SUCCESSFUL GLUTEN-FREE HOLIDAY DINING TIPS

Being gluten-free around the holidays shouldn’t be stressful. Here are few tips on how to stay gluten-free and enjoy yourself.

1. Communicate early and often

The earlier you start discussing making gluten-free accommodations to a holiday menu, the more time people have to get used to the idea of change.  Now’s the time to start the discussion.  Go ahead and give the host a call and ask about plans for holiday meals. Your goal is to start a dialogue early enough so that the idea of a “gluten-free holiday” feels normal and expected by the time the occasion comes up.  It’s always a good idea to offer to contribute a special gluten-free dish of your own too.

2.  Offer solutions

One reason why someone may respond negatively to a gluten-free request is that they may feel stressed about how to accommodate it. The holidays can be stressful for those tasked with preparing dinner. The idea of adding one more thing to a to-do list may feel overwhelming. To pre-empt this problem proactively offer solutions.

Offer to make a gluten-free dish that can be added to the family tradition. You could also offer to make a gluten-free version of one of the family’s traditional recipes. For example, offer to make the gravy this year or to cook the turkey so you can use a gluten-free stuffing. Whatever you can do to shift the burden off of the host will help that person feel more open to the idea of making changes.

3. Help solve problems a host may bring up.

Issue:  How can we have stuffing if we don’t stuff the turkey?

Solution:

• Use stuffing made with gluten-free bread crumbs
• Cook traditional stuffing recipe in a ceramic dish in the oven (outside of the turkey)
• Stuff the turkey with dried fruits and nuts

4.  Help solve problems a host may bring up.

Issue: “The gravy won’t be thick if we don’t use flour”

Solution:

• Make two types of gravy (one GF and one traditional)
• Use cornstarch or gluten-free all-purpose flour mixes

Make this holiday season worry free with these few tips.

See full article in our magazine Celebrate Gluten-Free written by CC Bonaduce of ccglutenfree.com

Pumpkin Quinoa Porridge

4.5 from 2 reviews

Food Babe's Pumpkin Quinoa Porridge

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

12 mins

Total time

17 mins

 

Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry quinoa rinsed and drained
• 1 and ½ cups almond milk, divided (nut allergy: use coconut milk)
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ginger
• ⅛ teaspoon cloves
• ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
• 2-3 tablespoons raw honey or maple syrup, more as desired
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts
• Optional:
• 2 tablespoons coconut flakes

Instructions

1. In a pot, add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of almond milk. Bring to a boil and add the quinoa, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. Turn down the heat to a simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated.
2. Once the liquid has evaporated, take off the heat and stir in the ground flaxseeds. To serve, place some of the porridge in a bowl and add about ¼ cup almond milk or desired amount. Top with the walnuts, honey or maple syrup and coconut if using. Enjoy!

Notes

***Please choose all organic ingredients if possible***