ten {authentic} resources for gluten free living

The words I hear so often when I tell people that we eat gluten free is, “that would be so hard. I can’t imagine doing that!” And you know, I had the same thoughts when Samuel was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I remember wandering through Target, with tears in my eyes, being overwhelmed because the entire store felt off-limits. Full of gluten. None of which my sweet little one could eat.

But, here I am, 15 months later, and I can tell you that living the gluten free life, while it is hard, can still be rewarding, taste good, and can be manageable to the point where instead of being hard it becomes normal. For today’s post I’m listing ten things I’ve discovered about living gluten free and then linking each fact to a post that I’ve written that goes along and compliments it.

1. Find a friend. {I am going to give thanks no matter what}
When Samuel was diagnosed with Celiac Disease I was overwhelmed. I felt like I was alone in this vast world of no gluten eating. My pediatrician, the doctors at the hospital, the GI Doctor, and the nutritionist all told me to connect with a support group. Find a friend. Seek out those who understand this, have been there a bit longer, and reach out to them. And I did. I joined Celiac.com and R.O.C.K. {Raising Our Celiac Kids} and I started blogging about our journey. Through times, I’ve developed a network of go-to people. And, I hope that I can be that type of friend, that resource, for many of you. Celiac moms – you are not alone.

2. Figure out what you can have. The Life Juice {well, actually it’s a smoothie}
Not eating gluten means living in a world where most items are off limits. Instead of focusing on what you can’t eat, instead find some things that you can eat. Find restaurants that you enjoy. Find flours that work as an excellent substitute. Stock your home with treats for those times, those inevitable times, where you wish you could have a gluten treat {I’m thinking the Udi’s Chocolate Muffins.} You would be surprised at how much food is gluten free and what is available.

3. Prepare yourself to talk about gluten free a great deal. what i learned & coming to grips
There is not a week that goes by where I’m not talking about gluten free food, or Celiac Disease, or sharing Samuel’s story. Instead of shying away from this opportunity I’ve embraced this role and pray that my words can bring hope and healing to another in this situation. I’ve also found that by sharing his story that it helps bring awareness. There are many times where I’ll have conversations with random strangers at Costco or Trader Joes about gluten free food/celiac because they’ve overheard me asking someone about the samples given or for the gluten free list.

4. Carry food with you. gf super delicious peanut butter cookie
This is challenging, especially if you have young ones as I do. I absolutely must take food with me for Samuel whereever I go. Most convenience foods have gluten in them as do most fast food places {on Samuel’s well-child visit I checked “never” for how many times a week he has fast food as he absolutely cannot eat any of it.}. I bring snacks for him at church, when we go out, and for shopping trips. I am still looking for a great gluten free substitue for Goldfish crackers. Food manufacturers? Did you hear that? Gluten free goldfish. Please.

5. You will say “no”.  gluten free life
That is hard. There are many, many, many times where I have to say “no” because of not eating gluten. Samples at the store, in the church nursery {no snacks}, at playdates and more. In fact, I’ve gotten to the point where I’ll offer to bring the snacks so that Samuel’s snacks are the same as the other kids. It makes it easier, and it eliminates the concern that he will accidentally eat a gluten full goldfish that dropped.

6. No Playdough. letter to my celiac disease fighter
This came as a shock to me. Playdough and the other dough {I think it’s made by Fisher Price} are made with wheat. A child with Celiac Disease {or a gluten/wheat allergy} absolutely cannot play with playdough. They get the wheat on their hands and then it gets in their mouths. This is hard. It means that when Samuel is in a class at church that NO ONE can play with playdough. My church, my friends, they all understand, but it is humbling to make an entire system change like that.

7. You will cry. dear mom of the little boy with celiac disease
I cry often. Many times it’s because I am so grateful for Samuel’s health. But other times, like when I cried in the flour aisle at Christmas, it is because it is hard. Living gluten free takes diligence, work, and creativity. And there are some days where one simply gets worn from never being able to simply grab something off the shelf without careful scrutiny of the ingredients. Most often I shed the tears when I realize that for Samuel he can never cheat, never have that cupcake at a birthday party, and that his whole life will be gluten free. In fact, I already pray that he meets a wonderful spouse who enjoys gluten free cooking and embraces this diet. 🙂

8. Look for substitutes.  why a chocolate chip bagel made me cry
Soy Sauce? Has gluten. However, you can purchase gluten free Tamari Sauce. Chicken broth? Has gluten. However, again, you can purchase chicken broth that is gluten free. We’ve found a favorite macaroni {Trader Joes}, corn/rice noodles {they work well in cold pasta dishes as well}, and more as substitutes for what we used to eat. In fact, my menu? It has NOT changed from prior to Samuel’s diagnosis. Instead, I’ve adapted all of our old favorites and made them gluten free. Hmmm….maybe an ebook? What do you think? Should I continue pursuing this?

9. Call companies. Dear Food Manufacturers
I have been on the phone with General Mills, ConAgra, Land of Frost, Kraft, Caribou Coffee {yep, that’s important}, and more asking about their gluten free products. If you don’t know? Call. And, by the way, I make it a point to THANK companies who go the extra mile to clearly label their items gluten free. If I see that label on a product I will buy it because I know it is certified gluten free and safe. Expect to pay more. Gluten free Bisquick costs about $4.59 for a box half the size. I’ve found baking from scratch is cheaper, but even then, expect to pay more for anything flour related. A 4 pound bag of Pamela’s Gluten Free Flour at Whole Foods costs about $17. Yep. So cook wisely. 😉

10. You will find normal. switching perspectives & one year, the celiac disease fight
It will be a new normal, but you will find normal. It is challenging living in a gluten full world and society, but I will tell you that gradually you will discover a new normal for yourself or your child. You’ll find restaurants, foods, how-to-cook, and well, normal. Over the next weeks I’ll be putting together a mini e-book listing some of our favorite foods, tips, and tricks for living gluten free in a very gluten full world. Bottom line? You are not alone. There is an entire community of those with Celiac Disease, gluten allergies, and other food allergies.

Questions? Thoughts? Any ideas? How many of you know about gluten free living? How many of you know someone with Celiac Disease or gluten/wheat allergies? Please share your story. And please share with me my excitement today — Udi’s Gluten Free Foods now has my Udi’s Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Pie Crust Chocolate Pie Recipe on their blog. Cool!

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