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Celiac.com 08/28/2023 - Living with celiac disease comes with its unique set of challenges, and one of the most intricate aspects is managing your dietary needs in social situations. Whether it's dining out at a restaurant, attending parties, or simply joining friends or colleagues for a meal, navigating celiac disease in these scenarios requires a blend of awareness, communication, and preparedness. In this article, we will delve into practical strategies that individuals with celiac disease can employ to effectively manage their dietary requirements while still enjoying the social aspects of eating with others. The Etiquette of Bringing and Serving Gluten-Free Food In many social gatherings, it's not uncommon for attendees to contribute dishes to the meal. For individuals with celiac disease, bringing and serving gluten-free food is not only a way to ensure their dietary safety, but also an opportunity to educate and engage others in understanding their needs. Here are some etiquette considerations to keep in mind: Communicate Ahead of Time: If you're attending an event where you know food will be served, consider reaching out to the host in advance to discuss your dietary requirements. This gives them a chance to accommodate your needs and helps avoid awkward situations. Bring a Dish to Share: Prepare a delicious gluten-free dish that you can bring to the gathering. Not only will this ensure you have safe options to eat, but it also introduces others to the idea that gluten-free cooking can be good, and it can spark positive conversations about the gluten-free diet and celiac disease. Label Clearly: If you're contributing a gluten-free dish, label it clearly to prevent cross-contamination. Use a bold marker or tape to clearly indicate that the dish is gluten-free, and include a separate serving utensil that is also labelled. Identify Danger: If you are at a gathering that offers different foods on a shared table, be sure to look over everything closely before eating anything. Could the potato chips have cookie crumbs on them? Notice how things are laid out, how people are taking food from the various dishes, and avoid anything that might be contaminated. Does every dish have its own serving utensil? If you are at a BBQ, hopefully you can speak with the cook and be sure that your burger wasn't cooked where he might be heating up wheat buns. Pay attention to the details, and if things look sketchy, sometimes it's best to avoid eating at all (but hopefully you brought a safe dish or backup snack). How to Not Embarrass Others When Declining Unsafe Food Politely declining food that doesn't meet your dietary needs can sometimes be a delicate task, especially when you don't want to offend the host or others. Here are strategies to handle this situation with grace: Express Gratitude: Start by thanking the host for their thoughtful gesture in offering you food. Emphasize your appreciation for their effort while gently mentioning your dietary restrictions. Educate Politely: Politely explain that you have celiac disease, which means you can't consume foods containing gluten. You might mention that even small amounts of gluten can cause health issues for you. Suggest Alternatives: If possible, suggest alternatives that would be safe for you to eat. This not only showcases your positive approach but also eases the host's concern about accommodating your needs. The Best Strategies for Dining at Restaurants Safely Dining out at restaurants requires an extra level of vigilance to ensure your meal is truly gluten-free. Here are effective strategies to consider: Research Ahead: Before choosing a restaurant, research their gluten-free options online or call ahead to inquire about their practices for avoiding cross-contamination. If you've been invited to a restaurant by others, find their online menu to see if they have gluten-free offerings, or call the restaurant directly during non-busy hours to see if they offer safe dishes. Be Specific with Servers: When you arrive at the restaurant, communicate your dietary needs to the server clearly and confidently. Ask about menu items, ingredients, and preparation methods. Emphasize Cross-Contamination: Stress the importance of avoiding cross-contamination to the server. Ask if they can take extra precautions, such as using separate utensils and cooking surfaces. If they offer gluten-free pasta, be sure that it is cooked in a separate pot from regular pastas. Avoid Risky Dishes: Opt for naturally gluten-free dishes or items that require minimal modifications. Steer clear of foods that are more likely to be contaminated, such as fried items or dishes with complex sauces. Other Considerations for Social Situations Carry Gluten-Free Snacks: Keep a stash of gluten-free snacks in your bag or car. This ensures you have a safe option in case the available food is not suitable for you. Educate Friends and Family: Take the time to educate your close friends and family about celiac disease. This creates a support network that understands your needs and can advocate for you in social situations. Develop Go-To Dishes: Master a few gluten-free recipes that you can confidently prepare and bring to gatherings. This guarantees you have a delicious option and encourages others to enjoy gluten-free food. Likewise, understand how different dishes are prepared so you can ask the right questions when eating in a restaurant or someone else's home. Navigating celiac disease in social situations requires a blend of proactive planning, effective communication, and an understanding of your own needs. By employing the strategies outlined in this article, you can confidently participate in social gatherings, enjoy meals at restaurants, and foster an environment of awareness and inclusion. Remember, your health and well-being are of paramount importance, and with the right approach, you can savor every social occasion while staying true to your dietary requirements.

