preparing allergy-free or allergen-friendly dishes. If baking at home, then use completely separate bowls and utensils, and make allergy-friendly treats first. Both of these strategies help make GF food prep much easier.” Dr. Hoyt is also thankful that nowadays, there are a lot of premade GF baked goods sold in grocery stores. You can find almost anything GF from boxed baking products, like cake mixes and brownie mixes, to one-to-one baking flour mixes. “Ten years ago, GF products were not nearly as big of a thing,” she adds. “It’s great to have more options, but it’s also important to recognize the economic impact on families who are managing food allergies, celiac disease, or gluten sensitivities, and try to show support to these families.” She finds it amazing how now, the GF options are much more prevalent than what they were then, and if you want to contribute something to a bake sale, you don’t have to be a chemist to figure out how to make something GF. Where to Find Help Dr. Hoyt recommends talking with your healthcare provider, including a board-certified allergist, if you think you may have any issues related to gluten or if you’re dealing with a wheat allergy. If you have already been diagnosed with CD, you should be consulting with a gastroenterologist (GI) regularly. Dr. Hoyt says it is extremely important to work with a registered dietitian too. She explains, “A registered
dietitian is somebody who has had rigorous academic study in dietetics and has completed a dietetics internship after graduating. Ideally, your gastroenterologist has a registered dietitian that they trust to help you navigate celiac disease.” According to Dr. Hoyt, these are exactly the kinds of resources you need for your GF journey. How to Stay Positive Again, the holidays can be quite stressful for those living GF. Many of your friends and family are probably hosting parties and other gatherings during this time, and you may think you can never know what to expect when it comes to safe food options. If you can relate, here are some final tips and words of encouragement from Dr. Hoyt: 1. Plan Ahead The more you can plan and be aware of what to expect on the menu, or what accommodations are being offered, the more fun your outing will be. While Dr. Hoyt notes how this can be hard sometimes, it’s still worth trying for. “People who have these issues really don’t like to think about it ahead of time because we don’t like to think about it, right?” says Dr. Hoyt. “We just want to go and have a good time like everyone else.” 2. Have a Conversation If you plan on attending any family member’s or friend’s get-togethers, then have a chat with them first. This way, you can get a feel for the menu and
maybe even volunteer to contribute your own safe food items. You don’t want to get stuck eating GF foods you don’t like, which is why talks like these are so important. Remember, if someone’s hosting a party, it’s because they want guests to have a good time, so it’s okay to bring up these issues ahead of time as your family and friends will likely be willing to work with you. 3. Eat Before You Go If you weren’t able to talk with your party host, it’s always a good idea to eat something before you head out. You may not know what safe foods will be available to you later, and if there is going to be alcohol at the party, it’s especially important to have eaten a safe meal beforehand. Dr. Hoyt also suggests always packing safe snacks, like GF protein bars to keep you going throughout your night. 4. Don’t Be Discouraged There are plenty of doctors and specialists out there who want to help you, from your regular physicians to allergists, GIs, and registered dietitians. All it takes is talking with somebody who understands adverse reactions to foods to keep you on track for a happy and healthy lifestyle. “It’s so important to see somebody who is going to present you with evidence, who’s going to hear you, and who is going to try to identify what your symptoms are in order to form a diagnosis,” expresses Dr. Hoyt. “This is so they can give you good treatment and you can live a life of less stress and more joy.”
NOLAFAMILY.COM | DECEMBER 2023 17
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