Free printable
The Celiac Restaurant Card
One page you can hand to a server, a chef, or a host — or pull up on your phone at the table. It explains celiac disease in plain language and tells the kitchen exactly what “gluten-free” has to mean.
When to use it
- At a restaurant, before you order — not after the plates land.
- At a friend’s or grandparent’s kitchen, when someone new is cooking.
- At a hotel breakfast buffet, a catered party, or a school event.
- When you order takeout or delivery and cannot talk to the kitchen.
- Any time your child is eating somewhere you are not.
“Print card” opens your print dialog — choose “Save as PDF” there to keep a copy. “Save to phone” opens your share sheet, or copies this page’s link, so you can pull the card up on your phone at the table.
For restaurant & kitchen staff
My child has celiac disease
Thank you for taking a minute to read this. It is the difference between a safe meal and a sick child.
This is a medical condition, not a preference
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition. When my child eats gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye — their immune system attacks the lining of their small intestine. Even a crumb can cause damage. There are no cheat days, and no “just a little bit”.
What “gluten-free” has to mean in the kitchen
- Clean surface and clean utensils — a wiped-down board and knife, not the ones that just had bread on them.
- Fresh gloves and washed hands before touching my child’s food.
- A separate fryer and separate oil — a shared fryer cooks gluten into the food.
- No shared pasta water, no shared toaster, no shared colander or tongs.
- Please check sauces, marinades, dressings, seasonings, and anything breaded or fried — wheat, barley, and rye hide in all of them.
- Keep my child’s plate and food away from shared platters, bread baskets, and prep surfaces.
If you are not sure, please ask
I would much rather answer a question than take a risk. If you cannot confirm that something is gluten-free, please tell me and I will order something else.
Thank you for asking, for checking, and for taking this seriously. A few extra minutes in the kitchen means my child can eat with everyone else — and that means a lot to us.
What to say in 20 seconds
Some parents would rather say it out loud than hand over a card. Here is a short version that covers the important parts without turning into a speech.
“Hi — before we order, I need to tell you that my child has celiac disease. It’s an autoimmune condition, so even a small amount of gluten causes damage. Could you tell me what’s gluten-free on the menu, and whether it can be made with clean surfaces and utensils, fresh gloves, and a separate fryer? Please check the sauces and marinades too. And if you’re not sure about something, I’d much rather know — thank you.”
- Say it before you order, so the kitchen can plan for it.
- Ask for the person who actually cooks the food when you can.
- It is fine to ask the same questions every visit — menus and staff change.
- If the answer is “probably”, treat it as a no and order something simpler.
This card is general educational information, not medical advice, and it does not replace your child’s individualized care plan. Every kitchen is different — if a restaurant cannot confirm it can prepare the food safely, that is your answer for that visit.
Send me the printable version
A print-ready PDF of the card, so you can keep a copy in the car, in a bag, and in the glove box for the next restaurant.
Know another gluten-free family? Send them the card.
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Written by Will, Sienna’s dad
Last updated: October 15, 2026