Your First Holidays with Celiac

The holidays revolve around food. Always have. And now you can’t eat most of it.

Your first holiday season with celiac disease is genuinely hard. The traditions you’ve known your whole life are suddenly obstacles. Here’s how to get through it.

The Emotional Weight

Let’s name it first: this is grief.

Grandma’s stuffing. Mom’s pie. The Christmas cookies you decorated every year. The bread at Easter dinner. These aren’t just foods, they’re memories, connections, traditions.

Losing access to them feels like losing part of your family story.

You’re allowed to grieve. This is real loss. Feeling sad, angry, or resentful during holidays is normal.

Practical Planning

Weeks Before

Talk to the host. Whoever is hosting needs to know:

• What you can and can’t eat
• What cross-contamination means
• Whether they can accommodate you or if you should bring your own food

Decide on your approach:

• Option A: Host adapts the meal (possible if they’re willing and informed)
• Option B: You bring your own versions of key dishes
• Option C: You bring an entire separate meal
• Option D: You host (maximum control)

Plan your dishes. What will you actually eat? Work it out before you arrive.

The Week Of

Prep your food. Make your dishes ahead of time. GF stuffing, GF gravy, GF pie, whatever you need.

Pack safely. Transport your food in sealed containers. Keep it separate from gluten foods.

Eat before you go. If you’re uncertain about what will be available, eat something substantial beforehand. You won’t starve if the meal doesn’t work out.

Day Of

Bring your own serving utensils. Don’t let your dishes get cross-contaminated by shared utensils.

Serve yourself first (or have your portion set aside before everyone serves).

Scope out the buffet. If it’s a buffet-style meal, assess everything before taking any food. Things get contaminated quickly when everyone serves themselves.

Specific Holiday Challenges

Thanksgiving

Turkey: Usually safe if not stuffed with bread stuffing or basted with something containing gluten. Ask how it was prepared.

Stuffing: Traditional stuffing is bread-based. Bring your own GF version.

Gravy: Often thickened with flour. Bring your own.

Sides: Many are naturally GF (mashed potatoes, vegetables). Watch for cream soups with flour, cracker toppings, etc.

Pies: Crust is the issue. Bring a GF pie or crustless dessert.

Christmas

Ham/roast: Usually safe. Check glazes.

Sides: Similar to Thanksgiving, assess each one.

Cookies and treats: These are usually a no. Bring your own GF cookies to decorate or enjoy.

Baking traditions: If cookie baking is your family tradition, consider baking GF cookies separately (clean kitchen, dedicated equipment).

Easter

Ham: Usually fine. Check glaze.

Bread/rolls: Bring your own GF option.

Desserts: Make a GF version of whatever’s traditional.

Candy: Check labels, some Easter candy contains gluten (malt, wheat).

Hanukkah

Latkes: Typically made with flour. Make a GF batch.

Sufganiyot (donuts): Wheat-based. GF versions exist but require dedicated equipment.

Other dishes: Assess individually.

Passover

Good news: Many Passover traditions align with GF eating (no leavened bread).

Watch for: Matzo contains wheat unless specifically GF matzo (which exists). Some Passover products use wheat matzo meal.

Family Dynamics

When They Try to Accommodate

If family members want to help:

• Give them specific guidance (not just “no gluten”)
• Share recipes
• Offer to supervise or help cook
• Be gracious when they try, even if it’s not perfect

When They Don’t Understand

If family members don’t take it seriously:

• Protect yourself (bring your own food regardless of what they promise)
• Don’t eat things you’re unsure about, no matter the pressure
• Set boundaries calmly: “I can’t eat that. I’ll have what I brought.”

When It Gets Tense

If family is offended by your dietary needs:

• This is their problem, not yours
• Stay calm and matter-of-fact
• Don’t over-explain or justify
• Focus on the gathering, not the food conflict

Finding New Traditions

Some old traditions won’t translate to GF eating. But new ones can emerge:

GF baking day: Make GF versions of family favorites. Maybe they become the new tradition.

Non-food traditions: Focus on activities that don’t center on food, games, movies, walks.

Your signature dish: Bring something delicious that you make every year. It becomes your contribution.

Hosting: When you host, you control everything. This can be easier than navigating someone else’s kitchen.

Self-Care During Holidays

Eat Enough

Holiday gatherings can last hours. If you’re limited in what you can eat, make sure you’ve eaten enough. Bring snacks.

Don’t Deprive Yourself

Whatever you CAN eat, eat well. This isn’t a time for restriction beyond what’s necessary. GF doesn’t mean joyless.

Process the Feelings

Journal, talk to someone, pray. The emotional weight needs somewhere to go.

Give Yourself Grace

This is hard. You’re not going to do it perfectly. Be kind to yourself.

A Prayer for Holiday Meals

Lord, this table that used to feel like home feels complicated now.

I miss what I’ve lost. I’m tired of explaining. I’m sad about foods I’ll never taste again.

Help me find You here anyway. Help me focus on the people, not just the food. Help me be grateful for what I can eat, not just resentful of what I can’t.

And next year, let this feel a little easier.

Amen.

Next Year

Your first holiday is the hardest. After that:

• You know what to expect
• You have GF recipes you’ve tested
• Family understands better
• You’ve established your approach

It does get easier. Not perfect. But easier.

Hold on through this first one.