Anxious About Thanksgiving

[bridgetm]

I had been contemplating which of my favorite pre-gluten-intolerance foods could stay on the menu when I found out that plans had already been made to go to a relatives' for dinner. They know about my food problems and have taken steps in the past to ensure that there is something safe for me to eat. However, I have become more sensitive since we last ate with them and I expect this dinner to be a cross-contamination nightmare. I plan to eat something before I go so that my stomach won't start growling if I'm forced to sit with a nearly empty plate. I have one big question that should solve a few problems:

They plan to make dressing along with the turkey. Obviously the dressing must be avoided (and any pieces of meat that were in direct contact), but if it is cooked inside of the turkey can the gluten be transferred to the meat during the cooking process? If I am at least able to take a slice of meat safely, I know I can avoid the majority of the "just-one-bite" comments and questions.

My plan is to bring a few slices of my own bread, already buttered to avoid CC. I should be able to manage a small amount of mashed potatoes despite the milk. And I can fill the gaps on my plate with some veggies and the chips that will likely be set out as appetizers-- I have never appreciated the predictability of some family dinners until now.

Thank you for the support!

On a side note: I had an MRI last week for continuing severe episodes of intestinal/digestive symptoms (i.e. D, vomiting, malabsorption) and it looks to be a low-grade ulcer and/or the beginning stages of an inflammatory disease. An upper endoscopy last month showed severe reflux. I'm having another MRI next month to get more detail, partly because the contrast solution they had me drink didn't make it all the way through my system. Thanks to my food diary, in which I also note any severe symptoms, I have noticed that these episodes tend to occur only once a month, right on schedule... It appears I am fighting hormones in addition to stomach acid, gluten, soy, dairy and fructose.

[Dixiebell]

I wouldn't eat the turkey if stuffing is cooked inside it. Also I have heard that some turkeys are labeled gluten free, that makes me wonder if some turkeys are injected with gluten containing liquids. I guess I will be resaerching that soon.

Why don't you cook some safe items at home and take them with you? My daughter is now eating gluten-free and she was worried about eating at her inlaws and I told her to take some of the food that I am cooking with her so she can eat with the family, safely.

[bridgetm]

I wouldn't eat the turkey if stuffing is cooked inside it. Also I have heard that some turkeys are labeled gluten free, that makes me wonder if some turkeys are injected with gluten containing liquids. I guess I will be resaerching that soon.

Why don't you cook some safe items at home and take them with you? My daughter is now eating gluten-free and she was worried about eating at her inlaws and I told her to take some of the food that I am cooking with her so she can eat with the family, safely.

Bringing my own is probably a good idea; I was planning to stock up on turkey when it goes on sale for the holidays anyway. Some of my friends thought I was completely OCD for worrying about the stuffing. Thank you for your reply!

[cassP]

dixiebell- ARE YOU SERIOUS??? now i gotta worry about the turkey???

OY

to original poster: since i am celiac, my sis is gluten free, and my mom & dad SHOULD be getting tested but havent-> my plan of action is for me & my sis to help my mom cook right. i got Pamela's cornbread mix... i'll buy some additional gluten-free bread- & my sis & i will make sure the Cornbread Dressing is Gluten Free... we'll have to be on top of it to make sure mom doesnt accidentally use any regular or spelt flour or demiglace for any stuffing or gravy... this could be tough- but it has to be done. all our veggies & rice will be fine. not sure what pies my mom is making- if they've got gluten i'll just abstain. plus- im hoping to make some gluten free pumpkin cupcakes...

[cap6]

we are going to a friend's and I am worried about CC. Flour flying in the air on one kitchen counter and our friend trying to make something for me on the other counter.......Not working for me! I decided to make my own stuffing to bring and we agreed on a couple of other things that I will make to share. That way I can eat my own stuff and feel safe. And I agree - no way would I eat turkey that had stuffing cooked inside of it and yes, some turkeys are injected. Food just isn't simple is it????

