As I’ve shared on my instagram pages, getting glutened happens while living a full life (in my experience as someone who takes reasonable caution but doesn’t live in a bubble). I always try to take it as a life lesson. Sometimes that’s just “the way the cookie crumbles” (as my grandma says).
Here are some things I’ve learned from my experiences getting glutened:
1) Trust your gut. Sometimes I have to differentiate from my “gut instinct” and my “celiac paranoia”. My gut instinct is based on experience and supported with the below other points and the celiac paranoia is often based on anxiety and “worst case scenario” thinking. There is often not a guarantee when eating out unless it’s a 100% gluten free environment. See #6.
2) Don’t rely on reviews, word from the hostess or gluten free labels on the menu. Always ask questions directly to your server. There have been too many discrepancies and I consider this fact checking. I’ve been known to quote reviews to verify or encourage them to double check.
3) If someone seems unsure, believe them to be unsure. I generally will ask, “are you sure or guessing because I don’t want to get sick…” I’ll even ask “would you mind verifying or letting me speak to a manager or chef?” I hate doing it. I’ve even offered to look at labels. This can be uncomfortable but your health is worth it. I have left places without eating when they seem uncertain, clearly have no idea or don’t seem to care to know.
4) Self advocacy fatigue is real. Often times when I am glutened it’s because I got lazy or complacent and didn’t ask the questions or do the things that I know keep me safe. The “f$&@ its” happen and sometimes I get lucky but other times am very regretful. It’s tiring being a celiac. *sigh* Again, your health is worth the effort.
5) Re-verify upon delivery of food that it is gluten free. I always ask the food delivery/server person “gluten free, right ?” Because too often the server, kitchen or even food delivery person has made a mistake and served me gluten. In my experience, if they aren’t sure then they will check, if they seem uncertain then see #3. So many times I’ve had my husband touch or eat my breads first to make sure they are in fact gluten free.
6) Decide now how you feel about disclaimers like “we are not a 100% gluten free kitchen and cannot guarantee there will be no gluten”. I have generally understood this to be a legal disclaimer to avoid liability etc but I often will follow that up with “I understand that there is no guarantee given you aren’t 100% gluten free. Are there specific risks I should be aware of (shared cooking surfaces/fryers) or is the concern just that it’s not a dedicated kitchen?” I have personally accepted this level of risk in my life but am a little more cautious if I’m traveling so I don’t get sick or if I just get a bad vibe. Like the stock market, your level of risk that you feel comfortable with is entirely up to you.
7) Plan Ahead. So many celiacs or people with food allergies become the travel snack royalty. You never know when you aren’t going to be able to eat. Check menus and call before if you know where you going. If I have snacks on hand I’m less likely to eat something risky out of hunger and desperation. I pretty much don’t leave the house without snacks in my purse. When I travel, I expect not to eat at the airport and pack something for my departure and will usually plan to get something to go the day before to bring on flight for my return. When at my destination I have already scoped out the area I’m staying on Find Me Gluten Free or local gluten free facebook groups to locate my options. If there aren’t any, I either travel with food or hit up a grocery store (including grocery delivery) to have food ready for me. So often what I am doing on a trip is dictated by where I can eat. It’s obviously harder when with a group which is why you need to prepare. If I’m at an airbnb I have traveled with food, foil or toaster bags. If driving I usually end up bringing a cooler.
