Going Gluten Free

Gluten free products are becoming easier and easier to find, and thanks to recent legislature, guidelines are being set to regulate the requirements for that label. All of this is great for those of us with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, but is it for everyone? Gluten sensitivity causes inflammation and neurological symptoms, and in people with celiac, gluten actually destroys the lining of the intestines. For these people, a gluten free diet is necessary. So what are the benefits of going gluten free without a diagnosis of celiac or gluten sensitivity? Well, before I answer that let's look at a few issues. According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, approximately 1% of the U.S. population has celiac disease, and it is believed that even more people with celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In addition, it's believed that as many as 1 in 20 Americans have non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). So, trying a gluten free diet could be beneficial for people who are noticing symptoms of sensitivity such as gastro-intestinal distress, headaches, and joint pain with no other explanation. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing out on the valuable fiber and nutrients that gluten containing foods possess. Don't take my word for it. WebMD outline some facts and concerns about the issue on their site. In people without gluten sensitivities there has been no noted health benefit and some people actually gain weight when they go gluten free. The bottom line is you have to educate yourself and make decisions based on knowledge, not hype. Be smart. Gluten free cookies are still cookies, and overly processed or refined foods are unhealthy regardless of whether or not they contain gluten. If you suspect a problem with wheat or gluten, talk to your doctor. Ask for the appropriate testing, and get to the bottom of the problems you're having. It took me almost 10 years to get my food issues sorted out... just don't give up until you feel better.

See my post about getting proper nutrients on a gluten free diet.

The Sensitive Eater's Lament

Adjusting to food allergies, sensitivities, intolerances, is not easy. Thankfully, I'm blessed to have a very supportive and loving husband who considers my struggles with food when he makes his own food choices. When we go out to eat, he often refuse to order foods he knows I can't have because he doesn't want to eat them in front of me. (I know... Awwww!) I think it's incredibly sweet that he wants me to be successful and doesn't want to taunt me with the very foods I crave. I guess he's noticed me drooling as I watch others munch on their cheesy, doughy, goodies. Now I can tell myself until I'm blue in the face that those foods aren't healthy anyway, but they just look sooo good sometimes... and I think they know it. I swear I saw a cupcake wink at me the other day! Cheeky confection!

So, while I'm thankful for a loving husband, I hate the idea that I'm depriving him of foods he's able to eat. It seems ludicrous to me that he should eat according to my needs. What's a girl to do? Thankfully my cravings for such temptations is beginning to subside. Hallelujah! So, when I say, "No, it's OK. I don't really want it." I mean it... well most of the time. The other part of the time I'm just saying it out loud in an attempt to convince myself that I don't want or need it. In the meantime I suppose it's just going to be a balancing act... and I'm not very graceful. As I quietly mourn the foods I crave, I will continue to encourage my husband to eat as he normally would... and he will continue not wanting to tempt me. Sigh... The bright spot in all this is that at least it's a pretty benign problem to have.

"I like celery... it's like crunchy, green water."

Shop Well

I've always thought this whole food allergy thing would be a whole lot easier if there was an app to help me. I found one or two, but their capabilities were limited, as were their databases. Shop Well is WONDERFUL app and website! The app is free and so is registration on their site! Either part can be used separate from each other, but you can get the most out of their product by using the app and site together.

When you begin (either on the app or the site) you are prompted to create a profile in which you select your dietary needs. There are some preset choices like no gluten, no eggs, less sodium... but if you have a food intolerance or allergy not listed, you can enter in any individual food you choose to avoid.

The Picky Eater Who Came to Dinner (NY Times)

This article from the New York Times made me angry! With the rise in food allergies and intolerances more people have a legitimate need for dietary restrictions, but even if you make them by choice, it is YOUR responsibility to meet those needs, nobody else's. I don't expect people throwing a party to learn how to cook for my needs. How is that fair to them, and why would I want to risk them making a mistake? If I find myself in that type of situation, I make sure to bring at least one dish I know I can eat. Where restaurants are concerned I either research the restaurant beforehand to make sure they have allergy safe choices, try to find something on the menu that would require the fewest number of substitutions, or I don't go out to eat. Plain and simple. 


I hate to be the one to break it to ya, but the world owes us nothing, and we really aren't entitled to have our needs met by anyone else but ourselves. When people get an attitude about their food because they're trying to make some kind of statement, or take a stand, or just assert their personal beliefs... they put people with legitimate, even life threatening, food allergies in danger. The more difficult they make things, the less accommodating people will be in the future. Let's have a little more consideration for each other and be a little more responsible for ourselves, please.

FRIENDLY FRIDAYS: Chick-Fil-A

We all know fast food is not healthy food, but in my quest for information I'm finding out just how unhealthy it is. I'm also learning how few options there are for people with food allergies. Thankfully Chick-Fil-A has made an effort to make a healthy kid's meal that just so happens to be an allergy free option for many people. Their grilled chicken nuggets are tasty and free from all major allergens. They sell them from the kid's menu in a 4 and 6 count. You can make it a meal by adding waffle fries, a fruit cup, or Buddy Fruit (applesauce in a squeezable pouch). This kids meal is by far the healthiest kid's meal of all the fast food kid's meals, and it was surprisingly filling. 

You can go to Chick-Fil-A's Allergen Information page where they have a quick reference list. The list shows which items contain the major allergens, but there are links for the ingredients of every entry, so you can check for unlisted allergens. I like that they offer it in a printable PDF as well.