Non-Gluten Birthday Ideas

Having a non-gluten birthday can be easy if you pay attention to a few basic details. Gluten is a protein found in wheat rye, barley and sometimes oats. Only oats certified gluten-free are safe. People with Celiac disease must follow a gluten-free diet. For a non-gluten birthday, look for foods made from other flours such as tapioca, potato, corn, or rice. Check the label on everything you purchase to be sure your birthday will be gluten-free. Does this Spark an idea?

Birthday Cake

With gluten-free flours, you can create a birthday cake as good as any cake made from wheat flour. Substitute a blend of tapioca and rice flours for a gluten-free cake mix that is particularly suited to baking.

If you don't want to bake from scratch, gluten-free cake mixes are available in many health food stores and from online retailers. A basic ice cream cake can be made gluten-free by eliminating the "crunchies" in the middle. Read the ingredients carefully to double check that the ice cream is gluten-free, too.

Gluten-Free Snacks

Popcorn is gluten-free, as are some brands of potato and corn chips. Gluten-free pretzels can be found in the natural food aisle of your supermarket or local health food store. Fresh cut carrots, celery, broccoli and peppers make a snack tray that is naturally gluten-free. Fruit is also gluten-free. Pair the snack tray with a gluten-free dip available in the dairy aisle. Sour cream is gluten-free, but be sure to check the label to avoid other "hidden" sources of gluten. Homemade salsa containing only tomatoes, peppers, onions and cilantro is gluten-free.

At Restaurants

Eating out can be risky, but many restaurants now offer non-gluten menus for people who need to follow the gluten-free diet. If the menu doesn't have a gluten-free section, most restaurants are happy to make an effort to provide you with non- gluten ingredients in your meal. Ask your server to have the chef prepare your meal in a clean pan to guard against cross-contamination.

Drinks

Coffee, tea, and most soda is gluten-free, but it is always best to check with the manufacturer to be sure. Home-made lemonade and iced tea are naturally gluten-free. If you're serving alcohol, most wine does not contain gluten, although wine coolers usually do. Most beer contains gluten, but there are a few non-gluten beers on the market. Rum is made from sugar cane and is gluten-free.