Written by Urban Tastebud contributing author, Rachel Schrage.
Let’s face it, the workplace can be a stressful place without adding the additional, multifaceted pressures that Celiac Disease adds to any situation.
At the workplace you will be faced with social situations where food prepared outside of your direct control is presented, whether it be baked goods brought in by a coworker, food catered at an in office event, happy hours, or dinners out with colleagues.
As a person with Celiac Disease, I have found that my disease can be very isolating.
Unfortunately, we suffer from a disease that is not well understood in society and our symptoms are not often visible to those around us (or we try not to make them visible to those around us).
I have had countless work events where I am unable to eat or I have been delegated to a bare salad.
Baked Goods
I am very sensitive to cross contamination.
While colleagues have consistently tried to accommodate my condition, if it’s homemade, it is impossible to guarantee that the food was prepared within the sterile environment I need.
I encourage people to bring in store bought items for me if they are making something and have announced ahead of time.
I also try to pull people aside and explain my condition as much as possible, describing how wheat flour gets in the air and can rest in the gluten free mix they have prepared rendering the food contaminated.
It doesn’t always go well. In dire circumstances, I will take one and pretend to eat it – shoving it somewhere when no one is looking. If they expect you to try it in front of them – I have pretended I have a call and/or run to the bathroom to get myself away from the situation.
In Office Events
For any in office events, I have sent my local human resources office a full brochure on Celiac Disease, what I can and cannot have, as well as a list of local restaurants that offer gluten free options.
These are restaurants that I have vetted and know that I can eat there with minimal risk.
I have also provided them with what they need to say when they place my order, “please note that one member of our party has Celiac Disease and will need {insert menu item} prepared separately from the rest of the order. Please label this item gluten free.”
While this does not always work out in my favor, it has saved me from being lunch less at events.
It doesn’t hurt to also reach out to the employee responsible for planning the event to make sure they are aware and to get the restaurant name.
Happy Hours
These are the bane of my existence. My company loves happy hours and while I could often use a nice glass of wine after work, these events propose the most problems for a person with Celiac Disease.
Happy hours offer appetizers which I have found to be the most limiting of the food genres other than dessert.
My displeasure with happy hour is so great that one of my teams actually made me a t-shirt. The front read, “Another Happy Hour…” and the back read “Is There Gluten Free?”
For all of my teams, I have provided a list of venues that offer gluten free food options at happy hour. In addition, I have learned to keep freezer items at the office which I can quickly heat up prior to attending an event.
I also always keep gluten free protein bars and other items in my purse for emergencies. It’s not the best, but it alleviates the pressure of being unprepared or having an uncoated stomach prior to drinking.
Leave a Comment