[cyberprof]

Bringing my own is probably a good idea; I was planning to stock up on turkey when it goes on sale for the holidays anyway. Some of my friends thought I was completely OCD for worrying about the stuffing. Thank you for your reply!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news... but all it takes to contaminate mashed potatoes is one person putting the stuffing spooon into the potatoes. All it takes to contaminate the plate of veggies is for someone to drop a roll into the bowl or tear a roll over the appetizer. The permutations of Cross contamination are endless, sad to say.

Bringing your own plate is a great solution. Others are making your own turkey/stuffing/veggis or hosting dinner at your house gluten-free.

[Marz]

One way to avoid the dipped spoon situation is to look like a hungry soul and dish up for yourself first Preferably as lids are being taken off dishes/put out on the table etc. That way family can share spoons amongst the food to their heart's content. CC is a great pain, I must admit

[cyberprof]

One way to avoid the dipped spoon situation is to look like a hungry soul and dish up for yourself first Preferably as lids are being taken off dishes/put out on the table etc. That way family can share spoons amongst the food to their heart's content. CC is a great pain, I must admit

Yes, that's a great idea. I do that too at potlucks where there are, for example, cut up fresh fruit and veggies or purchased dips or hummus.

[bridgetm]

One way to avoid the dipped spoon situation is to look like a hungry soul and dish up for yourself first Preferably as lids are being taken off dishes/put out on the table etc. That way family can share spoons amongst the food to their heart's content. CC is a great pain, I must admit

That was my plan And when that's not possible I will be watching those spoons like a hawk. Luckily, in my case, "the whole family" means less than 10, but I haven't eaten at a table of more than 3 or 4 family members since this started. However, I'll have 2-3 people keeping an eye out for me and my plate, who will station me in a chair closest to my staple dishes.

Watching other people eat doesn't faze me at all anymore. I just hope I won't have to listen to too much "Just one bite?" and "Not even the filling?" and "But that was always your favorite."

[Marilyn R]

Watching other people eat doesn't faze me at all anymore. I just hope I won't have to listen to too much "Just one bite?" and "Not even the filling?" and "But that was always your favorite."

[Ahorsesoul]

"That's before I realized it made me sicker than a dog. This is a disease, you know! I'm so happy holidays are all about being thankful and being with family. Thank you for bringing my old favorite, and for noticing that I can't have it even though I'd love to. Would you like some Cranberry sauce?" How was Uncle Bill's wake? (Divert the discussion,)

Excellent example of what to say and how to move the conversation along.

I suggest you bring a dish to share. Fill your plate with it and enjoy the family. If you cook your own turkey dinner the day before you will not miss not having a slice of contaminated turkey.

[bridgetm]

[cap6]

Marilyn R ~ I love it!! "Thank you for bringing my old favorite, and for noticing that I can't have it even though I'd love to." Why does it seem like others always point out how yummy everything looks & smells and then look Directly at you??!! grrr. have a lot of new favorites now, thank you.

[Marz]

Why does it seem like others always point out how yummy everything looks & smells and then look Directly at you??!! grrr.

It's the "Oh thank goodness I don't have to give this up" look :/

I hate the "I don't think I could *ever* give up my bread" comments - um, yes you could if it was making you sick as a dog

[bridgetm]

It's the "Oh thank goodness I don't have to give this up" look :/

I hate the "I don't think I could *ever* give up my bread" comments - um, yes you could if it was making you sick as a dog

Or "Well, what DO you eat???"

Well, for starters, there is gluten-free bread. And then there's the novel idea of real food with flavoring agents you can actually pronounce.

I get this mostly from classmates who find it hard to believe that someone can live off of anything other than ramen noodles and pizza, but it occasionally comes from frustrated family members who just want me to accept something they made.

I have noticed that once I say I can't eat a particular dish, the people around me start taking extra helpings even though they don't particular enjoy that food. "I might as well eat it and enjoy it just because I can."

[cap6]

"aren't you a little over the top about this cross contamination stuff?"

