As indicated by comments in my article about having house guests, we all have different gluten-free house rules. But what happens when we have to be guests in the homes of friends and family? In my case, it’s fairly easy regardless of whom we’re visiting.
My in-laws are very accommodating regarding my dietary needs. I remember a story from a while back, about someone’s Mother-in-law declaring she “cooked the gluten out of a dish by baking it at 500 degrees”. Not once have any family members suggested that I could pull the innards out of a sandwich or pick the pasta out of the soup – though many acquaintances have. Yet others I’ve met have things like that happen on a regular basis. That is why I feel especially fortunate to have such thoughtful and respectful in-laws!
Two of my immediate family members also have celiac disease so visiting them is super easy as well. Still, all the homes of friends and family that we visit are full of gluten. They are typical American heavy-on-the-gluten-diet households. But this does not mean I can’t survive safely as long as I get organized before I arrive.
The first thing to remember is that it’s highly unlikely that your hosts are going to spring for gluten-free powdered doughnuts or bagels from Joan’s in NYC for you to nosh on during your visit. If you want to start your day with such treats, pack them before you leave home. We drive when visiting most friends and all family, so we just pack a cooler with gluten-free goodies and hit the road. If you are traveling by plane you might want to take shelf-stable items instead of things that need to be kept cold.
The next thing to remember is to take kitchen tools you think you’ll need when you’re away from home. Some people actually take their own toasters on trips. Since I’m never without my amazing Toast-It bags, I can use any toaster I encounter on the road safely. When using a toaster oven you can securely wrap your food in foil to keep it from getting contaminated during the heating process.
Some people like to take their own can openers since so many soups (and other canned foods) contain gluten, and not everyone keeps their can opener squeaky clean. Most can just be washed prior to each use but certainly, take your own if you’re more comfortable doing that. I always need to use a can opener when visiting others because I often have soup when others are having sandwiches. I either have soup cups or canned soup, both of which make a quick and easy lunch.
Since I love all things dairy, I’m never far from butter. Therefore, when visiting others I usually take a small amount of my own butter in a lidded plastic container. This way, the ever-present bread or toast crumbs on the family’s communal butter do not pose a problem for me. If you can’t take ownership, request that your hosts allow you to open a fresh stick and put enough to last your visit in a container. Unless they don’t have any butter, this should not be an issue.
One thing I never want to do is inconvenience my hosts because of my dietary needs. People who are not living gluten-free can’t learn the nuances of this diet just to accommodate me a few times a year. It took me several months just to figure it out myself, after all. It’s not the responsibility of my hosts to make sure I eat well and safely when I’m in their home – it’s mine. If I plan ahead this is not hard to do – and being a good house guest allows me to be invited back in the future.
Whenever I go anywhere I do usually take more food than I end up eating. But since unused items just go back home with us, nothing goes to waste. I’d always rather have more food than I need than not enough. This way I’m sure to never feel deprived during my visit. And that’s something all of us can appreciate – not having to do without great food just because we can’t have gluten – no matter where life takes us!
What are your good house guest tips?
I usually bring a couple bags of gf pasta and my own (gluten free) collander for draining it, and offer to make pasta for everyone one night. So far no one has ever complained about my gf pasta taste, and glutenoids always request my gf lasagna when I have guests here at my home! Also, I don’t use a toaster, so if your hosts have a toaster oven all you need is some foil and you can make anything in it.
I also wrap everything in foil for toaster ovens except at home, of course. A lot of the hotels we stay at have toasters if they offer a free breakfast, but they rarely have toaster ovens.
There are too many “we don’t eat gluten-free food” people in my family and my husbands for me to dare make them pasta. I know they will like it but I can’t make them eat it and therefore can’t spend money for enough pasta – or any food – for them 😉