Happy G-Free Halloween!

Ghosts, goblins, and gruels oh my! Gummy Bears, gobblers, and gob stoppers oh no!

Well what a surprise. Yet another holiday that revolves around food lies ahead of us.  As Halloween approaches us, the fear of the gluten fairy looming over head is enough to make you want to give up eating all together. The threat of cross contamination and one gluten slip-up that could make you suffer the effects of gluten all the way to Christmas time, can make you feel as if the safest bet is just to skip the holiday season all together.  However, I want to assure you that it doesn’t have to be this way. Halloween can be morphed into a gluten-free occasion with just a little education and preparation.

First off, Halloween is supposed to be a carefree holiday, where you can let go of all adult worries and dress up like a childhood monster as you enjoy all the sweet delights of life melting away in your mouth. Even you can join in on these simple festivities by knowing your boundaries.  For example, “Fun size” candies seem to be handed out by the dozen on Halloween. However, these little gems lack the most vital information for gluten free victims like us. A label or ingredient list is never provided on popular candies such as these. The label lies in the hand of the candy giver who threw away the bag hours ago.( Not to mention how embarrassing it would be to ask for it! ) Therefore, whether you like it or not, you must create a game plan, because this is a holiday we cannot let the gluten fairy hold us back from experiencing all life has to offer. To start, you must research g-free candies, devise a list, and memorize it like you used to do the night before your college midterm. Or go ahead and put this list in your pocket like the day of your college midterm. Whichever.  You must be knowledgeable of what you can and can’t put into your body. I have also provided a list below of popular gluten free candies that you might run into and be tempted to unwrap on this October 31st night.

                Hershey’s: Milk Chocolate Bars, Almond Joy, Baby Ruth, Mr. Goodbar, Reese’s, Milk duds, York peppermint Patties. ** Hershey’s Kisses is processed on a conveyer belt coated in flour!

                Mars: MnM’s plain and peanut, snickers, three musketeers, milkyway midnight only, dove dark chocolate, dove milk chocolate and dove peanut butter.

                Nestle: Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, Bit-o-honey, Rasisonets

                Tootsie: Dots, Tootsie pops, Tootsie rolls and fruit rolls, junior mints, sugar babies, sugar daddies, Carmel apple pops,

                Wrigley: skittles, starburst, lifesavers-all varieties.

For a complete Gluten Free candy list sponsored by Celiacs, visit here.

As shown, there are plenty of g-free options for you to eat on this spooky Halloween. Also, if you will notice, many of the items on the list are quite popular items that can be expected to be handed out in abundance while trick-or-treating or attending a themed party. Other holiday items such as Carmel apples, rice crispy treats, and carmel covered popcorn are naturally gluten free…and easy to make. So if they aren’t at your party of choice, bring them yourself! Take control of the situation and ensure that you will feel great for the whole night. With this simple list in your pocket, you can enjoy Halloween just like everyone else. Now you just have to get back to the drawing board with costume ideas. Can’t help ya there! Have a fun and safe g-free Halloween!

Blog Comments

Hello there. I’ve been reading your blog and wanted to tell you that I truly appreciate all you have to say. I too have Celiac Disease and struggle with it from day to day. I also am starting my own Gluten Free Blog called. www.gfreeforlife.blogspot.com. And find your set up and over all content to be very useful for people like us. From your product recommendation, to your nutritional analysis, to coping with foods that do not please your taste buds, you have helped me a great deal. I look forward to following your blog in the future and wanted to thank you for you help while going gluten free!

Wow this recipe looks incredible! I’ve noticed several recipes on your blog that look delicious. I plan on printing them out and giving them a try. Are they your own personal recipes or ones you have found along the way of going gluten free? I have Celiac disease and struggle to find satisfying meals quite often. I am also creating my own gluten free blog where I hope it will be as informative as yours. I just wanted to thank you for your generosity in sharing these wonderful tips!