How To Survive Children's Birthday Party With Celiac Disease

Bring an assortment of GF snacks

The abundance of cake and snack foods at children’s birthday parties can make the experience stressful for gluten-free eaters. Parents of gluten-free children fear their child will be exposed to gluten-containing foods, while also worrying that their child might feel excluded. Luckily there is a solution for letting your children, yourself and everyone involved enjoy the celebration…without being left out of the fun.

Things You'll Need

• A gluten-free (GF) alternative to the party food (like chocolate cake or brownies)
• Handy GF snacks such as nuts or protein bars
• Hand sanitizer or baby wipes to avoid cross-contamination.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Make an effort to speak to the host of the party in advance and politely explain the needs of you or your child. If you briefly explain the foods that need to be avoided, the host will understand it is not their cooking that is being shunned.

2. Ask how you can help contribute to the party and make the host’s job even easier. Try asking what food item they would prefer for you to bring, or what food is a favorite of the birthday boy or girl. Continue to assure the host that cooking a gluten-free alternative is not a burden, and make sure to politely bring an offering in any format.

3. Ensure that either you or your child has eaten a healthy satiating snack before the party (to keep hunger at bay). Make sure to pack additional snacks as precaution against running out of items to eat, or to keep your child from feeling left out. Discreetly pack small bags of healthy snacks such as nuts, raw vegetables or gluten-free protein bars.

4. Pack your bag ahead of time with hand sanitizer or baby wipes to avoid the accidental cross-contamination of your child from gluten-containing foods. Try being discreet when cleaning your child (because you don’t want to offend the host or fellow party attendees). However, your child’s safety and health are always the first priority. It is crucial to avoid accidental ingestion or contact with gluten ingredients.

5. Make sure to be informative and helpful in explaining what gluten-free eating involves, if fellow party attendees or friends ask questions. Try bringing enough gluten-free snacks for everyone involved. Instead of bringing an individualized bag of cookies or crackers to the event, ask the host ahead of time if bringing a larger offering for sharing would be acceptable.