Gluten Free Wedding Receptions

Cheese always a great Gluten Free Option!

Gluten Free Mania has captured the nation’s attention in 2015.  Of all the menu challenges a caterer faces, gluten intolerance is #1 right up there with dairy and peanut allergies.  Yet, there is misinformation regarding gluten as well as celiac disease.  As a caterer in the Northern Virginia area of Washington DC we are privileged to have the outstanding Washington Post newspaper at our disposal and this past Sunday’s Outlook section featured an article on Gluten Myths. www.washpost.com 
1. “…about 1% of the population is affected by celiac disease.  Gluten has been blamed for many diseases outside gluten related disorders, and therefore some people have suggested that is should be completely banned from the human diet.”

2. “For most of us, a gluten-free diet is not a naturally healthier diet.  If you give up gluten free containing cookies, cakes and beer, and replace them with gluten free cookies, cakes and beer, you will not loose weight or feel better.  Stop eating fried foods, highly processed foods and foods high in sugar, and replace them with fresh fruits, vegetables and olive oil, protein from lean meat, eggs, seafood, nuts and beans (essentially, the Mediterranean diet) and you will definitely feel better.”  

3.  “…until recently, the terms ‘celiac disease’ and ‘gluten sensitivity’ had been used interchangeably in medical literature…but although many of the symptoms are similar, the two conditions are very different metabolically.  Also, some people with gluten sensitivity can tolerate small amounts of gluten, which is never the case with celiac disease.”

Catering By Teatime www.cateringbyteatime.com
 offers many non gluten menu items.  Yet we are continually amazed at  how often the guest or member of the wedding party abandons the request at the actual wedding reception.  It can be hard to gauge how serious the condition actually is when we see it laughed off during the cocktail hour. 

4.  People with actual celiac disease CANNOT eat a little bit of gluten.  This is NOT a myth. It does a disservice to those afflicted with this disease when you claim you have this condition, but decide to sneak a little during a party.  That’s not how it works, folks. 

“…the vast majority of us tolerate gluten without any problem.  The fact that about 1 percent of the population is affected by celiac disease, while almost 1 percent of humankind is exposed to gluten-containing  grains, is evidence that these grains are safe for most people.  After all, our species has evolved during the past 10,000 years eating gluten-containing grains.   

Gluten Free Grilled Garlic Lime Chicken

 It’s a billion $$ industry, Gluten Free is not going anywhere anytime soon, nor should it.  However, marketing “Gluten Free Oatmeal” is an overreaction when in reality oatmeal is already Gluten Free.  What is next?  Gluten Free Eggs for an additional expenses?  There is a lot of hype right now, we as consumers need to become more educated.  
In the late 1970’s I had a father in-law with celiac although at that time it was called “Glutenentro-opathy” (I’m sure that can’t possibly be the correct spelling” and my mother in-law had very little options.  She made rice bread out of rice flour, it was dreadful.  What has changed in 40 + years, let alone in the past several years is astonishing.  
For myself, I am wildly grateful to not have the intolerance, as I could live on a great loaf of crusty bread and salted butter.  Here’s hoping really great gluten free bread is available soon!
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