new to the gluten free journey?
new to the gluten free journey?
Let’s talk about holiday eating for the gluten sensitive. Or rather, how to survive eating during the holidays if you are gluten sensitive. Because undoubtedly there will be friends and loved ones that won’t leave you be until you take a bite of what they’re serving. They’ll probably say things like “one bite isn’t going to kill you,” “come on, live a little,” or “it’s the holidays!”
Sound familiar?
Well, the problem is that most people eat processed junk. And that means the food they want to share with you is almost always junk. Junk filled with gluten, starch, sugar, artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners, thickeners, emulsifiers, preservatives, and so on. Ingredients that so many of us react to.
Now, I understand that sharing food is considered in many cultures an act of love. But if we’re partaking in the sharing garbage, it becomes an act of self-destruction. And if the people around you aren’t aware of the importance of eating to nourish your body as opposed to poison it, then it can become a struggle, especially during the holidays.
So where do you draw the line? How do you navigate these tricky situations so that you don’t let holiday junk food get the best of you? So you can spend the holidays feeling your best as well as keep your immune system strong to defeat any viruses you may encounter.
Now that everyone knows where you stand (because you expressed yourself), you must think about what you’re going to eat when you go to grandma’s house.
If you know there won’t be anything safe for you to eat, bring something with you. You could even offer to bring a nutrient-rich dish or two to share with everyone.
If you’ll be staying for an extended period of time, bring some staples to have on hand. Or plan to make a trip to the grocery store when you arrive.
You may also want to reconsider staying with friends and family members that aren’t supportive of your health goals. Instead, you could find a hotel room that has a kitchenette or rent a studio from sites like Airbnb. This way you’ll be able to prepare healthy meals and snacks in peace. So when you’re with your family, simply state that you’ve already eaten when snacks are offered. Because remember, the holidays aren’t just about eating. They’re also about spending quality time with loved ones. And that time can be spent talking, playing games, or even better, going on a nature walk.
Another option is to offer to host a gathering at your house, which will put you in charge of the food. But let your guests know they’re welcome to bring anything they wish and you’ll be happy to make room at the table.
Although, most holiday staples can be made grain-free and gluten-free. Even pumpkin pie. And they taste just as good as the original, if not better when they’re made with whole food ingredients from scratch.
It’s also worth noting that sugar and grain-based treats are abundant at school parties and other social events. This can be tough for kids with dietary restrictions. They may feel left out and isolated.
So I suggest planning for them to have something to enjoy as the rest of the class is indulging in the other junk. For example, make a delicious muffin with gluten free flour and sweeten it with honey or maple syrup.
Stay up-to-date with the latest articles, tips, recipes and more.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.
The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Peter Osborne, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Peter Osborne and his community. Peter Osborne encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
One Response
That was incredibly helpful, thankyou. Overcoming the reactions of other people to our diet who have no problems [yet] really can be an immense hurdle, so the notion of taking our own food to the venue really appeals to me, and it’s not causing the host any extra work – win win situation :-]