It is NOT easy to be gluten free at work. Here are some tips to help make being gluten free easier for you at work!
Clean
Make sure you have paper towels or rags and cleaner for the breakroom. This is helpful to be able to wipe down the areas that may have come into contact with gluten. This works really well for areas like microwaves, counters, and refrigerators.
Store
Storing your items separate from others is important to for reducing cross contamination. Some people I know opt to spend some of their funds on a mini fridge for their office. If that's not an option, making sure you store your meals separate from everyone else's is important to ensuring your food isn't contaminated accidently.
Label
Once you have your food stored away from everyone else's in the fridge or freezer, also make sure that you label it as gluten free. It's always helpful to have a reminder when I go to toss my food in that I can store my food next to someone else who is gluten free, or to move someone else's lunch to another side of the fridge if they were in a hurry and tossed their meal in.
From time to time my boss will bring in lunch for us. Or a coworker might bring in a casserole they made at home. When that casserole isn't labeled, I have a hard time eating it if I can't find a way to know what's in it. It's always nice when they leave a note or label food being brought in.
Let People Know
The one thing that I HATE to do is making people feel that they have to accommodate me. It's hard enough for me to find stuff to eat I hate making other people try to find me food.
Communicating to your boss and coworkers that you are gluten free is important! It can be really hard to communicate that I know, but it can make things easier for you too! A lot of times I am so worried about inconvienencing someone or feeling guilty that someone might have to find me food, but many people don't even sweat it! They would rather know!
Other Tips...
What are some of the ways that you make being gluten free easier at work? Some of the ways that have helped are:
- Having my boss or coworkers tell me where they are going to order from in advance so I can look at the menu and get something I can eat or pass and find something else.
- Keeping the fridge and my drawers at work stocked with some snacks and frozen meals so I always have something on hand. That way if I forget my lunch or my coworkers and boss order out and I forget lunch I have something on hand.
- I like when my boss or coworkers order out and If I can't have anything from where they order from I can run and grab something if I have time. Sometimes they offer to grab me something if they are picking up an order, and others I'm allowed the time to go and get food without time penalty.
What other tips do you have??
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