“You will have to follow a strict gluten-free diet for the rest of your life.”
While this was not a life threatening statement, my younger self was devastated by hearing these words come from my doctor’s mouth. To me, I thought about all the future events I would attend where all the food would be mouthwatering with gluten, or all the restaurants I have not been to yet where the menu is a long list of all the foods I cannot eat anymore. It was shocking, and part of me was scared I would never be able to enjoy eating as I once used to.
Years later, I can confidently say that adjusting to a gluten-free diet happens over time. The initial shock starts to wear off and you are able to see the amount of options that are available to us nowadays. There have been more and more individuals switching to a gluten-free diet for both medical and personal reasons. Because of this, many grocery stores and restaurants have options for those with certain diet needs.
When it comes to grocery shopping, you will find that a high number of stores have dedicated sections that contain only gluten-free foods. In both dry food areas and in the freezer sections, there are usually signs posted that can guide us into ensuring our carts are filled with safe foods. For stores without either signs or gluten-free sections, food labels often contain the information we need. They will either clearly state “gluten-free,” or the box will not say that it contains any ingredients made with wheat. My favorite tip for grocery shopping is an app titled ‘GF Scanner’ that allows me to scan the barcode, and it will then tell me whether it is a safe product or not.
Restaurants are a whole other ballgame for our gluten-free friends. Cross-contamination is the devil, and while some meals do not necessarily contain gluten, they may be made in the same areas or with the same cookware that is used with gluten-containing foods. Always make sure to inform a server you are gluten-free, and if cross-contamination is an issue for you as well, ensure to tell them that detail as well. Either the server will be able to help guide you through the menu, or the manager on duty will be able to help you. Certain restaurants have a separate menu that only lists their gluten-free options, so making sure to ask for one of them (if applicable to the restaurant) is a perfect start. Another app I use is titled ‘Find Me GF’, which can help to locate restaurants in whatever area you may be in that have gluten-free options, and reviews are left by former customers to see how well they operate when it comes to gluten allergies. Also, they list which restaurants are dedicated to being gluten-free as well.
Being gluten-free is hard, do not get me wrong. As much as I wish I did not have to take so many precautions, there are ways to find more comfort and peace when it comes to food. An allergy or diagnosis does not have to control you as long as we take the proper steps to ensure our health’s safety.
My favorite gluten free snacks and restaurants:
Tavern on the Square- almost the entire menu can be made gluten free!
Burton’s Grill- full menu of only gluten free meals!
Gluten-Free Chips Ahoy: makes you feel like a child again!
Simple Mills-my favorite brand for crackers, cookies, and box mixes for almost any dessert!
