| Christmas - especially a gluten free Christmas - | | | | buy in or cook gluten free food, but often don't |
| takes a lot of planning. Of course you want your | | | | realise the dangers of cross-contamination from |
| celiac child to enjoy the same treats as everyone | | | | say, cutting the gluten free Christmas cake with |
| else... but sometimes you wonder if that is going | | | | the same knife as the 'normal' Christmas cake. |
| to be possible! Mince pies, Christmas cakes, | | | | Offer to take some gluten free Christmas |
| selection boxes and advent calendars... there | | | | cookies, mince pies or a Christmas cake so you |
| seems to be gluten in everything! Seven | | | | know your child will have enough food. I hate |
| strategies which have helped me enormously in | | | | rationing! |
| planning a gluten free Christmas for my celiac | | | | 5. Bake lots! Gluten free Christmas food is so |
| child. I hope they help you with yours! | | | | expensive if you have to buy it all, and gluten |
| 1. Plan ahead and spot the danger areas. Go | | | | free mince pies cookies and so on are relatively |
| through your family's Christmas itinerary and | | | | quick and easy to make. You can use your usual |
| work out where a gluten free diet might be | | | | recipe with gluten free flour and baking powder, |
| compromised. Working through my calendar the | | | | or have a look on my blog for gluten free |
| other day I remembered that the School | | | | Christmas recipes (see below). A gluten free |
| Christmas Play is always a mince-pie fest. I need | | | | Christmas cake is a Must, and again, no harder to |
| to go prepared with my own mince pies for my | | | | make than any other cake. If you are reading |
| son. Christmas parties need to be planned for, | | | | this, thinking 'I never bake anything! I buy the lot |
| even simple events like a carol service will usually | | | | of it!' Well, it might be worth spending a Sunday |
| serve mince pies or cookies. | | | | afternoon in the kitchen with the kids! I tend to |
| 2. Bake in advance and freeze enough individual | | | | bake gluten free for the whole family - celiac or |
| bags of goodies for each event. I usually take a | | | | not - which means my celiac child feels no |
| gluten free mince pie and a gluten free cookie to | | | | different to everyone else. |
| each event for my celiac son, so I have little bags | | | | 6. Beware of the hidden gluten in selection boxes |
| in the freezer ready to take out on the morning | | | | and other Christmas candy. I found that selection |
| of the event (and because they are safely in the | | | | boxes may be mainly gluten free... but there is |
| freezer they cannot be eaten 'by mistake'!) | | | | just one bar that is forbidden. It's not worth it! |
| 3. Speak to your child's school about any | | | | And a bit rough on the child if they have to lose a |
| Christmas parties or events they might be putting | | | | bar as soon as they open it. I found some big |
| on and how your child will be catered for. You | | | | glass storage jars this year, and filled them with |
| may have to provide your own food, or they | | | | candy that I know is gluten free. They look |
| might be willing to do that for you if they are | | | | fantastic and really Christmassy with a big red |
| very understanding, but have a plate ready laden | | | | bow on top - and my celiac child will probably still |
| of food that your child can eat. Even sharing a | | | | make himself sick... but at least I know it won't be |
| bowl of gluten free snacks with other children | | | | because of gluten! |
| could put the celiac child at risk of contamination | | | | 7. Look for gluten free Christmas dinner |
| by gluten on their fingers. It's not worth the risk! | | | | alternatives for the whole family. Gluten free |
| You may also want to check if they are planning | | | | turkey stuffing and gravy tastes just as good. If |
| to do any baking around Christmas and talk that | | | | everyone is eating the same, you don't have to |
| through carefully with the class teacher. | | | | watch your celiac child the whole time, you can |
| 4. If you are going away for Christmas, speak to | | | | just relax. Of course, if you are eating in |
| your hosts as soon as possible! Make sure they | | | | someone else's home this is harder, but hopefully |
| thoroughly understand the gluten free diet | | | | you have discussed it with them carefully |
| because there is nothing worse than spending | | | | beforehand and your child also knows what he |
| every meal wondering if your child will be ill | | | | she can and can't eat. |
| afterward. I often find that people are willing to | | | | Have a fantastic Christmas. |