1. Find your voice and be upfront
It can be difficult but you must speak up. I am an easy going person who just wants to go with the flow, maybe you are too? The idea of people having to make exceptions for you or your child makes you feel soo uncomfortable. But, when it comes to Celiac Disease (or your health) you can’t just go with the flow or be easy going when it comes to food. Your child will never get better if they keep getting exposed to gluten.
After we found out my son had celiac disease I really found my voice and realized I had to start speaking up. I didn’t want to see him in pain, spend hours on the toilet or have emotional outbursts for days after going to someones house for a birthday party.
One thing I have learned is most people are very accommodating and pay extra close attention when it’s a child. No one wants to harm a child so they will be very diligent.
You must be upfront. When my son brings home a birthday party invitation I contact the parents right away and let them know my child has Celiac Disease and can’t have dairy or gluten. Check this post out if you want to know more about why Celiac’s should avoid dairy as well.
2. Offer to bring food to the birthday party for your Celiac child
I feel unless someone has Celiac or knows someone with the disease they don’t understand all the possibilities for cross-contamination. Did they put the gluten-free crackers next to something with wheat? Did they bake the gluten free pizza on an old baking tray? The worry is endless! One small crumb can make my son and I really sick. So I always tell the host I will bring foods my son can eat to the party so they don’t have to worry. I tell them my son is “very sensitive and he will get really sick”.
It is much safer to just bring your own food so there is little risk of cross-contamination. In order for my son to not feel left out, I will ask the host what foods they are serving at the birthday party so I can send with him with something similar.
What if the host insists on providing food?
If the parents insist or they are close friends, you must take the time to educate them properly on cross-contamination. It helps get the word out there for other Celiacs too! Feel free to check out my post on cross-contamination. Tell the host a list of gluten free foods they can purchase from grocery stores and restaurants to make it as easy as possible.
For example, most birthday party’s go with pizza. We have found a gluten free pizza place called AVATARA, in Calgary, Alberta. They make amazing gluten free pizza’s with organic, vegan options. You don’t have to worry about cross contamination because the entire restaurant is gluten free! Hopefully you can find a safe pizza place in your area.
3. DIY Birthday Party Celiac Cupcakes/Cakes
Yes, most grocery stores offer dairy free and gluten free cakes/cupcakes usually in the freezer sections but how about making your own? I understand people are busy and need the convenience of buying baked good. Perhaps you think you are a really bad baker? But you can do it! There is something really special about a homemade birthday treat. I feel my previous bad diet contributed to me developing Celiac Disease so why would I want to continue to eat foods designed to make me sick? Store bought baked goods and frosting have so many junky ingredients in them such as palm oil, soybean oil, etc as well as constipation city with combination gluten free flours like potato starch, tapioca starch the list goes on.
So, in my freezer I always have at least one frozen treat made ahead of time so I can easily pull one out and defrost for special occasions. You can check out my yummy chocolate cake recipe here which you can easily turn into cupcakes too. I leave the cupcakes/cake without icing and freeze. Then when an occasion comes around I will make this icing recipe found here and all the members of my family get to enjoy themselves with a treat.
4. Treat Bags for A Celiac Child
Ugh! Sorry but I really hate treat bags. They are my nemesis. Not only are treat bags filled with junky plastic crap that just ends up in the landfill after 5 seconds of play but they are also filled with candy. Can’t we just stop with the treat bags? Who made the rule that with every birthday party you must send home a treat bag with each child? Will they even notice if you don’t?
The good thing about treat bags is that they are often given out just before your child leaves a birthday party. So we can take them home to go through and see if there is anything my son can eat. If not, I have to let go of being Mrs. Anal Heath MOM and let him pick something out from our ‘goodie bucket’. I keep this ‘goodie bucket’ up high in a cupboard for special occasions and I stock it with vegan gluten free treats.
It takes a little organization but once you get used to the routine of birthday parties with celiac disease they become manageable. I always tell my son try not to worry if you can’t eat something everyone else is having. If you really want that food we can try and re-create it when you get home. Have fun enjoying other people’s company and try not to worry about the food.
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