Gluten-free Valentine's Day

It's the most romantic day of the year and if you follow these steps you can make sure it's safe and scrumptious. 

1) Chocolate Check

Chocolate is the food of love on Valentine's Day. Pure unsweetened chocolate is gluten-free.

Yet there could be danger hiding inside this velvety heaven. Many high-end chocolate companies add barley malt to chocolate, the ingredient that gives some chocolates their creamy texture. Check the label, as always. Another ingredient we've seen recently is wheat glucose in chocolate. Strangely, we discovered some brands where wheat glucose was present in one version of the product, but not in a second version, both called the exact same thing. So double check, even if you've had the product before. 

Many chocolates also contain dairy & soy, so you'll have to avoid those if you are allergic. 

2) Crumb-free kissing

For some living with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, even a crumb ingested from kissing someone else's lips can cause an extreme reaction. Same applies if your partner has been drinking, applying or even chewing something has gluten in it. 

Even some lipsticks and make-up have gluten in them, so if you're dating a gluten intolerant partner, make sure your brand is safe before touching them. 

Ask your partner to brush their teeth before kissing you and rinsing their mouth thoroughly to make sure all traces of gluten have been absorbed or cleaned away before they kiss you.  A single crumb consumed or absorbed, could ruin your night. 

3) Resto-recommendations

Valentine's Day is the busiest night of the year for restaurants. Yet, just because they say they're gluten-free or friendly, doesn't mean all your favourite foodie spots really understand all the issues around cross-contamination. 

Before you book:

Research the restaurant before you go. Celiac Associations, bloggers and social media influencers often have lists of recommended places in your local area, so let those who've already taken the risks report back what's safe and what's not. 

Ask questions. Don't be embarrassed to ask very specific questions. "Does the sauce have flour in it?" If in doubt skip it. 

Chef's confirmation. Don't take the waiter's advice for granted. Some servers are super knowledgable about allergies, others not at all. If in any doubt get confirmation from the chef herself that each and every dish is free from not just gluten, but cross contamination. For example if pizza is your favourite passion food, is there a separate oven to bake your gluten-free pizza, far, far away from the gluten-filled type. 

Ask pointedly, "Did you just take the croutons off the salad, (a total no no!) or did the kitchn make a new one that hasn't seen a crouton?"  If you don't ask, you won't know. 

4) Drinks

There's tons written about the do's and don'ts of free from gluten drinks. And there are more and more gluten-free beers available every day. 

Yet, there is no foolproof way to measure the amount of gluten in alcohol.

To sum it all up simply, avoid any drinks made with known culprits; wheat, barley, rye & spelt. 

A general rule of thumb is if it's a distilled spirit it's okay. Think vodka, tequilla, brandy, whiskey. But, beware. There may be added flavourings that contain gluten that manufacturers don't have to list. We heard recently of a vodka flavoured with wheat mash that wasn't on the label. The person consuming it found out the hard way, being violently ill and needing two days of research to discover the mash was the cause. 

5) Stick with what you know

Don't experiment with either places to eat, products or gifts for a celiac's Valentine's celebrations. If you know it's safe, that will create a sense of ease and calm so you can enjoy your events, free from risk and worry. 

6) Gifts

If in doubt, steer clear of food. You don't want to be the boyfriend who gets his girl a Frappucino love gesture, only to find out it's got graham crumbs in it. 

On the other hand, when you can find foods guaranteed free from gluten, dairy, nuts, peanuts & soy, like ours, your loved one would be thrilled to receive foods you know are safe. 

7) Massages are gluten-free

A perfect gift for a romantic night. But do make sure any lotions, potions or oils you use are totally free from allergens. Your skin is the most absorbent organ in your body yet it's not clear if there's a direct connection between putting products containing gluten on your skin and having a reaction. In the case this did happen, it seems the lotions were ingested.  If you're really sensitive make double sure and avoid ingesting. 

Flowers are gluten-free too. Share widely. You can even nibble them, if they're the edible type. 

We hope these simple tips help you have a wonderful, enchanted evening.