Yesterday, January 12th, marked the 7th anniversary of being on the gluten-free diet for me. I am so much healthier now than I was seven years ago. This isn’t entirely due to following the gluten-free diet, but it sure plays a large part. I just turned 40 and am in the best shape of my life – partly due to the gluten-free diet and the fact that I feel good, so I have the energy to pursue my running goals 100%. So much has changed in the world of gluten-free over the past 7 years, including the debut and expansion of food in the gluten-free marketplace.
Here is a list of some of the things I have learned over the years. Some are taken from my post that I shared last year on my 6th anniversary.
- There are way more things that I can eat, than can’t.
- Even after
67 years, I still make mistakes. - There is life after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease and starting the gluten-free diet.
- The selection of gluten-free foods in grocery stores is much better now than it was
67 years ago. - Even with all of the publicity the gluten-free diet has been getting, some people still look at me like I have 2 heads when I ask if they have a gluten-free menu.
- The gluten-free diet isn’t necessarily a healthy or an unhealthy diet; your diet is what you make it. There are plenty of healthy & unhealthy gluten-free foods out there, just like every other diet.
- Focusing on friends and family at gatherings is way more productive & feels better than focusing on the food, whether I can eat it or not.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff – this works for the gluten-free diet just as it does for the rest of your life. Keep a gluten-free protein bar or snack in your purse, bag or car so that you always have a back up.
Sunday – Take-out
Monday – Chicken fingers, baked steak fries, broccoli and salad
Tuesday – Baked Ziti and salad
Wednesday – Sweet Thai chile salmon, coconut baked brown rice, sugar snap peas and salad
Thursday – Breakfast for dinner and fruit salad
Friday – Dinner with friends
Saturday – Make your own pizza and salad
Week in review:
Bob Evan’s updates and expands gluten-free menu
Review: Katz Gluten Free Blueberry Pie
Review: Katz Gluten-Free English Muffins
Have a great week!
My son and me, November 2000. This is before we were gluten-free/diagnosed Celiac.
Happy GF Anniversary, Kim! And so much of what you pointed out is true — we really do live in the golden age of GF-ness and you make the diet what it needs to be for YOU. (and yes, sometimes they still think we're crazy)
Have a great week!
Congrats on 7 years! I've only been GF for a little over 3 years now. I think I'm getting MORE cautious about eating out as GF becomes something manufacturers/restaurants are doing to make money….some of them don't seem to be as careful or taking it as seriously as it needs to be taken for celiacs & serious gluten-intolerant folks (like me). But I have learned brands I like and trust (and there is so much more good stuff available than there used to be) and I enjoy finding and sharing new places to get yummy GF items, whether small bakeries, restaurants or whatever. In some ways it's lucky I figured it out…less physical problems, improved nutrition, and in my case at least, it's a less scary issue than people who have say peanut allergies. Can't say it doesn't sometimes put a damper on the experience of sharing meals with family and friends, even well-intentioned and supportive ones. But it beats the feeling of being glutened! (of course, I have quite a pile of dietary restrictions, you should see people's faces when I go through the list….much easier to make my own food)
Kim – not sure if you have any contacts in the health care field. Would love to see a piece about if/how hospitals handle people who indicate the need for GF meals (especially those who are gluten-intolerant as opposed to diagnosed w/ celiac). Had a friend have an experience recently of explaining in great detail what could and could not be eaten, then winding up with a couple of gluten-filled surprises on her tray.
BTW, that Katz pie crust looks fantastic!