As the gluten-free diet becomes increasingly popular due to better and more efficient diagnosis of celiac disease, I have been helping many customers shop for the first time for gluten-free holiday foods for someone in their families.

Once a family member is diagnosed, many of those traditional recipes now have to be scrutinized to make sure they are safe to consume free of gluten.

Even though gluten cannot be eaten, it does not mean that one has to eliminate those holiday favorites. Here are a few healthy holiday foods.

Apples are a good source of fiber and make a great addition to gluten-free stuffing. Leave the skin on for the most impact.

Green beans are naturally low in calories and are loaded with vitamin K.   Try beans lightly tossed with olive oil and lemon.

Whole cranberries contain more substances that are known to help prevent urinary tract infections and certain cancers than jellied cranberries do.

Make a fresh, orange cranberry relish to serve at your holiday meal.

Dark chocolate is a concentrated source of antioxidants that help decrease cholesterol.  Choose 70 percent cocoa or a higher percentage dark chocolate for the most antioxidants and least amount of fat and sugar.  Chocolate-dipped strawberries are a delicious treat.

Pecans are high in protein and monounsaturated fats (the good-for-you kind). Add some to your holiday salad for crunch and flavor — remember a small handful contains about 200 calories.

Sweet potatoes are loaded with beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent cancer.  Bake sweet potatoes with some dried cranberries and pecans and a sprinkle of brown sugar and cinnamon for a delicious side dish.

Here are some holiday gluten-free celebration tips:

• Be a part of the planning process.  When going to a party that is not necessarily gluten-free, it is important that the host know your needs to accommodate you.

• Many holiday favorites can be altered to be gluten-free.

• Monitor cross-contamination if at another’s house.  Serving utensils and kitchen equipment used in the preparation of the recipe are all areas where gluten could hide.  Triple-wash items if possible and in some cases, you may need to buy a separate item (a toaster, for example).

• Check with the host/hostess on ingredients in recipes — specific brands do matter and if in doubt, leave it out.

• Don’t forget naturally gluten-free foods (including those above).

If you are looking for holiday gluten-free menu ideas, Hy-Vee in Austin will be hosting a Gluten-Free Holiday Gala where you will be able to sample recipe ideas made gluten-free.

This event is free and takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, in the HealthMarket at Hy-Vee.

Gluten-free green bean casserole

Serves 4

All you need

• 1/3 cup sour cream or non-dairy sour cream

• 2 cups gluten-free cream of mushroom soup

• 1 teaspoon gluten-free soy sauce

• Dash of ground black pepper

• 1-1/3 cups crushed Funyuns, divided

• 2 (14.5 ounce each) cans Hy-Vee HealthMarket green beans, rinsed and drained

All you do

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, mix sour cream, soup, soy sauce and black pepper.

Stir in half of the Funyuns and all the drained green beans.

Pour mixture into a large casserole dish and bake for 10 minutes, or until bubbly. Sprinkle remaining Funyuns on top and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Serve warm.