Happy Labor Day weekend!
What better way to start this holiday weekend than an official first blog post?!
We thought we would share some major overlooked tips when using a grill with your not so gluten-free friends and family. Whether you are new to the gluten-free lifestyle, a long-timer or hosting for someone gluten-free, this information will be super helpful to navigating the shared grill scenario.
#1 If you are new to gluten-free don't take the weekend off, YOU can do it!
If you have recently decided to take the plunge and give up gluten, you may be thinking "I will just forget about it" this weekend. Let me start by saying that as overwhelming as it is to be gluten-free in social settings where you don't always have 100% control, don't miss out on this special holiday weekend to try some new and amazing gluten-free food. Also, you will be surprised at how many things you might eat that are already gluten-free.
#2 What to do if your grill is contaminated with gluten...
If you are using a grill that has previously been used for gluten-containing food than we highly suggest that you prep the grill before this weekend by giving it a deep clean and/or just buy some new grates.
#3 Host the get together at your place!
I was lucky enough to get my latest grill after I already went gluten-free. If you are not in the same boat see tip#3! If you do have a grill that is free of gluten, the easiest way to ensure you are safe is to host the (socially distanced) get together at your place.
#4 Grilling non-gluten items on your gluten-free grill:
If your friends are coming to you, you can safely toast their buns and other gluten items by wrapping their items in tin foil. Keep them in tin foil, and place them on a plate for them to grab.
Side note, I would watch the utensils that they use to pick up their meat to put on the gluten-containing bread... You could always make two separate meat plates, meaning one for gluten-free bread and one for not gluten-free bread.
#5 When you're grilling at your friend's house...
If you are going to a friend's house that has had gluten on it and you want to take part in the grilled food you can always bring tin foil and wrap your items to put on the grill. This will protect help prevent you from any cross-contamination.
#6 Get all gluten-free condiments!
If you are hosting start by getting all gluten-free condiments. Most of the main ones that we use are already gluten-free and clearly marked on the back of the package. since I am a visual person, I put some images down below for you to check out. I felt like that might be easier than me writing out some long list since we know most brands by their packaging. Hope this helps! --> If you need any help please feel free to DM me on Instagram @therealglutenfreegirls or send me a message on our Facebook page :)
#7 Controlling cross-contamination with shared condiments...
One idea if you trust everyone and it's a small group, is to put a sign out next to the condiments saying "please do not touch the condiments to your food". If you are afraid they won't read it, then feel free to take it to the next level and print out labels and use packing tape to wrap the message directly on it in big jumbo lettering. Your safety is important and if you are new to this, or these are people who don't live with someone who is gluten-free then they are not going to think of all these things and that is ok. Who can blame them? You can't, but what you can do is take steps to inform and protect yourself.
#8 When you are not sure you can control cross-contamination for condiments:
At the end of the day, if there will be any gluten-containing food on the menu, the ONLY way to assure there no type of cross-contamination whatsoever is to have separate condiments. If you are like me, I take a thick black sharpie and write GF all over every single side of each condiment with "don't use". It's very hard to miss! (lol)
#9 Side dishes and appetizers:
When I first went gluten-free, I always used to make "my" food and then the gluten-containing food for everyone else. Now I don't do that at all! Instead, I serve everyone the gluten-free food, and to be honest no one even notices. Trust me when I say you don't need to serve buffalo cauliflower, although it is pretty good, or some weird tasteless dish to be gluten-free.
If you are the one who is hosting, why not go ahead and make all of the side dishes and appetizers gluten-free. You don't need to necessarily rewrite your typical Labor Day food menu. The best thing you can do for yourself is to take your typical recipes and make them gluten-free by switching out the sauce, seasoning, and/or non-gluten-free grain. For ideas take a look at my list below.
If you are not hosting, you can always ask your friends to do this for you. If you don't want to ask, then make sure to bring your own but make sure you bring enough to share! I promise you your friends and family will start to see the other side after they realize that gluten-free doesn't mean you have to eat cardboard.
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