[Marilyn R]

I had been contemplating which of my favorite pre-gluten-intolerance foods could stay on the menu when I found out that plans had already been made to go to a relatives' for dinner. They know about my food problems and have taken steps in the past to ensure that there is something safe for me to eat. However, I have become more sensitive since we last ate with them and I expect this dinner to be a cross-contamination nightmare. I plan to eat something before I go so that my stomach won't start growling if I'm forced to sit with a nearly empty plate. I have one big question that should solve a few problems:

They plan to make dressing along with the turkey. Obviously the dressing must be avoided (and any pieces of meat that were in direct contact), but if it is cooked inside of the turkey can the gluten be transferred to the meat during the cooking process? If I am at least able to take a slice of meat safely, I know I can avoid the majority of the "just-one-bite" comments and questions.

My plan is to bring a few slices of my own bread, already buttered to avoid CC. I should be able to manage a small amount of mashed potatoes despite the milk. And I can fill the gaps on my plate with some veggies and the chips that will likely be set out as appetizers-- I have never appreciated the predictability of some family dinners until now.

Thank you for the support!

On a side note: I had an MRI last week for continuing severe episodes of intestinal/digestive symptoms (i.e. D, vomiting, malabsorption) and it looks to be a low-grade ulcer and/or the beginning stages of an inflammatory disease. An upper endoscopy last month showed severe reflux. I'm having another MRI next month to get more detail, partly because the contrast solution they had me drink didn't make it all the way through my system. Thanks to my food diary, in which I also note any severe symptoms, I have noticed that these episodes tend to occur only once a month, right on schedule... It appears I am fighting hormones in addition to stomach acid, gluten, soy, dairy and fructose.

I thought about this post today, and thought a proper response to some relative ranting about us not eating their contribution could be... "Aunt Pearl, thank you for bringing your wonderful peach cobbler, you know I've always loved it. If I eat that today, though, it's like shooting myself in the foot! It won't kill me, but I'll be miserable for for a day or so, might miss work, then I'll feel like a dumb a.. for having shot myself in my foot!

If that doesn't work, and things are getting heated, you can tell Aunt Pearl that you will sneak a piece of her cobbler, but only if she'll put half a cup of "SHUT UP" in it. (You have to work on the delivery, it's ok if you do it with a smile and twinkle in your eye and the right tone of voice.)

I hope your stomach acid problems will be corrected with a gluten-free diet. That happenned for me, and I wish you all of the best right now and for the holidays.

[bridgetm]

I thought about this post today, and thought a proper response to some relative ranting about us not eating their contribution could be... "Aunt Pearl, thank you for bringing your wonderful peach cobbler, you know I've always loved it. If I eat that today, though, it's like shooting myself in the foot! It won't kill me, but I'll be miserable for for a day or so, might miss work, then I'll feel like a dumb a.. for having shot myself in my foot!

If that doesn't work, and things are getting heated, you can tell Aunt Pearl that you will sneak a piece of her cobbler, but only if she'll put half a cup of "SHUT UP" in it. (You have to work on the delivery, it's ok if you do it with a smile and twinkle in your eye and the right tone of voice.)

I hope your stomach acid problems will be corrected with a gluten-free diet. That happenned for me, and I wish you all of the best right now and for the holidays.

I love this! I used a similar "did you sprinkle any shut-your-mouth over the top?" line on a friend this summer. It actually turned into a fun conversation but only because she can be just as sarcastically cynical as me at times. The delivery would have to be pretty slick to go over with the fam though. How about "I bet if you stopped talking you would be better able to enjoy the food your body has the ability to digest."

I am very tempted just to turn into the dinner guest who mopes at one end of the table with a bottle of wine and my own 100% uncontaminated bag of chips, because if you look even remotely interested in talking someone is going to make dumb comments.

As far as the stomach acid goes, I'm having a second MRI on Friday. A good percentage of the liter of contrast fluid they made me drink was retained in my stomach so they got limited details on the images. This time they want me on clear fluids only on Thursday to flush out my system as much as possible. I go straight from there to the specialist. For now, I'm back on the Prilosec and keeping the Pepto close at hand.