Holiday Time

The holidays are a time for family gatherings, special dinners, and holiday parties. The most wonderful news is all of these events can be enjoyed completely gluten-free. Here are some strategies to help you enjoy the holidays.

Office parties
Offer to organize the event. In this way you will be able to select the restaurant where the event will be held or who will be catering. The extra work will be worth it when you can enjoy along with everyone else.

Home parties
There are several strategies for home based parties. If it is a gathering of a group of friends, offer to host the event at your house so you can manage the menu. When the party is at another’s house, speak to the hostess to let her know you follow a gluten-free diet. Offer to bring a dish or two so the host does not have to worry and you know there will be a few items that are safe to eat. Be sure to bring the foods already on a serving dish and complete with serving utensil. In this way your prepared item can go right to the table with no worries of cross contamination. It is always good to have a snack ahead so you are not too hungry just in case.

Restaurant parties
Try to guide your group to a restaurant that either offers a gluten-free menu or one that you are familiar with. Most restaurant menus do offer a wide variety of foods that would be safe on a gluten-free diet. There are also many cuisines that offer naturally gluten-free dishes including Mexican, Indian, and Thai. Most of these dishes tend to be naturally gluten-free, but if you are ever unsure about a dish, ask! Here are just a few of the many items that can be delicious and safe. Roasted and grilled entrees are generally safe. Be adventurous and explore, but be aware that sauces may contain wheat and some grilled white fish may be dusted with flour. Fruits and custards are generally safe desserts. Don’t be bashful before the bread basket comes; order a gluten-free appetizer to arrive at the same time as the bread. Then your entire table can start eating at the same time.

Here are just a few of the many items from diverse ethnic cuisines that can be delicious and safe:

Appetizers
Antipasto
Corn tortilla, taco, and quesadilla - made with corn tortilla
Fresh mozzarella and tomato
Fried plantain
Fruit cup
Hummus – no pita chips – ask for tortilla chips
Mussels or clams (steamed)
Nachos
Salad (NO croutons)
Chopped vegetables, chopped cabbage, spinach, etc.
Shrimp (cocktail, grilled, kebab)
Sushi or sashimi (NO eel, imitation crab, or soy sauce)
Vegetables (grilled, steamed, roasted)

Entrees
Arroz con pollo
Beans and rice
Burgers (all meat no filler)
Curry
Dal (lentils)
Dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves)
Grilled or roasted meat, poultry, or fish
Kebabs
Kontosouvli (marinated pork)
Lo Mein (but ONLY with rice noodles)
Paella
Ponir (spinach and green peas)
Risotto
Scampi
Stir fry of tofu, fish, poultry, or meat (NO brown sauce)
Tandoori

Desserts
Baked curry custard
Crème brulèe
Crustless cheesecake
Custard
Flan
Ice cream, sorbet, tortoni, spumoni ices, and gelato
Mousse
Pudding (rice, tapioca)

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