All Things Birthday!

March is birthday month in our family, within 13 days both my daughters and I have birthdays. I hope you know that birthdays with Celiac's disease are just as fun to celebrate, even if they take a few more precautions. Let's chat how we handle both birthdays in our own house and birthday parties my Silly Yak gets invited to.

In house we keep things simple, each girl gets to choose where they want to go for a birthday meal out. The Silly Yak has a few options, the past few years she's consistently chosen 110 Grill and we all go and enjoy a meal together as a family. For my gluten eating daughter, I want nothing more than for her to choose exactly what she wants. Throughout the year, her dining out options are limited due to her mom and sister's celiacs, she doesn't need to be limited on her birthday too. This year, she's choosing a meal at Olive Garden and my dear happy to eat all the gluten hubby will take her out for dinner, while the Silly Yak and I meander at the nearby mall or grab a coffee and treat (if safe) at a coffee shop.

It's very important that both girls feel celebrated, and in years past the "but she won't be able to eat here" comments did creep in, and I appreciate the care for the needs of a sister, but she is considerate of those needs 364 days a year; it's not selfish to want a special gluten meal on your birthday even if your gluten free sister can't have it.

We also bake a cake of the birthday girl's choosing, this is where it's gluten free no matter who the birthday is for, because we're all eating cake and it's easier and much safer to just cook a gluten free one in my kitchen! Our go-to cake is a box mix from King Arthur - they have a few options and they're so delicious even gluten eaters don't notice that the cake is gluten free!

You can find GF options when looking for cake decorating supplies, as with everything read each label every time. Thrive Market will have more in the way of natural food colorings and even products that accommodate other allergens if needed too, but here is what you should be able to find at the local grocery for gluten free:

King Arthur gluten free cake mixes

Pillsbury frostings will be marked gluten free.

Betty Crocker has some labeled GF sprinkles.

Yum Earth has allergy safe and even dye free candys if that's your need to make decorating fun and safe too!

When going to a birthday party as a Celiac Kid:

Part of raising a kid with Celiac's Disease is helping them to be a part of normal life events while not getting down about being excluded because of their needs. A celiac kiddo can totally go to a friend's birthday party and stay safe too! It just takes communication and preparing the child to know what to expect.

1. Never assume someone else will meet your child's needs. Remember, not everyone will understand Celiac's Disease and that's ok. Expecting someone to know will only set you and others up for failure.

2. Kindly explain your child's needs and ask the host what will be served so you can send a gluten free equivalent to the party for your child.

3. If a party is not hosted at a house, you may need to call the venue and explain your child's dietary needs/need to bring their own food.

Our favorite birthday party going foods to keep on hand are frozen GF cupcakes (Katz and Goodman are great brands) and a frozen pizza (Freschetta is where it's at for GF frozen pizza). I bake the pizza, slice it up at home and send my daughter to the party along with a cupcake. It's so easy, and she still feels included while staying safe!

*Side note: If you are the one hosting someone who has an allergy or autoimmune disease, asking about their needs is always the most caring thing you can do. Many, lovingly try to cook a safe food, but in the case of Celiac's Disease it becomes unsafe because the food was cooked likely on contaminated pans, cut with a knife that cut bread and was tossed back in the drawer without getting washed, and the list of risks goes on. Something as seemingly little as that is enough to make a happy party going kid sick for weeks.

Here's a sweet example of a recent birthday party my Silly Yak attended:

A friend of my daughter's had an ice cream sundae bar at her birthday party; the mother asked what ice cream and toppings were safe, she bought those and then let the Silly Yak go through the line first so she could build a perfectly safe sundae and not risk any cross contact from other toppings. That act was the sweetest gesture that came from a soon to turn 13-year-old friend and her caring mom who took the effort to make it happen.

As the mom of the celiac kid, communication matters so much in keeping a celiac kid safe at birthday parties while also enjoying the moment too.