Comments on: three months of salad

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:29:47 +0000

My google alert for ‘celiac’ brought this page to my attention: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=26&entry_id=28063

People commenting on this page are listing good sources of gluten free foods in the Bay Area.

By: gingiber

gingiber — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:09:43 +0000

Speaking from a self imposed stance of ‘special dietary needs’ I found the first few months to be the worst. I was painfully aware of all the food I couldn’t have which I happily used to eat and hadn’t fond the joy in my new diet yet.

But it will get easier.

It is hard to feel like you are making other peoples life harder, but you are ill there is nothing you can do to change this, real friends will happily accommodate your needs.

My old flatmate had coeliac disease and we gradually worked out some great recipes. I look forward to cooking for you when you come to stay.

You just have to give yourself time to adjust to this new way of eating.

Take care and I hope you start to feel better very soon.

By: pixie

pixie — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:00:38 +0000

I have a friend who has the same issues, publi the supermarket out here, the brand publix it sells is almost all gluten free which is nice. My friend says she uses this forum all the time: http://www.glutenfreeforum.com/index.php

By: Darren

Darren — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:29:11 +0000

You couldn’t ruin your friends’ good time if you tried. Of course it feels like it’s a burden on others, but I promise that it’s not. Your questions to servers are friendly, relevant, and necessary, and I’ve learned more than a little about how foods are cooked and what goes into them – and I dine with you every night. You’ve identified that you’re feeling much better now and that you’ll never go back to how it was before. You can bet the people who love you want the same, and they’re more than happy to assist in providing for your comfort rather than grumble and complain about the (questionable) lack of their own. You’ve figured out a way around it, and we want to help!

By: frugalwench

frugalwench — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:49:08 +0000

I’m laughing, only because I tried the raw diet craze once, and almost went mad, craving fried chicken. I don’t eat many sweets, but I still do eat them, because if I don’t, I end up consuming an entire bag of mini tootsie rolls in one sitting. Never ate much bread, but if I want a sandwich, by God, I’m going to have one.

Man cannot live on salad alone, we must have croutons!

By: Lori

Lori — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:55:49 +0000

I so understand. I’ve mostly learned how to deal with going out to restaurants. Me, the queen of sauces and fried and dressings and bread and dessert now order broiled meat and fish and simple vegetables or salads and sorbet. Harder still is being invited to eat at friends’ houses. Trying to explain… eh.

So! Now I cook lots more than I have in years and tell friends that I have wierd food allergies so hey, come over, I’ll cook and you bring the wine.

Big adjustment. But like you, I can’t go back to feeling bad all of the time.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:02:31 +0000

It will get easier as time goes by. You’ll find restaurants that consistently provide you with gluten free meals and will know what to order each time you eat there. You should look for any local Celiac support groups. They typically share their dining experiences to spare others from going through their pain of being accidentally glutened and to share the joy of good, gluten free meals. The support groups often dine out together regularly. It’ll make you feel better to get out there with other people who have similar dietary restrictions as you do.

Try not to feel like a burden on your friends. They love you (I’m sure!) and want you to be happy and healthy. If you want to make dining more effortless for you get into the habit of calling ahead to the restaurant and speaking to the manager or chef to get guidance on what is safe for you. You can also order the Triumph Dining cards which explain your dietary restrictions in English as well as in the native language of the cuisine. That helps a lot! I give that card to the hostess as soon as I arrive at a restaurant and explain that needs to go to the chef in order to keep them from harming me.