certainly I don't need to eat everything that you serve, so feel free to still have things like bread and crackers" that makes me cringe a little bit. as a guest in their house, i'm not sure it's quite appropriate to tell them what they can and can't serve. i might say this to my mom but not anyone i'm not super close with. (don't get me wrong, i understand where you're going with the statement...maybe you can say that you have to avoid eating things like bread and crackers.)

if it's possible, can you havev this conversation face to face rather than via email? you might get a better feel for the food being served and the host will probably get a better understand as to what your limitations are.

MaryJones2 Enthusiast
MaryJones2
Posted

I personally would not ask a hostess to make any exceptions in this case. It's a lot of pressure to put on someone who doesn't understand how to prepare gluten-free food. I would call her and politely let her know that you have food issues (allergies, intolerances, or however you are comfortable wording it) and that you would prefer to bring your own food. I would then ask what's on the menu and prepare something similar. If it's a multi-course meal then you can provide your own salad, soup, etc. and plate it on her dishes when you get there. Then everyone can enjoy the party and most likely none of the other guests will even notice.

WW340 Rookie
WW340
Posted
I personally would not ask a hostess to make any exceptions in this case. It's a lot of pressure to put on someone who doesn't understand how to prepare gluten-free food. I would call her and politely let her know that you have food issues (allergies, intolerances, or however you are comfortable wording it) and that you would prefer to bring your own food. I would then ask what's on the menu and prepare something similar. If it's a multi-course meal then you can provide your own salad, soup, etc. and plate it on her dishes when you get there. Then everyone can enjoy the party and most likely none of the other guests will even notice.

I totally agree with this approach. I always try to keep my food restrictions as my problem, not the host's or hostess's problem. Even if they wanted to try to accomodate your food restrictions, it gets so involved with the type of cooking utensils, pans etc, that you still are taking an extreme risk. I have had friends insist on cooking for me with the best intentions, but somewhere along the line end up with cross contamination. Then I am sick, and they feel bad. It is much easier for everyone involved for you to bring your own food.

kochac Rookie
kochac
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone! I made a few changes to my draft and sent it off, and already got a response back saying no problem, she has a celiac in her family and also one of her son's friends is one. Isn't wonderful how we're taking over the world?? :lol: I'll still be careful of course, but I'm feeling pretty confident now that everything will work out.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

Isnt it amazing that this "rare" disease isnt so rare after all? When I told my BFF she said her sister is Celiac. Seems whenever I tell someone, they always know someone else who has it.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. chrisinpa
      - chrisinpa commented on Scott Adams's article in Skin Problems and Celiac Disease
      2

      Celiac Disease and Skin Disorders: Exploring a Genetic Connection

      Maybe they can attribute certain skin conditions to either being susceptible to getting Celiac......or the other way around....but I have to ask if certain people are prone to Celiac because of genetics and some people aren't. It's kind of the same thing as what came first.....the chicken or the egg.?
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      3

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      @xxnonamexx, There's labeling on those Trubar gluten free high fiber protein bars that say: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, milk, soy, fish, WHEAT, sesame, and other tree nuts." You may want to avoid products made in shared facilities. If you are trying to add more fiber to your diet to ease constipation, considering...
    3. trents
      - trents replied to sha1091a's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Issues before diagnosis

      Welcome to celiac.com @sha1091a! Your experience is a very common one. Celiac disease is one the most underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed medical conditions out there. The reasons are numerous. One key one is that its symptoms mimic so many other diseases. Another is ignorance on the part of the medical community with regard to the range of symptoms that celiac...
    4. trents
      - trents commented on Jefferson Adams's article in Other Diseases and Disorders Associated with Celiac Disease
      6

      Celiac Disease Patients Face Higher Risk of Systemic Lupus

      What kind of practitioner did the blood test? Was this a medical doctor, a naturopathic doctor, a GI doc? I would certainly follow up with them and ask why they advised you not to eat red meat. I mean, it could be something like they, themselves, are a vegetarian and give that advice to everyone. Have you had an endoscopy with biopsy of the small bowel...
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to EndlessSummer's topic in Food Intolerance & Leaky Gut
      2

      Dizziness after eating green beans?

      @EndlessSummer, You said you had an allergy to trees. People with Birch Allergy can react to green beans (in the legume family) and other vegetables, as well as some fruits. Look into Oral Allergy Syndrome which can occur at a higher rate in Celiac Disease. Switching to a low histamine diet for a while can give your body time to rid itself of...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,691
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    4Nic8ion
    Newest Member
    4Nic8ion
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @xxnonamexx, There's labeling on those Trubar gluten free high fiber protein bars that say: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, milk, soy, fish, WHEAT, sesame, and other tree nuts." You may want to avoid products made in shared facilities.   If you are trying to add more fiber to your diet to ease constipation, considering eating more leafy green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables.  Not only are these high in fiber, they also are good sources of magnesium.  Many newly diagnosed are low in magnesium and B vitamins and suffer with constipation.  Thiamine Vitamin B1 and magnesium work together.  Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine has been shown to improve intestinal health.  Thiamine and magnesium are important to gastrointestinal health and function.  
    • trents
      Issues before diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to celiac.com @sha1091a! Your experience is a very common one. Celiac disease is one the most underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed medical conditions out there. The reasons are numerous. One key one is that its symptoms mimic so many other diseases. Another is ignorance on the part of the medical community with regard to the range of symptoms that celiac disease can produce. Clinicians often are only looking for classic GI symptoms and are unaware of the many other subsystems in the body that can be damaged before classic GI symptoms manifest, if ever they do. Many celiacs are of the "silent" variety and have few if any GI symptoms while all along, damage is being done to their bodies. In my case, the original symptoms were elevated liver enzymes which I endured for 13 years before I was diagnosed with celiac disease. By the grace of God my liver was not destroyed. It is common for the onset of the disease to happen 10 years before you ever get a diagnosis. Thankfully, that is slowly changing as there has developed more awareness on the part of both the medical community and the public in the past 20 years or so. Blessings!
    • knitty kitty
      Dizziness after eating green beans?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @EndlessSummer, You said you had an allergy to trees.  People with Birch Allergy can react to green beans (in the legume family) and other vegetables, as well as some fruits.  Look into Oral Allergy Syndrome which can occur at a higher rate in Celiac Disease.   Switching to a low histamine diet for a while can give your body time to rid itself of the extra histamine the body makes with Celiac disease and histamine consumed in the diet.   Vitamin C and the eight B vitamins are needed to help the body clear histamine.   Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies?
    • sha1091a
      Issues before diagnosis

      By sha1091a · Posted

      I found out the age of 68 that I am a celiac. When I was 16, I had my gallbladder removed when I was 24 I was put on a medication because I was told I had fibromyalgia.   going to Doctor’s over many years, not one of them thought to check me out for celiac disease. I am aware that it only started being tested by bloodwork I believe in the late 90s, but still I’m kind of confused why my gallbladder my joint pain flatulent that I complained of constantly was totally ignored. Is it not something that is taught to our medical system? It wasn’t a Doctor Who asked for the test to be done. I asked for it because of something I had read and my test came back positive. My number was quite high.Are there other people out here that had this kind of problems and they were ignored? 
    • trents
      Dizziness after eating green beans?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to celiac.com, @EndlessSummer! Do you react to all vegetables or just specific kinds or families of them? What you describe with green beans sounds like it has an anaphylaxis component. Like you, walnuts are a problem for me. They will often give me a scratchy throat so I try to avoid them. Does it matter if the vegies are raw or will-cooked in how you react to them?
×
×
  • 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.