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 Boss's House For Holiday Meal

laura4669

By laura4669
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

laura4669 Apprentice
laura4669
Posted

My husband's boss invited us to his home this weekend for a holiday lunch. It is really nice of him and his wife to have us over, but I am not sure how to tell her that I want to bring my own food. We went to their house for the first time over the summer, and I had called her in advance to tell her that I had celiac and couldn't eat any bread, pasta, etc. She didn't know much about celiac, and I told her not to go to any trouble, but I just wanted to give her a heads up so that she was not insulted if I couldn't eat all of the food she prepared. Well, at lunch she seemed a bit upset when I told her I couldn't eat her orzo salad, and she said, "Oh, but I didn't put any gluten in it!" Maybe she didn't realize that orzo was pasta? I don't expect her to understand about the whole gluten-free thing, but I also will not eat any food that will make me sick.

Any suggestions on how I could firmly but tactfully tell her that I would like to bring some food, or maybe I should just eat before I go? I don't want to offend her. Thanks.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I would eat before I went but I would also ask her if I could bring a dish like salad or a side dish cassrole that you would be able to eat safely. Stress that you really enjoy their company and want to come and that she shouldn't feel she has to try and accomodate your diet.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Firmly but politely tell her that you will be bringing your own food. I always do this regardless of where I'm going--I just say that cooking for me is tricky and I don't want to put anyone to the trouble of preparing my meal.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Firmly but politely tell her that you will be bringing your own food. I always do this regardless of where I'm going--I just say that cooking for me is tricky and I don't want to put anyone to the trouble of preparing my meal.

What she said.

We are going to a boss party this weekend but it's not a sit down meal. We are going to PF Changs first. Then we will avoid the food room (big house, lots of small rooms).

Also, even if her food appears to be gluten-free it might not be. Example: she makes a green salad. She cuts bread on the cutting board, brushes it off a little then decides she will put those last 2 tomatoes in the salad. Guess where she cuts them?

Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

Firmly but politely tell her that you will be bringing your own food. I always do this regardless of where I'm going--I just say that cooking for me is tricky and I don't want to put anyone to the trouble of preparing my meal.

Also what she said.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I would simply, but firmly, state, "I have a number of food intolerances that make it very difficult to cook for me without getting me sick. I'd rather not put you through the trouble or take the chance of being ill for the holidays. I will bring my own small dish, so please don't worry about me being hungry. I look forward to getting to spend time talking and getting to know you."

K8ling Enthusiast
K8ling
Posted

I am headed to the Christmas party for the squadron tonight...I am eating before we go and my husband will be eating there. That way we both get food and we can have fun. I typically HATE these affairs though, since its almost always a sit down meal and I look quite odd nursing my glass of red wine :).

Good luck! I'll be thinking if you tonight while I am navigating dangerous food!! :) :)

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jenngolightly Contributor
jenngolightly
Posted

I am headed to the Christmas party for the squadron tonight...I am eating before we go and my husband will be eating there. That way we both get food and we can have fun. I typically HATE these affairs though, since its almost always a sit down meal and I look quite odd nursing my glass of red wine :).

Good luck! I'll be thinking if you tonight while I am navigating dangerous food!! :) :)

What I do in these situations is bring my own food in a little soft sided cooler, ask for a clean plate from a server, discretely head to a corner and put my own food on the plate, rejoin the party and rarely does anyone notice what I've done (tuck the cooler under your chair). This way there aren't those imposing questions. No one feels uncomfortable eating in front of me (there are those awkward apologies from people). And I get to eat with everyone else like normal.

Try this, you'll feel normal again.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I am headed to the Christmas party for the squadron tonight...I am eating before we go and my husband will be eating there. That way we both get food and we can have fun. I typically HATE these affairs though, since its almost always a sit down meal and I look quite odd nursing my glass of red wine :).

Good luck! I'll be thinking if you tonight while I am navigating dangerous food!! :) :)

Last weekend we went to a sit down dinner for my husband's company holiday party. I brought my own dinner (homemade veggie risotto--very simple to reheat) that the restaurant was more than happy to reheat and plate it for me. Our waitress timed it so that I was served with everyone else and I didn't feel the least bit embarrassed or hungry.

