| Going away from home at Christmas can be | | | | in advance and spot any potential problem areas:- |
| stressful enough at the best of time, but when | | | | - Will the turkey stuffing (which usually contains |
| you have a celiac child who needs a completely | | | | gluten) be inside the turkey? Does it have to be? |
| gluten free diet at Christmas, the complexity | | | | Is there a gluten free alternative you could offer |
| levels sky rocket! | | | | to make? |
| The main aim is to somehow work out the | | | | - It is easy enough to use cornflour as a gravy |
| Christmas celebrations so that your celiac child | | | | thickener - would your hostess be happy to do |
| does not feel too 'different', but also so that your | | | | that? |
| hosts do not take on loads of extra stress in | | | | - Can you take an alternative gluten free |
| catering for the gluten free diet at Christmas. You | | | | Christmas pudding/cake for your child? |
| have probably got your kitchen pretty much | | | | - Will you be going out anywhere else while you |
| gluten free by now, or at least know which areas | | | | are staying away that you need to ring ahead to? |
| are gluten free and which are not (and so does | | | | Obviously you will want to take some of your |
| your child) But in someone else's kitchen - no | | | | own gluten free supplies; cakes, cookies (make |
| matter how supportive they are, it isn't so easy, | | | | enough to share so your child isn't always having |
| and you have an interesting balancing act of | | | | something different to everyone else) so you |
| respecting their space and kitchen and ways of | | | | always have something on hand, should you need |
| doing thing... and protecting your child's health. | | | | it. I often buy a small tub of margarine and a pot |
| The main key is communication. It is worth having | | | | of chocolate spread soon after we get there |
| a long conversation with your host/hostess a few | | | | specifically for my son to use, so it won't be |
| weeks or a month before you are due to go. I | | | | contaminated by knives that are covered in |
| tend to send some stuff by e-mail for them to | | | | crumbs. |
| look at and think about because too often friends | | | | If you have space in your luggage (I realise that is |
| are very nice on the phone and tell me not to | | | | extremely unlikely but...) you could also take your |
| worry, but when we get there it is apparent that | | | | own gluten free cooking utensils, bread board and |
| they haven't a clue what a gluten free diet really | | | | so on. I try to take a spare bag of gluten free |
| means. | | | | flour and baking powder and my own cake tins so |
| He/she really needs to understand what the | | | | if we are running short of gluten free goodies, I |
| gluten free diet entails, while at the same time not | | | | can throw together a cake. I can't imagine |
| feeling overwhelmed by it and wondering if she | | | | anything worse than everyone else tucking in to |
| will have anything left to cook! | | | | Christmas goodies while my celiac child has nothing |
| Suggest specific things, like the sort of breakfast | | | | special to eat! |
| cereal your child eats (as long as it is not an | | | | With a bit of careful planning ahead, however, that |
| expensive specialist one) and having in rice cakes | | | | should never happen. If you are going away or |
| and everyday foods which are naturally gluten | | | | Christmas with your celiac child, ring your hosts |
| free. | | | | today! Have the gluten free Christmas |
| Find out the menu and itinerary for your visit well | | | | conversation and then go and enjoy the holidays! |