As many of you know from your own gluten free journeys it can be difficult to be gluten free. When you’re on your own, in the comfort of your own kitchen it’s much easier. The difficulty for most begins when you try to go out, or partake in basically any social event. After countless times of hearing the following, going out is more frustrating than fun: “Oh I am sorry, I forgot! We don’t have anything for you.” Or the: “Oh this place has a great “gluten free menu” complete with tons of salads for you.” We can’t forget the: ” Can’t you eat around the bread or just take it off?” And my personal favorite: ” Gluten free? That’s like vegan right? We have tons of vegan options.” After many failed restaurant visits or “friendly” dinner parties it is easy to develop anxieties and distrust regarding food. Frustrations increase when you inform the server or host of the event of your allergy and are treated as though you have just disclosed to them the most inconvenient situation on the planet. To deal with your so called “inconvenience” they shower you with disrespect. This is unexceptable, and one of my biggest pet peeves. It is not your fault by any circumstances, you are not an inconvenience, and you are not a trend. You are a person. A person who deserves respect and peace of mind regarding your meals. It is so disheartening to have to think about every single one of your meals. Food anxiety is very real in this gluten filled world that we live in.
The question becomes: how do you cope? To start out it can be helpful to keep a food diary, go to restaurants that have earned your trust, and be vocal to friends/coworkers about your inability to eat gluten. When you’re going out to eat suggest the restaurant, if it’s someplace new look at the menu ahead of time and plan, you can also use apps like “Find Me Gluten Free” to find the safest options, and finally when you get to the restaurant and are feeling nervous about the plate in front of you try your best to stay present and mindful. Focus instead on the conversation, the style of the restaurant, and the flavor of each bite. By focusing on just the food’s flavors you can enjoy your meal and avoid unwanted stress. As my sister Brooke says, “Don’t think, just savor it.” If you’re going to an event where a meal will be served perhaps offer to bring a dish, remind the host of your allergy, and if all else fails eat before to leaving and always keep a snack in your bag. It’s important to not fear gluten, you are stronger than your fear- don’t let it control your life. You are so much more than Celiac.
I recently started a nanny job, that has brought on the normal stressors that come from looking after three kids. The last thing I want to be worrying about is getting glutened. I know that my employer doesn’t know much about gluten, but he tries his best. In order for me to have a comfortable food environment I bring my own lunches and snacks. I also try to promote naturally gluten free snacks for the kids like fruits and veggies. There are lots of instances during my day when I cannot escape gluten, and that’s okay. I make a majority of the children’s meals and that involves cooking with regular bread, pasta, etc. This can be stressful. As someone with a gluten allergy, I have learned that what helps me cope is to work with all kinds of food. I know that washing my hands, keeping surfaces clean, and washing dishes will keep me safe. A very sweet example of this came this past Friday. The youngest little munchkin turned eight. She LOVES unicorns. To celebrate the Birthday Girl’s special day I taught her older sister how to make a unicorn cake completely from scratch. Living in a gluten free household I said goodbye to store-bought cakes about 11 years ago, so it was an amazing experience to share and teach a child the joy of homemade cooking/baking. It was a gluten cake, but it still turned out really cute and the kids seemingly loved it! Along the way the oldest asked me what could be done to make it gluten free and I told her the only thing we would have to do is use gluten free flour. She said, ” Oh that’s a lot easier than I thought it would be. Next time can we try that?” I beamed from ear to ear. Educating others about Celiac and what it means to be gluten free is the best way to cope with food anxiety. The more people know about it, the more they can help keep you safe from getting glutened. Don’t be afraid to speak your truth about your gluten allergy; you are your best advocate. Remember, more than anything, living with Celiac doesn’t have to be complicated. When it comes to eating gluten free plan, adapt, and enjoy. Stay well and eat well.
Until next time,
Brynn
