How To Cook Gluten-Free For A Celiac: A Thanksgiving Guide

November 20, 2024

The holidays, especially Thanksgiving can be an especially hard time for those with celiac disease and others who must eat strictly gluten-free. Preventing cross contact can be incredibly tricky, particularly for hosts who have never cooked gluten free before. Even the smallest amount of gluten can make someone with celiac very sick. And especially considering that the host often has a lot on their plate (no pun intended), it’s very easy to get distracted and make a mistake.

Be Aware of Cross-Contamination When Serving Celiacs

People with celiac disease are often highly aware of the possibilities of cross-contamination. Even when I’m thoroughly enjoying a gathering, there is always a part of me that is on alert - did someone just use the wrong serving utensil in the salad? Are the gluten free cookies on the same plate as the regular cookies? And I’ve certainly been in many situations that felt a little awkward.

What is Cross-Contamination?

Cross contamination is the contamination of gluten (or any allergen) from:

cooking surfaces
utensils and cookware (think: bowls, serving spoons, pots)
food storage (think: breads, cookies, and baked goods served together)
shared foods (think: dips, sauces, jams and jellies)
ovens, toasters, pans, etc.

I remember RSVP'ing to a party, and the host texted me, “So glad you’ll be there! I’m making a surprise for you!” Oh no, I immediately thought. I envisioned the inevitable moment of her presenting some homemade treat, happily exclaiming that she made it gluten free just for me, and then me painstakingly explaining that while I really appreciate the gesture I’m not totally sure if I can eat it.

The thought was so uncomfortable, and I could just see the look of disappointment on her face. So I decided to respond and be honest. I told her that it sounded like maybe she was going to bake something for me, and I’m sorry to spoil the surprise but could we please talk about it? Yes, she was going to make gluten free cupcakes so I could feel included. I explained that I appreciated the thought and gesture SO MUCH, but that cooking/baking gluten free is so tricky and it’s so easy to make a mistake, even if it’s something you’re experienced with. Of course, I didn’t want to get sick, but I also said, “I wouldn’t want YOU to feel badly if I got sick at your party.” She thanked me for explaining, said that she totally understood, and of course just wanted me to feel good and have fun.

I think it’s important for hosts to understand that we don’t like saying no to things, especially such kind gestures. I would love to eat the cupcake! But it’s important for me to prioritize my health and safety.

Over-Communication is Key

For hosts, I believe that communication is key - even for people who are experienced with gluten free cooking. Everyone with celiac has a different comfort level, and there may be additional food restrictions, as well.

Tip: Asking “how can I help make my guest feel more comfortable?” I believe is a more important question than “what food can I make for my guest?”

I recommend contacting the guest a few weeks ahead of time to check in and have a discussion. Perhaps start out by saying, “I’m so excited for you to join me for the holidays! I know that you have some specific food restrictions, and I wanted to take some time to chat about what would make you feel the most comfortable and included,” then explain the party vibe and what you were planning to serve to the group as a whole.

Questions You Want To Ask a Guest With Celiac Before Cooking For Them

In addition to asking what they are most comfortable with, here are some other questions you may want to ask:

"Would you like to get here early and help with the cooking so that you can monitor and control how the gluten free food is being prepared?"
"Would you feel more comfortable bringing a dish from home for everyone to share?"
"Would you prefer to bring your own meal, and if so, what kitchen equipment do you need access to in order to heat it up?"
"Regarding ingredient safety, are there any specific ingredients that you’d like me to get? Or are there any that you would like to bring? (Gluten free food labeling is a very complicated topic on its’ own)"
"Do you have any extra food restrictions that I should be aware of?"

It’s definitely possible to host an inclusive gluten free holiday party, and these simple steps and conversations can help to make a gathering incredibly memorable and special for your gluten free guest.

What Foods To Be Aware Of:

Gluten can hide in sneaky places. It's important to be aware of all foods, even something as innocent of salad, for the potential to contain or be cross-contaminated with gluten.

Gluten is found most commonly in wheat, barley, and rye, but also oats, malt, and brewers yeast. While wheat is labeled as an allergen on food packaging, gluten is not, so reading a label throughly is a must. It's best to get a product that is certified gluten-free. The FDA requires that foods labeled "gluten-free" must have below 20 ppm of gluten, however, its always safe to know that the products are third-party tested

These foods common in holiday spreads contain gluten:

Anything with wheat flour: Gravy, breads, baked goods
Stuffing with wheat bread and stuffing-contaminated turkey
Beer
Rolls
Pastas

These items commonly have hidden gluten:

Cross-contaminated jellies, jams, dips and turkey
Gravy spills! Leading to cross-contamination
Salad dressings
Casseroles made with gluten-containing canned items, like cream of mushroom soup
Items made with stock or broth (make sure these are gluten-free!)

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving and Holiday Recipes to Try:

At Bread SRSLY, our mission is to reunite people with sourdough when they thought good bread was off the table. The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to further that mission by bringing people together with food. Below you'll find some of our most enjoyed holiday recipes and our tried-and-true tips for preparing our gluten-free sourdough to share- if that's the game plan you've agreed upon with your gluten-free guests, of course ;)

Our Tried and True Stuffing Recipes:

Easy Stuffing Cubes
Gluten-Free Classic Stuffing (make with either of our Pullman Loaves)
Gluten-Free Stuffing Muffins
Gluten-Free Apple, Squash & Olive Stuffing
Gluten-Free Caramelized Onion Stuffing

We Recommend These Products for Gluten-Free Stuffing:

Classic GF Sourdough Pullman Loaf

GF Sourdough Pullman Loaf (Gum-Free, Rice Free)

For Your Gluten-Free Bread Basket

Jazz Up Dinner Rolls With These:

Classic Gluten-Free Sourdough Dinner Rolls

Jessica Hanson is a celiac disease advocate and runs the blog/social media pages Tasty Meditation (@tastymeditation) along with the NYC Celiac Disease Meetup Group.

Got questions? We've got your answers! Check out our FAQ page or send us an email at hello@breadsrsly.com.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Team Bread SRSLY!