Organising a gluten-free dinner party

Coeliac disease – the basics

What is coeliac disease?

Coeliac disease is an autoimmuneA reaction to a trigger which causes the body to attack itself. disease caused by glutenA protein that is found in the cereals wheat, barley and rye. , which is found in wheat, rye and barley. Some people also need to avoid oats. It is treated with a life long gluten-freeWhen a food has less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten so it is safe for people with coeliac disease to eat. diet. Find out more about coeliac disease.

Why is it important to stick to a gluten-free diet?

If someone with coeliac disease eats gluten it can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, headaches and mouth ulcers. The symptoms that people get vary a lot in both the types of symptoms and severity.

In the long term, when someone with coeliac disease eats gluten the lining of their gut becomes damaged and so they cannot absorb nutrients in food normally. This means that they are more at risk of developing anaemia, osteoporosisA condition where your bones lose bone mass and become brittle. and a certain type of cancer. The good news is that once on a gluten-free diet the risks of developing all of these decreases.

What is the gluten-free diet?

Avoiding gluten means avoiding wheat, rye and barley, and some people need to avoid oats. The main foods which contain these grains are foods such as bread, pasta, pastry, cakes, biscuits, crackers and pizzas. Processed foods such as ready meals, sauces, stock cubes and sausages sometimes contain gluten as well.

There are plenty of gluten-free ingredients to base meals on, such as potatoes, rice and lentils, and specially made gluten-free foods such as gluten-free pasta and pizza bases. Download our gluten-free checklist to find out what is gluten-free, what isn’t and foods you need to check.

Tips for developing a gluten-free menu

1. Think about what you would like to cook. A lot of the time a few simple changes can make a dish suitable for a gluten-free diet. 

Some meals which can easily be made gluten-free are listed below. You need to check ingredients such as stock cubes and seasonings, pre-bought sauces and processed vegetable products such as frozen chips.

• Chilli con carne
• Shepherds Pie
• Curries
• Salads – without croutons
• Steak or gammon and chips – make sure you don’t coat meat with flour
• Risotto

2. Have a look in the ‘Free From’ section of your supermarket for foods such as gluten-free pasta, crackers and bread that you may want to serve with your meal. There will usually be a wide range of cakes and biscuits as well as ingredients such as gluten-free flour and bread mixes.

3. Speak to your guest about your menu and whether it is suitable or not. Your guest will feel much happier if they have been asked about anything you are not sure of.

4. If you are unsure about cooking everything yourself, why not ask all your guests to bring one or two dishes.

5. If in doubt, call our HelplineOur Helpline is staffed by dietitians and food experts. You can call them on 0845 305 2060. on 0845 305 2060. We can give you advice on gluten-free ingredients and tips to read labels.

6. When cooking your meals it is important to keep your gluten-free ingredients separate from other ingredients. Here are some quick ways to avoid contamination in the kitchen: 

• Do not toast gluten-free bread in a toaster you have used for standard bread. You can use a clean grill or toaster bags.
• Do not use a chopping board after you have used it to slice standard bread as there will be crumbs.
• Use separate serving spoons and cooking utensils for gluten-free and dishes that contain gluten.
• Cook gluten-free pasta separately and use a clean strainer or colander.

Read more about cross-contamination and how to avoid it.

7. If you are wondering which drinks to serve with your meal, there are plenty of both alcoholic and soft drinks which are gluten-free.

• Cider, wine, sherry, spirits, port and liqueurs are all suitable for people with coeliac disease.
• Beer, lagers, stouts and ales contain varying amounts of gluten and are therefore not safe for people with coeliac disease. You can buy specially made gluten-free beers and lagers and these are usually found in ‘Free From’ section of the supermarket and some health food stores.
• Fruit juice, flavoured waters, cordials and fizzy drinks are gluten-free. Barley squashes are not suitable.

8. Last of all, enjoy your dinner party and if you are worried about any of the ingredients do check with your guest. They will often know straight away about different makes of ingredients and be able to help you if you are unsure.