<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Dear Listmembers, There were two posts today regarding people not understanding the diet and someone getting sick at a neighbor's party. Even if you tell your friends and family what you can and cannot eat, you have no idea how the food was prepared and whether or not they used GF brands of ingredients to prepare them. I always take my own goodies with me and just explain that I have a condition that causes multiple food allergies. When you mention intestinal, it seems to "gross people out". Most people, I have found, aren't interested in hearing and learning about the disease, including my neighbor, a pharmacist who had never heard of it and didn't even ask me what it is when I mentioned I had it! I trust no one with my diet, except myself, my mother, and a few companies that I order from. Another thing that you can do is get some terrific GF brownie mixes, yes, horrendously expensive, and bring a lot along, so you can share and not feel so conspicuous, if it bothers you, and that gives you something to eat, too. Happy Holidays! Karen from Central NY, USA