July 4th might look a little different this year and most likely smaller but July 4th usually brings a weekend filled with BBQs and picnics – a complete nightmare for those of us with Celiac or food allergies. Here are some of my tips and tricks to get through BBQs without starving or getting sick.
Places to beware of cross contamination:
-the grill surface: many people grill the buns on the grill so the meat can be directly touching the buns or at least be touching the same utensils
-any open dishes: the buffet style is just a bit like roulette with your body. I try to talk to the host and be the first person through the line so I know the utensils are clean and no one has used the bread knife for the potato salad.
-creating a side buffet: if you are able to be first in line – take twice as much as you would eat in one sitting, cover it and put it in the fridge for later. Preparing for being hungry later is key to not compromising on touching the “probably isn’t contaminated” foods
-sauces and rubs for meat: these are just kind of death traps and I try to avoid them at other people’s house. Salt, pepper and oil goes a long way and won’t get you sick. If you have a favorite sauce, maybe even just bring a little bit of that with you.
-cutting boards: both bread and lettuce get cut on these, many times without washing in between, so if you are very sensitive, stay away from salads. I find that fruit doesn’t have the same risk factor – luckily, most people don’t want bread crumbs on their fruit 🙂
Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to eat at BBQs without having to make a big deal about your food allergies:
- Bring your own meat/veggies to grill
- If you bring them prepackaged in tinfoil the hosts can just pop them on the grill without any utensils or contamination concern
- If the hosts are supplying all of the meat and you don’t want to be the person that brings their own – I totally get that – ask them to place some plain meat on a separate plate for you. Just separating the meat out seems to make hosts more conscious of how to cook it or what it touches in my experience
- Beyond the grill, bring a couple dishes to share. I usually put 85% on the buffet table and then keep a cooler of my own with the 15% of each dish so I am eating the same food as everyone else and I am sharing but I’m not getting sick 🙂
Of course there are situations where you don’t know the hosts, you aren’t comfortable with asking for special accommodations and bringing your own seems rude – its hard to avoid these entirely. Make the right decisions for you and your body. Being guilted into eating something you know probably isn’t safe is a real thing and I spent YEARS in and out of the ER because of it. I have found the best way to avoid most of those situations is by being prepared.
Try to keep in mind from the other side of the table, they want to be a good host and someone at their BBQ not eating feels like a poor reflection on them and their BBQ, even though we may be perfectly fine with not eating! It usually works out best for everyone if you can find a safe way to join in on the fun.
I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful July 4th weekend!
