Cross-Contact
If you’re not in full control of your kitchen and practicing safe cooking techniques, the possibility of cross-contact with gluten is a real one. Any kitchen that prepares both gluten-containing and gluten-free food runs the risk of getting gluten crumbs or particles into the gluten-free fare. Asking the right questions when you go out to eat can help alleviate fears. Calling in advance can also help you reduce the worries you might feel, especially if you are dining at a new place. Read Restaurant Dining: 7 Tips for Staying Gluten-Free for some tips.
When visiting friends or going to a social event, speaking in advance with the host can help you feel more confident when having something to eat. When appropriate, ask if a special plate can be prepared for you or if you can bring your own food. Taking control of food prep where possible can help you manage your fears.
Repeat Incidents
Whenever you experience something traumatic, you can feel fearful that it might happen again. Getting glutened, especially if your physical reaction is severe, can lead to feelings of anxiety when faced with similar situations. For example, if you get glutened at a friend’s house, you may be wary of eating there again to avoid a repeat of the experience.
Be upfront regarding your concerns, provide information and education, and offer to bring your favorite gluten-free dish for everyone to share and enjoy. These fears are valid, but with anything related to staying safely gluten-free, being prepared is one way to reduce the chance of a repeat incident.
For more ideas on reducing stress, check out our articles:
5 Ways to Reduce the Stress of Shopping Gluten-Free
Setting Healthy Boundaries When You’re Living Gluten-Free
5 Ways to Reduce Stress When Living Gluten-Free
Supporting a gluten-free child
Sometimes, it isn’t you who is affected by the possibility of being glutened but a child in your care. If you are caring for a child who needs to avoid gluten, you can help calm their fears of getting sick.
Educating yourself is a good place to start. According to Dr. Monique Germone, a pediatric psychologist and lead psychologist with the Colorado Center for Celiac Disease at Children’s Hospital Colorado, “Younger children rely a lot on their adult family members to help them switch to a gluten-free diet and lifestyle. They look to adults to help them read food labels, find places to eat outside of the home, and know what they can eat when with friends and at school. This can be difficult when most adults don’t know all the special things people with celiac disease need to think about with food and activities.”
Read up on how to get the support your family needs and how to help a child adhere to a gluten-free diet. Here are a few articles to get you started:
Building Your Healthcare Team
7 Tips for Avoiding Gluten Cross-Contact at Home
Not all families approach the transition to a gluten-free diet the same way, says Dr. Germone.
“Some families choose to all go gluten-free together. Some families continue to keep food with gluten in the house. Some families are in-between. While some families make a switch immediately, others may take a little bit of time. There is no right way as long as the child with celiac disease stops knowingly eating gluten and takes precautions to avoid cross-contact with gluten.”
Dr. Germone recommends practicing reading ingredient labels together and ways to talk to others about how to safely prepare food for your child.
“This could be with relatives, friends, at school, and even at extracurricular activities,” says Dr. Germone. “Some families have found it helpful to create lists to give to others of the child’s favorite foods and a short statement on what celiac disease is and how to prepare foods safely.”
For additional support, reach out to dietitians, social workers, and psychologists who have expertise in celiac disease as well as GIG support groups and resources. https://gluten.org/community/support-groups/
Special thanks to Monique Germone, a pediatric psychologist and lead psychologist with the Colorado Center for Celiac Disease at Children’s Hospital Colorado and co-chair of the Celiac Disease Behavioral Sciences Consortium, for her input.
The information on this website is for educational purposes only. Consult your healthcare team when considering this information.
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