Game Day Snacks for the Gluten Free Tailgater

Football season is finally here, which means it is time for you to start finding the perfect game day snacks for the gluten free tailgater in your life. There is something special about the joy of pregame festivities, including the spirited gathering of fans and delicious tailgate snacks.

Just because you are gluten free due to celiac disease or gluten intolerance does not mean you have to miss out on all the food-based fun. Instead, see this as an opportunity to bring some of your favorite gluten free foods to the next tailgating event and show your friends just how yummy they can be.

Gluten Free Tailgate Prep Is a Must

Believe it or not, the key to having a safe gluten free spread for your next tailgate is all in the planning that you need to take care of before you ever get to the parking lot. Keep in mind that these are more than just recommended steps, they are critical for your gluten free guests’ safety.

To help cut down on confusion, prepare and package gluten free food in designated containers that are color coded and clearly marked as gluten free.  Be sure to package these foods before working with any gluten filled food to avoid cross contamination.

If you plan to grill at your next tailgate, be sure to bring any spices or flavorings that you want to use in their original containers. It allows guests to check ingredient labels themselves before you add anything to the food. This can give gluten free guests more confidence that what they are consuming is indeed safe for them to eat.

It may be a good idea to bring a box of plastic gloves so that servers can wear them while serving food. This is good hygiene for handling food, but the practice can also help cut down on gluten cross contamination when used properly. Gloves should be changed after they have touched gluten filled food and before they touch gluten free food.

As a guest at a tailgate party, bring your dish clearly labeled as gluten free with its own dedicated and labeled serving utensils. It may also be helpful to be strategic on where you place your serving dish on the tailgate buffet table.

Taking time to follow these simple steps can prevent someone from getting accidentally glutened at your next tailgate party.  Afterall, no one wants to be remembered for throwing the tailgate party that made their guests sick.

Best Game Day Snacks for the Gluten Free Tailgater

Although it can be fun to bring your favorite dips and spreads to a tailgate party, keep in mind that once the spoon filled with spread or dip touches the paper plate, it may also come into contact with gluten. At that point, the spread has become contaminated and is no longer gluten free.

It is for this reason that finger foods and whole ready-made foods can be the best options for a tailgate party.  Some great gluten free game day snacks that fall into these categories include:

• Popcorn cups
• Whole dill pickles
• Vegetable platter with mini hummus cups for dipping
• Cheese cubes and gluten free crackers
• Deviled eggs
• Cream cheese stuffed olives
• Baked potato skins
• Diced fruit in cups or on skewers
• Gluten free pretzels with mini mustard cups for dipping
• Gluten free tortilla chips with mini salsa or queso cups for dipping
• Bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers
• Caprese salad
• Greek salad in cups
• Gluten free English muffin pizzas
• Lunchmeat roll ups
• Hot dogs with gluten free hot dog buns
• Chili in bowls topped with cheese and onions
• Sausage on a stick
• Beef jerky
• Chicken wings
• Trail mix with gluten free ingredients
• Gluten free cupcakes or brownie bites
• GF chocolate chip cookies
• Gluten free snickerdoodle cookies
• GF pumpkin bread slices
• Gluten free cheesecake bites
• GF lemon pound cake slices

For each of the above items, it is essential to verify that they are made gluten free. This means that the labels must indicate all ingredients are gluten free AND that you do not cross contaminate any food as you assemble it.

Cheers to Gluten Free Drinks

No tailgate menu is complete without a variety of delicious drinks to help keep you keep your cool on game day. One of the most widely enjoyed beverages on game day is beer. However, most beer is not inherently gluten free.

To further complicate the matter, some beer labels say it is gluten free when in reality it has undergone a process designed to remove the gluten. Unfortunately, it may not be considered truly gluten free since it once contained gluten. The best way to handle this situation can be to ask your gluten free guests what their beer of choice is and make sure to have a couple bottles or cans of that brand on hand.

Another smart option is to keep bottled water and a variety of canned sodas on ice as they are generally crowd pleasers.

If you are serving drinks in plastic cups, bring a permanent marker to write people’s names on their cups. This keeps guests from picking up the wrong cup and accidentally glutening themselves.

A Word About Your Tailgate Set Up

When it comes to setting up your tailgate table, there are a few steps you can take to set gluten free foods further apart from foods that are gluten filled.

Keep gluten free foods on either a separate table or a designated section of the table. It may also be helpful to put out a sign next to those dishes to let guests know which dishes are gluten-free.

Choosing to let guests use paper plates as well as disposable silverware and cups can help cut down on possible cross contamination. Fortunately, it also makes for a fast and easy clean up so you get to the game before kickoff.

Having amazing game day snacks for the gluten free tailgater can make the big game safer and more fun for everyone. Plus, a win at the tailgate party, means you technically still win even if your team loses!

 

FAQs

Q: Can I still tailgate even if I am gluten free?

A: Yes, you can still tailgate. It simply requires advanced planning and detailed preparation to ensure your safety.

 

Q: What are some gluten free items I can take to a tailgate party?

A: Some of the most popular gluten free items at a tailgate are veggie trays, fruit trays, cubed cheese, hot dogs with gluten free buns, GF cookies, etcetera.

 

Q: Is beer gluten free?

A: Most beer is not inherently gluten free, so you may need to purchase gluten free beer for your guests, as well as a variety of other drinks they can choose from.