Gluten-Free Events, Survival Tips
Speakers, and Freebies, and Samples! Oh My!
**Would
you like to spend just one day being able to eat and enjoy food without worry?
**Would
you like to know what new services and products are available to you.
**Would
you like to exchange tips and stories with people who walk in your shoes every
day?
**Would
you like to see, smell, and taste brand new products that haven’t even been
offered to the public yet?
**Would
you like to purchase products that are factory fresh and available for discounted
prices?
Bring
The Kids: These events are generally
family oriented and very kid friendly.
You’ll often find small areas set up just for the kids to play. You can bring the strollers in, but remember
there will be crowds of people. Children
simply love to sample, but Vendors will not hand out treats willy-nilly without
a responsible adult nearby to give a nod of approval.
Bring
an Extra Shopping Bag: Yep, you’re gonna wanna shop! At most of these Events
everyone gets a Goodie Bag simply for walking through the door. And some of these are already stuffed half
full with take home goodies. If you
bring friends and family with you, often they can all get a Goodie Bag for
walking through the door. But it never
hurts to have an extra, empty, bag tucked away for any overflow of freebies or
purchases.
Handicapped or Handi-capable, be
prepared: Bring what you need to enjoy
your day. Generally, Volunteers are
everywhere so don’t
be afraid to ask for help…even if it’s simply to locate a chair to sit for a
bit. If you can’t find a Volunteer, ask
a Vendor…it’s just as important to them that you enjoy your visit to the Event.
Please Be Respectful: Yes, there is a ton of free stuff to be
had…but don’t forget you’re in a hall full of other human beings trying to
enjoy their day too. I’ll never forget
the idiot who stepped OVER the baby in her baby carriage so that he could get
to a free cupcake! Seriously? It was a
1oz piece of cake with a dot of frosting for heaven’s sake!
Taste as You Wander: Now, you have to admit, Samples are the main
reason most people attend these Events.
And you’ll find bite-sized samples of just about everything from old
favorites, to hard to find gotta-haves, to brand new not-even-on-the-market-yet
items. But please pace yourself…nibble here, nibble there and the next thing
you know you’re sick on overload. Pay
attention to all those little bites so that you don’t regret it later on.
Bring your ‘Take Away’ Kit: Granted the Samples are only tiny little 1oz
portions, but that doesn't mean you can’t take some home for later. Pack a couple of those small snap top
containers along with a few snack sized zip bags and you won’t be so inclined
to overdue the nibbles and you’ll have samples to try out later on when you get
back to your hotel room or home.
Check
the Ingredients: Yes, everything is
Gluten-Free…but if you have multiple sensitivities it pays to read the label
even at one of these Events. Every
Vendor should know what’s in their product, if not they will have a listing of
ingredients available.
Talk to the Vendors: Nosh and nibble to your heart’s content…but
don’t rush on to the next table so quickly.
If it’s not too crowded and you can find a spot to get out of the
traffic flow, stop and speak to the Vendors for a moment. Tell them how much you enjoy their product,
what changes would you like to see, your feedback is priceless to them. Be pleasant and polite and you just might
find them tucking an extra full-sized product into your shopping bag as a thank
you!
If
it’s FREE, it Must be for Me: Well, not always…this
goes back to that ‘Please be Respectful’ reminder. Simply because you see
un-attended tables DOES NOT mean you can simply swipe everything into your bag
and walk away. Trust me, I've had
Vendors tell me this has happened if they even leave the table for a minute to
get a drink or use the bathroom. It’s
rude and very unfair to the many others who want to visit that table to receive
their samples.
How
far is too far: That depends on
you. I know a few people who won't
travel more than 30 minutes to go to an Event designed specifically for them. Myself?
I'll drive four hours...in fact I do that at least once a year to attend
an event. Living in Florida gives me 2-3
events to choose from every year. I like
to plan a weekend get-away. Find a nice
hotel for two nights, enjoy my day at the event and then take my time driving
home again.
Gluten-Free for Life is a section 501(c)3 charitable organization.
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