9. Please don’t call attention to my “special” or “different” food.
I get it. When I attend a Friendsgiving and am the only one to bring a Tupperware container full of my own gluten-free food, I’m going to attract some attention. But I’m always appreciative when people don’t make a big deal of my different diet and let me enjoy the party or the club meeting or whatever event I’m attending along with everyone else.
10. Keep crumbs off the counter and dirty dishes out of the sink.
It may seem like we’re demanding neat freaks… but we’re just trying to lower the chances of cross-contamination in a shared kitchen.
11. Be patient when I need to spend time talking to a restaurant server and chef about my gluten-free food.
When you have celiac disease, eating out can be a big challenge. And unless it’s a 100% gluten-free restaurant or a restaurant we’ve gone to many times before, we’re gonna spend some time talking to our waiter and/or chef about our gluten-free meal. But know the extra time is worth it — we’re a much better dinner date when our meal is delicious and celiac safe!
12. Don’t laugh or get annoyed when I’m packing for a trip and 90% of what I bring is emergency food and snacks.
I know there are stores where we’re going for vacation. I know I don’t need to pack a million gluten-free granola bars for a three-day trip. But knowing I have some emergency gluten-free snacks on hand is a huge source of comfort. And if turns out that gluten-free food is hard to find where we’re going, my suitcase full of food is gonna be a lifesaver.
13. Be willing to experiment with some “far out” gluten-free foods, like buckwheat or banana milk or even chips made out of crickets!
Especially since the gluten-free diet became “fashionable” to eat, more and more unique gluten-free products have hit the market. And I’m not gonna lie — some of them sound a little strange at first! But I’m always super appreciative when friends or family aren’t afraid to try gluten-free food, or even experiment with some more unique products. And you might be surprised how delicious gluten-free food actually is!
14. Don’t be offended if I turn down some social invitations because I don’t feel like being around a bunch of food I can’t eat.
Most days, I don’t let my gluten-free diet get in the way of hanging out with friends and going to social events. But sometimes I don’t feel like going to a pizza party and packing my own food or watching everyone else eat. And it’s super helpful when friends and family know this and don’t judge.
15. Avoid bringing gluten into my gluten-free kitchen.
If we have an entirely gluten-free kitchen, it’s our “safe” place. So please don’t bring gluten-filled foods, especially without asking first.
16. Let me vent from time to time when I’m frustrated about my gluten-free diet or jealous of your amazing pasta salad…
Because as positive as I try to be about celiac disease, sometimes following a gluten-free diet is a major pain.
17. … But also help me remember how tasty gluten-free food can be — and how lucky I am to be able to thrive with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet!
I don’t even have the words to explain how powerful a positive, solid support system is!
The Bottom Line
At first glance, it may seem like all people with celiac disease have to do is take the wheat out of their diet. However, like I’ve written about before, a celiac disease diagnosis changes way more than simply a person’s diet. And sometimes that means we need to ask other people — friends, family, roommate, waiters, significant others and many more — for help.
And yeah, these requests can sound a bit weird the first time we ask. But know we’re doing what we need to feel healthy… and we are grateful for everyone who doesn’t mind lending us a hand.
Nice to meet you. I am gluten-free cook and I also share tips on this topic. Very good information.