You can be a gracious host to a coeliac guest provided that you think ahead a little. Gluten is in bread, biscuits, cakes, pasta, beer, pizza and in many manufactured foods which may contain hidden gluten such as breakfast cereals, soups, sauces, salad dressings, crisps, chocolate, sweets and ready meals.

Golden Rules

• It’s more convivial if everyone eats the same food rather than preparing a separate meal for your coeliac guest.
• It’s best to prepare simple food made from raw ingredients that are naturally gluten-free.
• Don’t use any ingredients or offer anything to your guest if you’re not certain it’s gluten-free. It’s really important to check manufactured ingredients. A quick phone call to your friend to cross check what’s in their food list will save embarrassment later on.
• If your guest is coming to stay for a while talk to them about where you can buy staple gluten-free items such as bread, breakfast cereal and pasta. They may offer to bring some food with them.

Helpful guidelines on preparation

• Wash hands before handling gluten-free foods, especially after other food preparation.
• Ensure all equipment, dishes and utensils are clean. Make sure you don’t stir or serve gluten-free food with a spoon that has come into contact with gluten without cleaning it first.
• Do not use your toaster for gluten-free bread. Use a clean grill instead.
• Make sure the breadboard is thoroughly clean before cutting gluten-free bread.
• Make sure colanders are thoroughly cleaned before draining gluten-free pasta.
• Gluten-free fried food should be cooked in clean frying oil, not oil that has been used previously used to cook breaded or battered non-gluten-free food.
• If you make a mistake, the dish is cross-contaminated and needs to be prepared again. Removing croutons from a salad, or a wafer from an ice cream does not make the dish gluten-free.

The best source of information is your guest themselves. They will be able to tell you where to buy gluten-free alternatives for things like pasta and bread and might offer to bring some of their own to save you the trouble.

Suggested menus

You can’t go wrong with a roast provided that you make the gravy with corn flour or solely from the juices of the meat. Do not buy a joint with stuffing, even if you serve the Coeliac guest with plain meat the chances of cross- contamination are high.

Other menu suggestions

• Fish with rice or potatoes and vegetables.
• Bolognese sauce made with tinned tomatoes or passata served with gluten-free pasta.
• Fruit salad – healthy and gluten-free.
• Check with the your friend for brands of ice-cream that are suitable or brands of GF cakes that can be used to make up a tasty desert dish.

Check out our recipes section for more inspiration.