Ordering gluten-free food in a restaurant is well covered territory with hundreds, if not thousands of articles on the topic. Most of these articles cover the same territory – research the restaurant beforehand, ask questions to the manager or chef, and tip well. I’m not sure I am going to be able to add anything new, but I’m going to try. If you don’t want to eat out, or are afraid due to cross-contamination risk, I totally understand because studies have shown that restaurant food is often contaminated. At the same time, I would hate to think that this disease is stopping anyone from living their lives. So, if you are satisfied not eating out, that's great, but I like eating out, so I’ve come up with the following ideas. Timing is Everything When Ordering Gluten-Free in Restaurants I recommend that you go to the restaurant during off-hours. In other words, don’t go to the hottest gluten-filled restaurant during the busiest time, which is usually on the weekends. The kitchen is usually slammed then, mistakes can be made, and shortcuts can be taken. Though none of this may be done on purpose, we are still the ones who will pay the price for their mistakes. Try going to dinner at 6 pm on a Thursday night, or even 5 pm or 9 pm on a weekend night. The kitchen will be less busy, and they will be much more likely to take extra time to care for your meal. Ordering Gluten-Free Smartly Ordering a burger without a bun and a baked potato is going to be a safer bet than ordering fried chicken when the restaurant doesn’t offer gluten-free fried chicken. That being said my general rule of thumb is to stay away from pasta or pizza places, but if you can cover it in your questions you might be okay, but I stay away from these places almost 100% of the time. I generally try to order something grilled, not marinated and without any sauce unless the sauce is gluten-free, and plain sides. This approach will keep you safer than anything else. It's important to tell the person who takes your order that your food should be cooked in a separate area on the grill from where bread or gluten items might be made, for example where they heat buns, and to mark your order “gluten-free” and make sure the chef sees this on the ticket. When talking to the servers, ask specific questions. Don’t ask if the fries are gluten-free, ask if they fry other fried items on the menu in the same fryer as the French fries. Don’t ask if the pizza crust is gluten-free, ask if they cook in in a dedicated area in the oven, or keep the gluten-free toppings in a separate area, or if the same preparation area is shared with both gluten and gluten-free pizzas. Likewise, do they cook their gluten-free pasta in the same water as their wheat pastas? Don’t ask if the butter sauce is gluten-free, ask if they use flour or corn starch to thicken the sauce. For soups marked gluten-free, or ones that can be made so easily – like french onion soup, I ask if they make the stock in house or if they buy it. Purchased, pre-made stock is more likely to contain gluten than a stock that they made in house where the chef knows how it was made. These questions require some knowledge of cooking. It is good knowledge to have even if you never cook, because in situations like this, you can ask smart questions to get the answers needed to keep you safe. Become a Regular When They Get Your Gluten-Free Order Right I love a particular local restaurant. After a few times asking for gluten-free items and being safe, the restaurant will get to know you and your needs. Hopefully, they will keep their gluten-free menu items to keep you happy and returning. Make sure to be a good customer and tip well too. Higher End Restaurants May Do Gluten-Free Better Go to the highest end restaurant that you can afford. The nicer the restaurant the more likely it is that you will get a truly gluten-free meal. I was at a restaurant one time that has steak frites–steak and French fries–but it wasn’t marked as gluten-free. They had gluten-free fried items, so I knew they knew what they were doing regarding fried items. I asked why the steak frites was not gluten-free. It turns out that they marinated the steak in a non-gluten-free soy sauce. This is an item that I thought would be safe, but wasn’t, so always, always ask questions. The bottom line here is that someone should only eat where they feel safe. There are lots of precautions we can all take and we have a 2 out of 3 chance of getting a safe meal. So enjoy eating out if you are willing to take that risk, and if you are, follow some of the steps mentioned here so that you can stay safe whenever dine out!

