5 Common Tailgating Foods that Pose a Threat to Celiac Sufferers

Getting ready for the big game this weekend? Read this first!

The Super Bowl is happening about 10 miles from my house tomorrow at MetLife Stadium, and we’re having a big party here at the house.

Tailgates and football parties are as much about the food as they are about the big game, and we’ve added 5 tailgate worthy recipes to this week’s gluten free meal plan (check them out here).  Maybe you’ve been recently “glutened” by your friend’s famous (and supposedly gluten free).  And you can just remember the feeling of asking everyone what they used to make their tailgate dish.  You’re nervous about the next tailgate party because you don’t want to get sick – again.

After you read this article, you’ll be ready to spot those pesky hidden glutens.

If you have Celiac Disease or live a gluten free lifestyle, here are five of the most common tailgating foods that can contain hidden gluten ingredients:

1. Chicken Skewers

In a parking lot filled with sandwich bread, burger buns and pigs-in-a-blanket, a skewer of chicken breast can be a welcome sight.  It is still necessary to ask the chef a few questions to make sure the chicken is gluten free.  Were any marinades used to prepare the chicken? How about the cooking surface – was it celiac-safe?  Was there any cross contact with utensils.

2. Chili

Another concern with Chili –especially if it is in an open pot – is the chance that a fellow tailgater dipped something inside like a piece of bread just to get a quick taste.

3. Meatballs

The major concern with meatballs is the binding agent used.  Most people use breadcrumbs to keep the ingredients bound.  Check with the preparer to be safe. If you’re looking for a substitute, Betty Crocker Potato Buds are a gluten free alternative to breadcrumbs.

Potato Skins

4. Potato Salad

Potatoes, celery, mayonnaise and mustard.  These ingredients seem harmless at first, but one in particular can cause havoc to a person with Celiac Disease.   If prepared in a gluten-filled house, it’s likely that there are breadcrumbs inside the jar of mayonnaise.   Just this small trace of gluten is enough to create an autoimmune reaction.

5. Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Many store bought spinach and artichoke dips contain wheat as a thickening agent.  It also helps to bind the dip together, so it doesn’t separate.

Ask what ingredients were used and if you can read the label.  If you’re not sure if something was homemade or store bought, ask the person who brought the dish in private.

Just remember these types of food that can be dangerous to Celiacs at a party, and you’ll be able to enjoy yourself at the next tailgate without getting sick.

Photo Credit: amandaparkerandfamily.blogspot.com