COVID-19 Friendly Holiday Planning for Celiac Patients

Anxiety surrounding COVID-19 related health precautions and dietary restrictions may be top of mind for patients and can quickly lead to a stressful holiday season for those on a gluten-free diet. Use these tips to offer patients guidance and support as they navigate the complexities of socializing and celebrating this holiday season.

Plan for the Occasion

Ask patients about their travel and social plans for this holiday season. Talk through the details of why they made these plans and how they are feeling about the upcoming weeks. The more you know about the kinds of social situations patients may find themselves in, the better you can develop a personalized plan that promotes dietary adherence and quality of life.

Some questions to ask:

• Will you be travelling this holiday season? If so, what mode of transit will you use?
• Are you hosting friends and family? If so, for how long?
• Alternatively, are you planning to stay at home and enjoy a quiet holiday to yourself? If so, will any immediate family, like a spouse or child be with you?

A balanced, nutritious gluten-free diet will emphasize whole grains, fruits and vegetables and lean protein, while minimizing convenient, ready-made foods.  Encourage patients to start planning snacks and recipes well in advance. Share tools and resources, like our 7-day gluten-free meal plan, which includes many delicious, gluten-free recipes ideal for the holiday season. For those patients who are not seeking a full 7-day meal plan, emphasize how many of these snacks and dishes can be made ahead and packed to go.

For example, if a patient is driving (instead of flying), encourage patients to plan road-trip friendly snacks or identify a few restaurants along their route that will have gluten-free menu items. If they normally cook snacks and meals in a kitchen filled with friends and family, discuss preparing food ahead of time or agreeing on a specific time when they can have full access to the kitchen. Developing a plan with family will not only help them avoid spending time in a crowded, enclosed space, but it will also ease some of the stress surrounding cross contact.

Encourage patients to stock up on pantry staples and gluten-free foods. Unfortunately, panic buying has led many groceries to be out of stock of gluten-free foods, which has exacerbated the stress and uncertainty of these already challenging times. Review label reading with patients and work with them to develop gluten-free grocery lists and identify back-up options if their favorite items are out of stock. Let them know that, as always, they can order Dr. Schar gluten-free products online for delivery.

Plan a Celebratory Mealtime

This year, when gathering with friends and family from outside of our immediate household, we all need to be concerned about COVID-19 exposure. For many, that may mean the need to eat in dining separately, outside, or on a ventilated porch. Encourage patients to start a conversation with friends and family about who will eat where and what plans need to be made to foster a safer environment for everyone.

Discuss more than just the logistics of dining and socializing. Speak with patients about how they anticipate feeling when they sit down at a separate table from family or cannot spend time lingering in the kitchen during preparations. Suggest scheduling a family walk outside so they can still enjoy quality social time. Feelings of isolation, anxiety, and confusion are to be expected and are completely normal during these unprecedented times. Despite planning and research, surprises will pop up and last-minute changes may need to be made.

Remember, the emotional support and affirmation you provide are vital to patient success and can be just as important as nutritional information in ensuring dietary compliance. Keep a positive outlook and encourage patients to recognize the uniqueness of these times. While celebrations will look different this year, we can help patients keep them healthy, safe, and joy-filled.