Celiac.com 02/17/2022 - A true luxury in life is to have someone else prepare your meals. Gluten-free children are lucky to have parents as their personal chefs! The responsibility of having to prepare every single thing your kids eat can become overwhelming—it is very important to find a few convenient places where you can eat out! Our family has two older celiac children and even as veterans of the gluten-free diet these challenges are present every single time we try some place new. We find that when looking for a gluten-free meal one must consider a variety of venues: Fine dining, mid-priced dining, fast food, eating out of town, social events, and overnight kids camps. Fine Dining When our family eats out we like fine dining options that involve a chef preparing fresh food from scratch—for us this is the easiest option. It may be uncomfortable for some people to go back into the kitchen and talk to the chef, but I find that most are very accommodating and pride themselves on being able to serve those with special diets. Take a deep breath and go talk to them—you will be glad you did—and be sure to thank them appropriately for their extra efforts. The key to success is a friendly attitude on your part. Chefs love to go the extra mile for a friendly customer. It is always better to call ahead during off-peak hours and ask to speak to the chef rather than to just show up during a busy time. Consider early reservations, as it is easier to talk to the chef at 6pm rather than at 7:30pm, although it is always better to call ahead on the day that you plan to dine at the restaurant to ask questions. When calling, find out when the primary chef will be in and available to meet. Once you have reached the right person, there is no need to go into a lengthy description of what it means to be gluten intolerant. It is enough to say that your child cannot eat gluten (a protein in wheat and other related grains). I usually say that if my children eat gluten they will not feel well for a few hours. I also mention that if they accidentally ingest gluten it is not life threatening. These two comments often help break the ice and set the tone for a positive, to-the-point conversation. Focus your discussion with the chef—talk about what your kids generally like to eat. You don’t want to go through a lot of different menu items just include the ones that you think you could order. It helps to know something about how the dishes are prepared so you can knowledgeably discuss the various ingredients and preparation methods used. Be sure to mention that gluten is hidden in many ingredients, and as you discuss the ingredients in the selected entrée you can get more specific with your questions. For example, many chefs will not know that gluten may be hidden in sour cream, but they may be happy to get the container and read the ingredient label with you, however large food-service containers do not always include an ingredient label. Often you will find that only a few minor ingredient adjustments are all that is needed to make a dish gluten-free. While fine dining is our favorite option— it is not always available or practical. Mid-priced Dining Chain restaurants or those owned by a large restaurant group run like finely oiled machines. They order their food in large quantities and to exact specifications. Often the food is frozen and ready to be quickly cooked and served. Hamburger patties are not always 100% beef, fillers can be used, and the boxes in which they come often contain no ingredient information. Many items are breaded and ready to fry. In general, to get a truly gluten-free meal in these restaurants poses a great challenge. Recently though, positive inroads have been made in this area. With the help of national celiac patient support groups, some restaurants such as PF Chang’s and Outback Steakhouse now offer gluten-free menus. We visit PF Chang’s several times a month and have found them to be excellent and quite accommodating. Patronize businesses that make it easy for those on special diets and let them know how much you appreciate them! There are also commercial restaurant guides available that include safe items from many of these chains. We recently visited Disneyland where I spoke with Chef Chris Justesen about all of the gluten-free options we had throughout the park—it was amazing. After this discussion we knew exactly where to go and what to ask for—it couldn’t have been easier. Plan to visit during off-peak days for less confusion when ordering your food—you will also have the added benefit of short lines for the rides. We made reservations at Disneyland’s Storytellers Café after learning that they stock gluten-free pizza crusts and offer a “make your own pizza bar”, the kids loved this special attention to their needs. This restaurant offered many other gluten-free options for children as well as adults. When looking for a mid-priced meal consider small, family owned businesses where you can talk to the cook (usually the owner) about ingredients. You may find there are only a few dishes you can eat, but they will be made to order. Your options may be limited due to the size of the kitchen—perhaps there will be only one deep fryer and one griddle—but if possible these types of establishments will often do their best to accommodate your special requests. Most of the same courtesies apply here as in fine dining, such as calling ahead and not visiting during peak hours. At some of these small restaurants customers are actually encouraged to bring in their own gluten-free pasta or pizza