Food,RelationshipsMAR 1, 2023

The Internet Backs Up This Woman For Refusing To Cook An Additional Gluten-Free Meal For A Family Friend After She Causes A Scene

Only professional chefs cook for large groups every day, and they have staff to help. So whenever we regular folk have to feed a long table of guests, something will probably go wrong.

In the case of Reddit user Ok-Improvement3313, it was the menu. After they spent a whole day preparing food for a family dinner, their uncle-in-law's friend who was also there demanded a gluten-free option.

But there was none and the host was too swamped to make one, thus igniting a heated conflict.

Gluten is a family of proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and spelt. The name comes from the Latin word for glue and it gives flour a sticky consistency when mixed with water.

This glue-like property allows gluten to create a sticky network that helps bread to rise when baked. It also gives it a chewy and satisfying texture.

And there can be several reasons why the lady at the dinner needs to avoid it. Some people have uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms after eating foods with gluten. Especially those diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the body mistakenly attacks itself after exposure to gluten. (Celiac disease affects at least 1% of the population in the Western world and can damage the intestines.)

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is believed to affect 0.6%–13% of people. If you have NCGS, you test negative for celiac disease or a wheat allergy but feel uncomfortable after eating gluten nonetheless.

Symptoms of NCGS are similar to those of celiac disease and include:

stomach pain;
bloating;
changes in bowel movements;
tiredness;
skin rashes.

Then there are wheat allergies, which provoke a reaction to one or more wheat proteins.

It can cause symptoms such as:

hives;
headache;
difficulty breathing;
nasal congestion;
swelling or irritation of the mouth or throat.

(In severe cases, it can also cause anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.)

Wheat allergies are most common in children, but approximately 65% of them outgrow it by the time they're 12 years old.

But the way she went about it is hard to justify

Imager credits: Becca Tapert (not the actual photo)

"It is common for families to have one family member, especially a child, with either an allergy, intolerance, or diet restriction," said Nicole Silber, RD, a registered dietitian and creator of Tiny Tasters. "I always recommend [streamlining] meals as much as possible so that parents or caregivers don't have to make multiple meals. Ideally, that is finding a dinner that would work with all of the restrictions."

However, when you need to limit staples from your meals like wheat, dairy, eggs, or even tree nuts or fish, this requires you to change the way you think about cooking and grocery shopping; you will have to buy some specialty foods and it will take time to adjust.

Plus, when there's someone with food allergies or other health concerns, you need to be aware of the risk of cross-contamination. The Food Allergy Research and Education organization recommends that you have separate cookware—like pots, pans, cutting boards, knives, and other utensils—for preparing food without that allergen. If that's not possible, you can wash everything in hot, soapy water before using them again, but all of this for your uncle-in-law's friend who arrived unannounced and then expected you to immediately adapt to their unordinary diet? I don't know.