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First Time With Catered Food

Googles

By Googles
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Googles Community Regular
Googles
Posted

I am starting a graduate program. The introduction to the department starts with a lunch meal. I am almost positive that it is going to be catered by the university dining services. I know that I should contact the department to make sure who is catering it and then contact them about my food (or bring my own). This is my first time having to do something like this as I was recently diagnosed. I know that I am going to have to have a discussion at some point with the department as I am going to be there for two years and it will need to happen sooner or later. However, I'm nervous about being seen as demanding and needing special treatment. I was hoping people could give me encouragement and/or advice about having to do this. I just really like to blend in. I will thank you before you give any advice as I am moving tomorrow and don't know exactly when I'll be back on line. :)

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The Fluffy Assassin Enthusiast
The Fluffy Assassin
Posted
I am starting a graduate program. The introduction to the department starts with a lunch meal. I am almost positive that it is going to be catered by the university dining services. I know that I should contact the department to make sure who is catering it and then contact them about my food (or bring my own). This is my first time having to do something like this as I was recently diagnosed. I know that I am going to have to have a discussion at some point with the department as I am going to be there for two years and it will need to happen sooner or later. However, I'm nervous about being seen as demanding and needing special treatment. I was hoping people could give me encouragement and/or advice about having to do this. I just really like to blend in. I will thank you before you give any advice as I am moving tomorrow and don't know exactly when I'll be back on line. :)

Just be nice and polite. You aren't being demanding or needing special treatment; your body is. Also, you're not likely to be the first celiac at this university, so hopefully they're already prepared for the contingency. Many university dining services are contracted out to Aramark. I couldn't find anything about Aramark gluten free dining halls, but they are the ones behind the gluten free stand at Coors Field (Denver major league baseball park) which is at least promising.

wschmucks Contributor
wschmucks
Posted

Just tell them that due to a health condition you have a strict diet and your meals should consist of a plain piece of meat baked, and steamed veggies. Tell them that is very important that there are no added ingredients or as you may have an immediate reaction :-) I usually say i'll go into anaphylactic shock, which is a total lie but it gets the job done.

I have found it is best to tell them what you can have instead of what you cant, and to keep it as simple as possible so you can tell if they followed directions. If there is anything on your meat you will know before you eat it, same with the veggies. Tell them any animal meat/ fish will work and any fresh veggie. It might not be your new favorite meal, but its healthy and you wont get sick. Also it never hurts to make friends with the people who are responsible for cooking the food and make sure to show them how greatful you are for their help.

MDRB Explorer
MDRB
Posted

I agree with just being nice and polite about it. In my experience catering companies are usually well aware of most dietary requirements. They usually have a standard meal for each specific diet eg. if you are vegetarian they will give you pasta, if you are gluten intolerant they will usually give you a steak and vegies. But if you are vegetarian and have celiac disease they will get confused and have no idea what to do with you...Grrr...anyway, that's just my little rant. I'm sure they have experience with celiac disease and you will get a suitable meal. You may come across problems with the waiters on the day so its best to tell the host (if there is one) when you arrive and confirm each course is gluten free before you touch it. Good luck!

ang1e0251 Contributor
ang1e0251
Posted

You wouldn't think a diabetic was being demanding if they asked for a diabetic meal, would you? The other posters are correct that a polite and courteous demeanor will go a long way for you. If you act like it's standard for you to ask this, they will assume it is and accomodate you.

It is uncomfortable the first time you have to do this but it won't be so bad. Soon it will be old hat and you will be posting to other newbies how you handle these type of situations. Knock 'em dead!

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

"I usually say i'll go into anaphylactic shock, which is a total lie but it gets the job done."

I personally think it's a bad idea to lie about what celiac entails. Also, you'll eventually run into a place that will just flat out refuse to serve you because they don't want to take the chance they might kill you.

richard

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted
I am starting a graduate program. The introduction to the department starts with a lunch meal. I am almost positive that it is going to be catered by the university dining services. I know that I should contact the department to make sure who is catering it and then contact them about my food (or bring my own). This is my first time having to do something like this as I was recently diagnosed. I know that I am going to have to have a discussion at some point with the department as I am going to be there for two years and it will need to happen sooner or later. However, I'm nervous about being seen as demanding and needing special treatment. I was hoping people could give me encouragement and/or advice about having to do this. I just really like to blend in. I will thank you before you give any advice as I am moving tomorrow and don't know exactly when I'll be back on line. :)

I'd just go ahead and face it. And you might be pleasantly surprised about the caterer. The one that's used the most on the campus where i work knows all about gluten already.

richard

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BethanyGraves Newbie
BethanyGraves
Posted

Your best bet is to start by simply inquiring about what foods will be served. There is likely to be a natural point in the conversation where you could introduce your needs into the conversation (like: "Thank you for giving me all of this useful information. I have an intolerance to wheat/gluten and I wanted to be sure of the menu before attending..." etc etc).

There are so many gluten free foods, that department shouldn't have any issues providing easy choices for you and other gluten intolerant folks.

Good luck!

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      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
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      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
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      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
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