Feeding a Celiac friend--ideas for meals and the like
I'm going on an "alternative spring break" with a group from my college this year, and we're going to D.C. to feed the hungry.
There are two vegans on this trip (myself and a friend) and a girl who has celiac disease.
We have to plan a week's worth of meals and snacks for a group of 10, and I'm assuming we'll have access to a stove or something in order to feed everyone.
Basically, I know I need to make curry, beans and rice, and soup. but that's all I've come up with. Any ideas? I'd like to make sure that we vegans and the girl with Celiac don't get left out and get stuck eating nothing but rice.
Also--anything I should know in order to make sure that there's no cross contamination?
I'm new to the idea of feeding a Celiac and I would hate for her to get sick on the trip. I've done a bit of reading on Celiac.com, but I still have no idea what to feed her.
My grandma has celiac, but she also eats meat. Lets see, you'll want it to be fairly cheap, right, like no gf noodles and stuff?
How about italian w/ risotto or polenta, greens and beans
mexican-corn tortillas are gf and really cheap
chili
stirfry
pad thai w/ rice noodles(also pretty inexpensive)
mashed potatoes, collards, tofu or tempeh
tofu stuff! Baked, scrambled, etc.
keep in mind that not all soy sauce is gf if you use it as a marinade or whatever, but they have wheat free kinds.
Good luck, it's nice that you're being so considerate.
Chana Masala (and Indian chickpea-curry dish) is naturally GF, served over rice. There are a few recipes for it on here. When cooking for her you have to be EXTREMELY careful about cross contamination. That means only using stainless steel pans (NO non-stick, it is pourous and cannot be cleaned well enough), tinfoil on any baking sheets, parchment paper on your cutting boards. Wash the counters well before you start.
I have Celiac disease and eat a mostly vegan diet so I'm full of meal ideas if you want more..travelling is hard. I can't eat in restaurants for the most part because they don't understand the concept of cross-contamination, and I end up very sick. Your friend may have to stick to salads and potatoes and rice for the trip. She'll mostly be able to feel herself I'm sure, but it's nice of you to think of her. She may even prefer if you didn't though...unless you can assure her that you took cross contamination into consideration. I wont eat anything most people make me, and I'm sorry if it offends them but it's not worth the health risks.
@nmpixie--those are some great ideas! Thank you so much, I'll make sure to show this list to the higher ups. :)
@RideAllWays--Thanks for the tip for the non-stick pan, I hadn't thought of that. And also thank you for reiterating that contamination is a HUGE concern--I know we're making communal meals for all of us, and I've mentioned to the other people who will be making the food that this is a concern, and they kind of blew me off.
I think I'll probably talk to the team about buying a couple cans of gluten-free soup and other stuff that's prepackaged for her to have if she is not comfortable with the communal meal(s).
Thank you both so much for your ideas, this really helps!
She may even prefer if you didn't though...unless you can assure her that you took cross contamination into consideration. I wont eat anything most people make me, and I'm sorry if it offends them but it's not worth the health risks.
That is what I was thinking - she may have her own plans for food, and she might not feel comfortable eating what you make for her. Just talk to her and see what she would like to do, before you spend a lot of time planning meals.