I did call the restaurant ahead of time, and the manager agreed that for everyone's safety it was best that I bring my own food. At the end of the evening, my husband and I took the waitress aside, thanked her again, and gave her a nice tip.

laura4669 Apprentice
laura4669
Posted
  • Author

Thanks guys! I appreciate your feedback. This is a new job for my husband, and a new friendship with his boss and wife. I guess it is better to be firm about this from the start, and then in the future there won't be any confusion

:)

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

This is a new job for my husband, and a new friendship with his boss and wife. I guess it is better to be firm about this from the start, and then in the future there won't be any confusion

:)

You are absolutely right ;)

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. olivia11
      - olivia11 replied to olivia11's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      2

      suggest gluten free food

      Thanks I am mostly looking for everyday staples and easy meal ideas nothing too specialty if possible.
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Roses8721's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      There are other Celiac genes. HLA DQ 2 and HLA DQ 8 show up in people from Northern European descent. People of Mediterranean descent have HLA DQ 7. People of Asian descent have HLA DQ 9. There's other Indigenous populations that have other HLA genes that code for Celiac disease. Are you still having symptoms? What do...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      17

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      There are eight essential B vitamins. They are all water soluble. Any excess of B vitamins is easily excreted by the kidneys. Thiamine is Vitamin B 1. Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses. Benfotiamine and TTFD are forms of Thiamine that the body can utilize very easily. The form of Thiamine in the supplements you mentioned is...
    4. xxnonamexx
      - xxnonamexx replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      17

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      Thanks very interesting I have to see if I should take these 2 vitamins along with my multi and super Vit B complex or if its too much or would hurt me. I don't have any other health issues but would love to see if this improves anything especially to feel stronger build muscle.
    5. Roses8721
      - Roses8721 replied to Roses8721's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      Neg for HLA dq8 and dq2
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,748
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    NYC Sidewalk Repair
    Newest Member
    NYC Sidewalk Repair
    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

    • olivia11
      suggest gluten free food

      By olivia11 · Posted

      Thanks I am mostly looking for everyday staples and easy meal ideas nothing too specialty if possible.
    • knitty kitty
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      There are other Celiac genes. HLA DQ 2 and HLA DQ 8 show up in people from Northern European descent.   People of Mediterranean descent have HLA DQ 7.  People of Asian descent have HLA DQ 9.   There's other Indigenous populations that have other HLA genes that code for Celiac disease.   Are you still having symptoms?   What do you include in your diet?  Are you vegetarian? Are you taking any prescription medication?  Omeprazole?  Metformin?   Do you have anemia?  Thyroid problems? Are you taking any vitamins or herbal supplements?  
    • knitty kitty
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      There are eight essential B vitamins.  They are all water soluble.  Any excess of B vitamins is easily excreted by the kidneys.   Thiamine is Vitamin B 1.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Benfotiamine and TTFD are forms of Thiamine that the body can utilize very easily.   The form of Thiamine in the supplements you mentioned is Thiamine Mononitrate, a form that the body does not absorb well and does not utilize well.  Only about thirty percent of the amount on the label is actually absorbed in the small intestine.  Less than that can actually be used by the body.  Manufacturers add thiamine mononitrate to their products because it's cheap and shelf-stable.  Thiamine and other B vitamins break down when exposed to light and heat and over time.  Thiamine Mononitrate is a form that does not break down over time sitting on a shelf waiting for someone to buy them.  What makes Thiamine Mononitrate shelf stable makes it difficult for the body to turn into a useable form.  In fact, it takes more thiamine to turn it into a useable form.   Gastrointestinal Beriberi is a localized shortage of Thiamine in the gastrointestinal tract.  High carbohydrate meals can result in gastrointestinal symptoms of Gastric Beriberi.  Fiber is a type of carbohydrate.  So, high fiber/carbohydrate snacks could trigger Gastric Beriberi.   Since blood tests for Thiamine and other B vitamins are so inaccurate, the World Health Organization recommends trying Thiamine and looking for health improvement because it's safe and nontoxic.  
    • xxnonamexx
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      Thanks very interesting I have to see if I should take these 2 vitamins along with my multi and super Vit B complex or if its too much or would hurt me. I don't have any other health issues but would love to see if this improves anything especially to feel stronger build muscle.
    • Roses8721
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By Roses8721 · Posted

      Neg for HLA dq8 and dq2
×
×
  • 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.