As we get closer to the holiday season, it becomes increasingly important for people with Celiac Disease to make sure they have a plan for surviving the holiday season on a gluten free diet. Here are a few tips for you to survive this holiday season:
- Eat Gluten Free at Home – If you plan to attend holiday parties, eat before you go so you aren’t hungry at the party. Sometimes when you are hungry you are more likely to take “risks” when looking for gluten free foods.
- Bring Your Own Gluten Free Foods – Sometimes people with good intentions will attempt to make a gluten free dish for their party. These people typically aren’t trained to avoid cross-contamination. As a result, I always recommend people bring their own gluten free foods when attending parties.
- Avoid Foods with Cross Contamination Concerns – Dips and other items foods can start out gluten free, but will quickly become cross-contaminated as the party goes on. Avoid these foods completely!
- Speak to Restaurant in Advance – If your holiday party is at a restaurant, you can review their menu online (and check for a gluten free menu), but I recommend you also call the restaurant ahead of time to ensure that specific location can accommodate your needs. If they can’t accommodate you, you’ll want to get permission to bring your own foods and just get a beverage at the restaurant.
For additional survival ideas, I recommend you check out the holiday guide (free PDF download) from the Gluten Free Living magazine team.
You're welcome Rosie!
This book is the best one I've found so far on this topic. 
Thank you so much for making this resource available about gluten-free dining in Italy. There's such a vast amount ...
