Celiac-Friendly Fall Activities
As a person with celiac disease, finding ways to enjoy the last few months of the year can sometimes feel impossible. “Am I able to eat the same seasonal treats as everyone else?” “Are there activities I can do with my non-celiac friends or partner where I won’t feel like I’m missing out on all the fun?” “Is it possible for my celiac child to have a relatively normal experience during the holidays?” We want you to know that the answer is YES.
Below is a list of some autumnal activities you can enjoy on your own or with your loved ones that don’t involve gluten! Activities are grouped by whether they take place outdoors or indoors to account for the possibility of gloomy fall weather.
Have children at home, or a gluten-free child? The majority of these suggestions are kid- and/or teen-friendly!
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Bake gluten-free versions of your favorite fall treats, like pumpkin bread or apple pie (to adapt non-gluten-free recipes, substitute the flour with King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour)
Make gluten-free butternut squash soup, chili, or a hearty stew
Go axe-throwing
Visit a museum
Sit by the fireplace and read a book while sipping on a hot beverage
Do fall crafts
Make your own gluten-free caramel apples
Go to a winery
Make a pinecone bird feeder
Indulge in store-bought gluten-free seasonal treats like cider, apple cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spiced glazed donuts
If you’re lucky enough to live close to The Happy Mixer Gluten Free Bakery, grab some of their seasonal apple cider iced donuts or pumpkin pound cake with cream cheese frosting
Take a scenic train ride to see the fall colors
Knit a scarf, hat, or mittens
Crochet mini pumpkins
Decorate your house with Halloween or fall decorations
Host a game night
Throw a costume party and serve only gluten-free snacks and beverages to avoid cross-contact (if you stick to snack foods and veggie trays, most people won’t even notice! 😉)
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Go on a hayride
Host or attend a bonfire
Want to make s’mores? Check out our recipe here to see which brands offer gluten free graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate
Go apple picking
Visit a pumpkin patch
Carve a Jack-o-lantern
Go on a scenic hike to see the changing leaves
Go camping
Visit a haunted house or take a haunted hayride
Make your way through a corn maze
Attend a Halloween parade
Go trick-or-treating (don’t miss our guide to gluten free Halloween candy)
Go to a fall festival
Have a picnic in a scenic spot
Take a bike ride through your favorite park
Send your children on a nature scavenger hunt; have them collect acorns, pine cones, and fall-colored leaves to decorate your table or mantle
Take a weekend road trip to a cabin in the mountains
Go on a ghost tour
Visit a farmer’s market
Go stargazing
Have a fall photoshoot
Go horseback riding
Send your kids on leaf hunt; have them collect different color leaves and separate them into brown paper bags labeled with each color
Build a scarecrow
Play in the leaves
Go kayaking or canoeing