Hosting Gluten Free: Tips to Host Your Gluten-free Friends and Family

If you are welcoming people over to your home and are looking for tips to hosting gluten free friends and family, we are here to help. Whether a person is careful because they have a gluten sensitivity or is completely gluten-free due to celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or wheat allergy, it is important for a host to be able to say with confidence that the food they are offering is indeed gluten-free.

For those who are unfamiliar with exactly what gluten is, it is easier to make an error in buying gluten-free food than one might think. Much of this confusion can stem directly from vague terminology in labeling. For example, something that is labeled gluten-friendly does not necessarily mean that it is free of gluten.

So, what is the best way to have confidence that you are providing safe food to your gluten free friends and family? Let’s break it down.

Cross Contamination Concerns for Guests

If you are not gluten free but are hosting gluten-free get togethers, it is understandable that your guests with special dietary needs might still be dubious about the food being free of gluten. And, many times, this is less of a reflection on the host than it is the ingredients. This is primarily because gluten is not always labeled as gluten. It can be labeled as many different things such as malt, flour, wheat, rye, and barley.

For example, did you know that some brands of vanilla extract contain gluten? The same goes for other ingredients such as chocolates, flour, soups, etc. Without a guest being able to examine the ingredients that went into a prepared food firsthand, it is understandable that they might have concerns thanks to confusing labeling laws.

The other main concern gluten-free guests often have is cross-contamination issues. This can be manifested in a variety of ways, such as:

• Were ingredients like butter taken from a newly purchased tub? If someone butters their gluten-filled toast and then puts the knife back into the butter for a second helping, the butter is no longer gluten-free. It has been contaminated.
• Was the pan or bowl used to make the food completely free of crumbs and gluten before being used? Was it thoroughly washed with hot water and soap before use?
• Were the measuring cups, teaspoons, tablespoons and mixing spoons free of gluten before being used? Were they thoroughly washed with hot water and soap and then stored away from flour and other gluten-containing ingredients?
• Is the food served on a singular platter that is set away from other gluten-filled foods to avoid cross contamination?
• Are there dedicated serving utensils or tongs for this particular dish that are not being used with any other dish? Are guests aware of why?

Regardless of if it is a food allergy to wheat, celiac disease, or something in between, even the smallest amounts of gluten could cause a life-threatening or adverse reaction that could endanger a guest.

Reasons Why Buying Gluten-Free Can Be Better than Making It Yourself

For the best gluten-free hosting experience, consider buying gluten-free foods from a dedicated facility rather than making it yourself.

1. By outsourcing the food, a host can easily show a guest where the food came from and what the labels show. This may be instrumental in easing some of a guest’s fears of unknowingly ingesting gluten. When buying these items, opt for those that are “certified gluten free.”
2. Purchasing certified gluten free food also takes the pressure off the host to make sure food is safely baked or cooked in what is normally a gluten-filled environment. They no longer have to worry about accidental breadcrumbs or flour from their home making its way into gluten-free food. When buying a dish that is truly free from gluten, it may be a more reassuring experience for both the host’s and the guest’s peace of mind.
3. Buying a finished gluten-free product is less expensive than purchasing a dozen special ingredients that a host might only use once or twice. Those who regularly cook and bake gluten free understand exactly how expensive buying all those ingredients can be and will be glad to see a host buy a ready-made product instead. Some of our top-selling gluten-free products include snickerdoodles, lemon pound cake, pumpkin bread, and blueberry muffins, although we also offer other goodies such as hot dog buns, English muffins, and chocolate chip cookies to name just a few.

Buying food directly from a trusted gluten free supplier does not make a person any less of a host. In fact, it can make them a wonderful host who believes in putting the needs of their guests ahead of their own.

Tips to Host Your Gluten-Free Friends and Family

When it comes to hosting your gluten-free friends and family, here are a few tips to help keep everyone safe:

• Allow guests to bring their own gluten-free food if that is what makes them most comfortable.
• Buy prepacked gluten-free foods from a trusted supplier like us.
• Keep food completely wrapped and away from other foods until it is time to be served.
• Unwrap a gluten-free food product in a guest’s presence in an effort to boost their confidence about the safety of the food.
• If plating the food, put it on a dish that is different than the other serving platters so that guests can easily remember which one is gluten-free. Keep the platter far away from others to minimize accidental cross contamination.
• Use a dedicated utensil or pair of tongs for serving gluten-free food.
• Keep a makeshift cover such as a plastic lid or foil over the food when it is not being actively accessed.

These tips to host your gluten-free friends and family without worry can make your gatherings that much sweeter. By letting us do the baking, it allows you to focus your time and energy on the important people you want to keep safe at mealtimes. We are here to help so you don’t let fear of finding gluten-free goodies hold you back from inviting those you love into your home.