crusts—which is a real bonus. Cultivate some relationships—you may surprise yourself! Fast Food The internet offers a wealth of information on fast food restaurants, log onto the many Web sites to see what items are gluten-free. When ordering your food remember to keep it simple! For many food service workers a special request can be challenging, if your request is met with a blank stare you should generally seek out who is in charge and ask for their help. When we order a gluten-free hamburger patty we always ask for it to be moved from the grill to a box immediately and remind the cook that it cannot touch any bread along the way. I call it “meat in a box” and the message is easily conveyed even when dealing with someone with limited English capabilities. In sandwich shops you can often watch your food being prepared. You can ask the food workers to put on clean gloves and to make your “sandwich” minus the bread in a bowl like a salad. Ask them to take the ingredients from fresh bins that have not been potentially cross contaminated by bread crumbs. We do this at Subway and have found that it is easy for them to make such adjustments even when they are busy. Eating Out of Town Before your trip print out a list of restaurant locations near your hotel (such as PF Chang’s) and know what you can order from fast food restaurants by checking their Web sites. Be sure to enjoy the local cuisine at a nice restaurant as well. If you are traveling to a new city and arrive there late, try to pre-plan where you can eat. Call in advance with questions about gluten-free food and ask about the hours and days of operation. Connect with the local gluten-free support group in the city you plan to visit and find out which restaurants there best understand the gluten-free diet. This will save you plenty of time and narrow down the field. Social Events We recently attended a social event at a very busy restaurant where we thought the meal would be gluten free due to my advance preparation. The catch was that all of my questions were directed to a restaurant manager because nobody in the kitchen could speak English. The manager checked and re-checked on various issues and everything sounded fine. Ultimately, we had to leave early because one child became sick and when we got back to the hotel the other child joined the chorus. We will never again have the children eat at a place where we cannot speak English directly to the person in charge of the kitchen. In hind sight we should have stopped at McDonald’s on the way to the event and fed the kids. They would have enjoyed it just as much and we would not have had to worry. Many social events have a prearranged menu. You can find out the menu in advance and talk to the chef/cook ahead of time. There have been many occasions where the chef has prepared something special for my children or has had something on hand from another event that is gluten-free. Often their meal is even better than what everyone else is eating. If you find that after all of your advance efforts it is too difficult to find a suitable meal—plan to eat before you go to the event and understand that being with good friends and family is really the top priority of such events. Overnight Kids Camps Fortunately there are several summer camps for kids that the Gluten Intolerance Group oversees. Many other gluten-free and special diet camps are also catching on across the USA. My daughter attends a camp every summer where the cook is now very aware of the gluten-free diet. I am sure this is due to the education efforts that I and others have provided to the camp cook. In the past I have met with the camp cook to review the weekly menu, and together we read labels and decided which items I would provide—generally items that they don’t have time to duplicate such as pizza, baked goods, and bread. When I drop my daughter off at camp she brings a copy of the camp menu with her that has the unsafe items marked, and notes regarding safe substitutions. The cook keeps one gluten-free shelf in the pantry, the refrigerator, and the freezer to help keep things separate. The first year I actually went to camp to go through everything, and in the following years I was able to simply call the camp cook on the phone to organize things. Be sure to discuss cross-contamination issues in the kitchen. We bring our own colander, a small fry pan, and cutting board—all with my daughter’s name on them. In camp kitchens the cookware is super-sized so it helps to offer to bring these items for individual preparation. Be as accommodating as you can, offer to provide an entire meal pre-frozen such as a pizza or lasagna. When they see you making great efforts the camp cook is very likely to follow your lead. Remember they are cooking meals for hundreds of kids—and you need them to be your ally. Don’t worry about the fact that the money you spent on the camp was to cover all food expenses. The extra effort the staff makes on your child’s behalf more than makes up for the cost of the regular camp foods that your child won’t be eating. It was worth the effort to figure out a way for my daughter to attend camp, and the cook was eager to find a way to make it work. Try It You’ll Like It If you have been hesitant to eat out with your children—give it a try. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results now that you have some basic knowledge about hot to approach each situation. You will also be surprised at how much you will enjoy eating out again— and at just how accommodating most restaurants and chefs can be.