Close your eyes and think of joyous holidays past, and what images flit into your mind? Perhaps you recall snow falling silently, twinkling lights softly illuminating the night, or brightly wrapped packages waiting to be bestowed with love. Whatever your happy holiday memories are, they are likely to include gatherings of family, friends, and co-workers to celebrate the ending of one year and the beginning of the next, and in nearly every one of those gatherings, there would have been food. Many holiday festivities begin with, end with, or revolve around food. For everyone else, the only worry concerning holiday food is how to enjoy it and not gain so much weight that the primary New Year's resolution becomes trimming the waistline back to pre-holiday size. For celiacs, there is a more serious concern at stake: how to enjoy the holiday celebrations without becoming sick from ingesting gluten. There are some things that celiacs can do, though, to help ease the stress of trying to eat gluten free at the festivities.

In my experience, the planned dinner party is the hardest situation to handle unless it is a potluck. Before attending a dinner party, I have found it advisable to talk to the host or hostess ahead of time, explain in a matter-of-fact way that I have a food intolerance that requires me to be on a strict diet, and find out what is on the menu for the party. If the host or hostess is willing to review the menu with me and explain how the food will be prepared, I am usually able to find at least a few things that I can eat. I ask if I can bring a dish, knowing that will provide me with at least one food that I know is safe. If that is refused and I can manage to do so without offending the host or hostess, I offer to bring some of my own food, saying that I wish to spare the cook the tedious details of my diet requirements. In some cases, all offers, no matter how gently put, are refused. In that event, I eat a good meal at home before the party and during the party become so involved in socializing or helping to serve that people don't notice that I am not really eating what is on my plate.

Potluck dinners are far easier to manage because every guest is expected to bring food. I take a dish that is substantial and will fill me up, or at least tide me over until I get home, in case there is no other food that appears safe. I put the dish that I brought in the center of a table that will have serving lines on both sides or on the back edge of a table that will have a serving line only on one side. That way, people will not accidentally drop gluten-bearing food into my serving dish as they reach over it to serve themselves from another dish. Before people begin serving themselves, I help the hostess make sure that all the serving dishes have their own spoon or other serving utensil so that people are less likely to transfer a spoon from one dish to another. When the buffet line begins, I cast aside all the rules my dear mother taught me about graciously letting others go first and as politely as possible place myself at or near the head of the line. This helps me avoid the cross-contamination that can occur as people serve themselves, and I don't run the risk of all the gluten-free foods being gone by the time I am ready to fill my plate. It may seem rude to do this, but we celiacs have to remember that when it comes to food, we are “special needs” people. My favorite tactic, however, is to contrive to fill my plate before the serving begins, set my plate aside (with my husband to guard it, if possible), and then help others fill their plates. I feel much less impolite if I have helped the elderly fill their plates or held a baby while a young mother filled her plate before I sit down to eat.

By far, the easiest party situation for celiacs is one that involves snacks or desserts rather than an entire meal. I make sure to eat a good meal before I go. By not going to the party hungry, there is far less temptation to cheat or eat something that may not be safe. As with a potluck, I contribute a special food that I enjoy eating, as it may be the only thing I can eat at the party. When considering foods that others have provided, I generally regard as safe items on fruit or fresh vegetable trays (The dip may be suspect.), cheeses, unflavored potato or corn chips, and plain nuts (not dry-roasted). Many carbonated beverages are celiac-safe, but I avoid root beer, as some brands are not gluten free. Because dinner mints may contain gluten, as may other candies and confections, I avoid them unless I am familiar with the brand and know it is gluten free. If I wish to try a homemade food, I may find it easier to find out what is in it without having to explain my need to know if I begin with a compliment. Saying something like, “Oh, that looks delicious. How did you make that?” often elicits just the response I need: an ingredient list.

There is one final technique for celebrating safely that applies to every event, and that is having a good attitude. As my friend Anne aptly puts it, “Self pity is not an attractive characteristic.” Feeling sorry for myself because I cannot eat everything that other people do is not only unattractive to others, but it also will not allow me to fully enjoy myself. Therefore, I enjoy the foods that I am allowed to eat and try to concentrate on the joy of being with friends and loved ones rather than placing undue emphasis on the food that is served.

No matter what the social situation is, whether it includes a planned dinner, is a potluck, or is a snacks and desserts party, there are things that we as celiacs can do to help us enjoy the festivities and still maintain a gluten-free diet.

Have a safe and gluten-free holiday season.