29 replies to this topic

[j9n]

Today they had a pot luck at work. I was very good about avoiding cakes, cookies, bread, etc. but for some stupid reason I grabbed macaroni salad. I must have associated it with potato salad I guess. Well I took a bite and suddenly realized what I did. I immediately spit it out into my napkin, of course in front of everyone. Now I am embarrassed for spitting out my food, LOL Everyone was really nice about it since they know how sick I have been but still, not quite a lady like move!!

[celiac3270]

I did stuff like that towards the beginning. At school, for example, they always provide some sort of snack...in the beginning I found myself gravitating towards it, then remembering that I couldn't and stopping. In addition, I made the careless mistake of picking up a wrong box of cereal while on vacation earlier in the year......etc. I realized half-way through a handful of cornflakes that it wasn't the gluten-free kind, so, like you did, I spit it out. If your friends/co-workers understand, it shouldn't be a problem...this is a health thing...better you spit it out than keep eating it or swallow another bite....you made the right decision

-celiac3270

[terri]

I have an anniversary party to go to tomorrow where there will be tons of food. I am bringing mexican cheese dip and tortilla chips but when I asked if I could bring my own dinner the answer was no. So, I will eat heartily at lunch and hide a tuna & rice cake sandwich in my car that I can sneak out and eat. But, I can see me doing the same thing tomorrow that you did at work! Eating and then realizing and spitting it out. We're only human, after all! I'm going to try to fake eating so I won't hurt their feelings but no matter what, I don't feel I can trust the food to be gluten free or not cross-contaminated.
Terri

[celiac3270]

I have an anniversary party to go to tomorrow where there will be tons of food. I am bringing mexican cheese dip and tortilla chips but when I asked if I could bring my own dinner the answer was no. So, I will eat heartily at lunch and hide a tuna & rice cake sandwich in my car that I can sneak out and eat. But, I can see me doing the same thing tomorrow that you did at work! Eating and then realizing and spitting it out. We're only human, after all! I'm going to try to fake eating so I won't hurt their feelings but no matter what, I don't feel I can trust the food to be gluten free or not cross-contaminated.
Terri

I think that it's kind of sad how unhelpful/unaccomodating people can be....I mean, not only food manufacturers, but it's kind of sad that you can't even bring your own food there when you have an autoimmune system disorder that doesn't allow you to eat any of that stuff !

-celiac3270

[bratcat]

Hi,I'm new here.Iwas diagnosed yesterday.This IS going to be hard isn't it?I live in the south and I guess you have heard about "southern home cooking".I haven't even BEGUN to realize what I can and can't have.I'm going to need lots of help.I went through 4 years of diagnosis for various things.Seems like an awful lot of time has been wasted.You all have my sympathy,especially if you feel as crappy as I do.

[celiac3270]

Hi,
It is rather difficult. First thing you should do is go to the site index on this board and find the fobidden ingredients list. You're going to be reading a lot of labels. In addition, anything containing natural or artificial flavorings is questionable; those companies need to be called (that means that pretty much everything that doesn't say gluten-free on the package needs to be called.....it's a lot of work.

-celiac3270

[j9n]

I am finding tht alot of processed foods have something bad in it. I poured salad dressing on my salad then read the label! Ok throw that out. I am generally pretty good about avoid processed foods anyway but they seem to sneak glutin in unexpected places!
I guess for now just stay simple and homemade. Meats, veggies, rice, potatos. I did buy some spagetti squash so I am going to try it instead of pasta and I have been looking for an excuse to buy a meat grinder for my kitchen aid mixer (homemade sausage!)

[plantime]

Southern home cooking. Yep, rolled in flour, then deep-fried! I have a family reunion on the fourth to attend. I didn't ask, I told them all I would bring my own food. One of my sisters expects cakes baked for each person so we can celebrate all of the birthdays at once. HAH!! If she wants 'em, SHE can bake 'em! I will bake and freeze my cake, and everyone is welcome to have some! My sister-in-law was mad because I won't even eat the meat her brother is bringing. I see too many labels that say there is a solution added, but no one knows what it is. The only way I will be able to get through the weekend will be to make intolerant people angry. My health is more important to me than their attitudes.

Terri, Eat heartily at lunch, take something you can eat for your "dish to pass", and have something in the car just in case. I don't think people should be so intolerant of celiac disease. Do your best to handle it. I will be thinking of you, and sending prayers for you to be able to cope!

[terri]

Thanks for all the encouragement. This board is my lifeline. celiac3270, I want you to know that I am eating crow! The people called me Friday night to ask what kind of mayo and catsup I could eat and then when I got there, showed me that they had deep fried a turkey and made a dip of real cream cheese and fresh chives and served it with fresh veggies, they made a broccoli and cauliflower salad with Hellmans. She took me around and showed me what I could eat. And she also made a salad with homemade dressing which she checked with me on! Now, there was tons of other foods but I stayed away from them. She went so far as to put the breads at the other end of the table from my gluten-free food! I was in shock! Needless to say, I had a wonderful time and didn't get sick! In fact, I gained a pound!!! So, just wanted to share a positive experience and kind of restore our faith in the non-gluten-free public.
Terri

[j9n]

Wow that is awesome! I am glad you had a great time.

[celiac3270]

That is terriffic ....I, too, am glad that you enjoyed it.

[plantime]

Terri, I am so glad they did that for you! It is just awesome to learn that someone will do that for someone else!

[dana_g]

I have to share our recent experiences with you guys. Saturday my good friend had a party for her son, and I brought gluten-free treats for my daughter and I, enough to share, in fact, as always. Well, I need not have bothered, as my wonderful friend had BAKED gluten-free blueberry muffins and also had gluten-free cookies and ice cream for us! I nearly cried! She said she wouldn't dream of inviting someone into her home and not having food they could eat! She was an immunologist before she stayed home to raise a family--she is also allergic to processed tomatoes, of all things, so she is sensitive to food issues. She is a treasure! On the other hand, my daughter's best friend had a party, only six kids, to celebrate their fifth-grade graduation, and her mom had NOTHING , not one thing Anna could eat...and these girls practically live at each others' houses. I don't expect anyone to accomidate our diets under normal circumstances, but I wouldn't call best friends a normal circumstance. I did bring a gluten-free pizza, which some of the other kids also enjoyed. The thing that really made me mad was the mom had a punch that Anna couldn't drink, and root beer that was gluten-free, but she didn't want Anna to have the root beer at first because it was for ice cream floats (which were NOT gluten-free!) I did have juice for her, but the mom gave in and "let" her have the soda! Not very best-friendly, huh? And Anna always brings enough gluten-free stuff over there to share with her friend, and I've discussed the situation at length with the mom. But I guess it takes all kinds!