As someone who needs to be very careful of what I eat since my health depends on it - I'm writing this article for both celiacs/gluten-intolerant and for bed & breakfast owners alike. I'm not sure who is more nervous the owner or the guest. For the celiacs/gluten-intolerant out there feel free to share this with your potential tourist destination. For bed and breakfast owners - here is a simple guide to help you de-mystify what gluten-free or ceilac means to you, and beyond the obvious of I can't eat wheat. I will provide a few breakfast recipes for you towards the end of this article.
Products other than food - While the celebrities are shining a spotlight on celiac or gluten-free eating there is way more to it than that. In a bed and breakfast or a hotel for that matter, celiacs are also worried about your toiletries.
Non-food Potential Problems:
1) Shampoo often will have wheat protein in it, while it is great for the hair it is taboo for celiacs. I for one break out in an instant rash. Solution: Check with your supplier and leave a note in the room that states you have checked with the supplier and this product is free of gluten. Here is an article on shampoo/soap that I use.
2) Soap can have wheat protein too but more importantly it can have oatmeal, especially if it is the nice natural stuff. Most celiacs can't have oatmeal. Be safe and just don't have any soap with gluten or oatmeal in it. Solution: Check with your supplier and leave a note in the room that states you have checked with the supplier and this product is free of gluten and oatmeal.
3) A general guide/Oddities - if something will touch your guest or be consumed by your guest then it needs to be gluten-free. If you are doing construction, please let the guest know, as believe it or not, there is wheat starch in some gpyroc. I suggest you ask your builder to check. If dust flies then you can be sure your guest will inhale the wheat filled dust.
Food and your kitchen - the most important thing to remember is 'cross contamination' - if you are using a bowl, spoon, pan etc for a wheat/gluten product it needs to be throughly cleaned prior to using it for a gluten-free guest. Better still a separate area/equipment is best, although not always feasible. The TOASTER - if you will serve toast then please invest in a gluten-free only toaster to prevent cross contamination of crumbs. The Butter - please note that using the same one for everyone again has the potential for crumbs from regular bread/toast to contaminate the gluten-free bread. Just use a separate container in your fridge for gluten-free only.
Helping to visualize - think of gluten/wheat/flour like it is rat poison. A little rat poison on anything isn't good, right, so be sure not to give any to your guest. Here is a list of unsafe celiac foods to avoid.
Good news - it can be easy to serve great gluten-free breakfast foods to your customers.....here are some breakfast ideas and recipes for you and your guests (lactose free too)! Enjoy!
Breakfast Ideas with recipes
- Breakfast cereal - Granola Like
- Pancakes gluten-free, lactose-free and egg free
- Almond-kin Cereal - easy and delicious
- Eggs cooked in a pan/pot that is throughly cleaned and not had bread put into it.
- Breakfast wraps or Toast can be made easily using the wrap or bread recipe (very easy) in my book Easy Gluten-free Lunches and Snacks: Simple Cookbook
Products other than food - While the celebrities are shining a spotlight on celiac or gluten-free eating there is way more to it than that. In a bed and breakfast or a hotel for that matter, celiacs are also worried about your toiletries.
Non-food Potential Problems:
1) Shampoo often will have wheat protein in it, while it is great for the hair it is taboo for celiacs. I for one break out in an instant rash. Solution: Check with your supplier and leave a note in the room that states you have checked with the supplier and this product is free of gluten. Here is an article on shampoo/soap that I use.
2) Soap can have wheat protein too but more importantly it can have oatmeal, especially if it is the nice natural stuff. Most celiacs can't have oatmeal. Be safe and just don't have any soap with gluten or oatmeal in it. Solution: Check with your supplier and leave a note in the room that states you have checked with the supplier and this product is free of gluten and oatmeal.
3) A general guide/Oddities - if something will touch your guest or be consumed by your guest then it needs to be gluten-free. If you are doing construction, please let the guest know, as believe it or not, there is wheat starch in some gpyroc. I suggest you ask your builder to check. If dust flies then you can be sure your guest will inhale the wheat filled dust.
Food and your kitchen - the most important thing to remember is 'cross contamination' - if you are using a bowl, spoon, pan etc for a wheat/gluten product it needs to be throughly cleaned prior to using it for a gluten-free guest. Better still a separate area/equipment is best, although not always feasible. The TOASTER - if you will serve toast then please invest in a gluten-free only toaster to prevent cross contamination of crumbs. The Butter - please note that using the same one for everyone again has the potential for crumbs from regular bread/toast to contaminate the gluten-free bread. Just use a separate container in your fridge for gluten-free only.
Helping to visualize - think of gluten/wheat/flour like it is rat poison. A little rat poison on anything isn't good, right, so be sure not to give any to your guest. Here is a list of unsafe celiac foods to avoid.
Good news - it can be easy to serve great gluten-free breakfast foods to your customers.....here are some breakfast ideas and recipes for you and your guests (lactose free too)! Enjoy!
Breakfast Ideas with recipes
- Breakfast cereal - Granola Like
- Pancakes gluten-free, lactose-free and egg free
- Almond-kin Cereal - easy and delicious
- Eggs cooked in a pan/pot that is throughly cleaned and not had bread put into it.
- Breakfast wraps or Toast can be made easily using the wrap or bread recipe (very easy) in my book Easy Gluten-free Lunches and Snacks: Simple Cookbook
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