Birthday Cake

• With gluten-free flours, you can create a birthday cake as good as any cake made from wheat flour. Substitute a blend of tapioca and rice flours for a gluten-free cake mix that is particularly suited to baking.
  
  If you don't want to bake from scratch, gluten-free cake mixes are available in many health food stores and from online retailers. A basic ice cream cake can be made gluten-free by eliminating the "crunchies" in the middle. Read the ingredients carefully to double check that the ice cream is gluten-free, too.
  
  

Gluten-Free Snacks

• Popcorn is gluten-free, as are some brands of potato and corn chips. Gluten-free pretzels can be found in the natural food aisle of your supermarket or local health food store. Fresh cut carrots, celery, broccoli and peppers make a snack tray that is naturally gluten-free. Fruit is also gluten-free. Pair the snack tray with a gluten-free dip available in the dairy aisle. Sour cream is gluten-free, but be sure to check the label to avoid other "hidden" sources of gluten. Homemade salsa containing only tomatoes, peppers, onions and cilantro is gluten-free.
  
  

At Restaurants

• Eating out can be risky, but many restaurants now offer non-gluten menus for people who need to follow the gluten-free diet. If the menu doesn't have a gluten-free section, most restaurants are happy to make an effort to provide you with non- gluten ingredients in your meal. Ask your server to have the chef prepare your meal in a clean pan to guard against cross-contamination.
  
  

Drinks

• Coffee, tea, and most soda is gluten-free, but it is always best to check with the manufacturer to be sure. Home-made lemonade and iced tea are naturally gluten-free. If you're serving alcohol, most wine does not contain gluten, although wine coolers usually do. Most beer contains gluten, but there are a few non-gluten beers on the market. Rum is made from sugar cane and is gluten-free.