26 replies to this topic

[BethM55]

At at party at a friend's house last night, among people I don't know well, the subject of eating gluten free came up. I don't know why, might have been my explanation of why I really couldn't eat much of the available snacks and why was I asking about ingredients? Innocent enough, right? No one gave me a hard time, but a couple of people proclaimed their gluten free status as well. Ok, a bit of camaraderie, no problem.

But it ticks me off when these same people snacked on pot stickers, and taquitos, and brownies, and drinking beer... One woman said to me, "Oh, I avoid wheat, but can't resist these!" Good for her, for trying to improve her health, but she shouldn't call herself gluten free! Don't get me wrong, I was quite happy with the fresh berries and the Lays potato chips (which said gluten free on the package!), although I was a bit worried about gluteny hands dipping into the berry bowl.

I don't expect answers here, but why do people do that? It just makes it harder for those of us who truly are gluten free, and work hard at being so, and who pay the consequences of failure. I don't mind talking about being gluten intolerant, figure it educates people, but I don't like having the issue diluted by people who think it's a fun thing to do.

Sorry for the rant, but the experience irritated me. I try to avoid being labeled as the odd one of the group, generally just quietly manage my needs as best I can. But if gluten free is going to be spotlighted by others, then they ought to honor the code. At least IMHO, anyway.

[K8ling]

I TOTALLY understand, it makes me so mad! Or, my favorite is "Oh, there's no wheat in there so I can eat it" by the people who are supposed to be gluten-free..and then they totally just eat it.

CELIAC IS WHEAT, BARLEY and RYE. Idiots. Then people look at ME like *I'M* being overly picky and snarky about my food because the fake gluten-free eater is like "Oh a little bit won't hurt me!"

Excuse me, but I am 6 months pregnant and DO NOT need a reaction right now. THATS why I am so careful!!!

[lizard00]

It does make things difficult. I was in a two week class with someone who also had celiac and was supposed to be gluten-free. But she ate the sausage biscuits someone brought one morning, the pasta that someone brought for lunch one afternoon, etc, because she just couldn't resist.

She was also telling ANY and EVERYONE who would listen that she had celiac and how sick she had been, blah blah blah. Then she told me she couldn't believe that I was so strong to not eat the stuff around us. I told her I couldn't afford to be sick, so there was no bite that was worth it to me. I really didn't care what she ate, but it made it hard for me to decline food that someone had obviously spent a lot of time on (someone made a cake), when she told the same story as me but ate just a tiny piece.

I feel your pain!

[Poppi]

I was at a potluck with two other "gluten free" people. Both had hot dogs with buns and finished off with birthday cake.

The only reason people like that bother me is that they cause other people not to take us seriously. Oh well, it doesn't matter too much in the grand scheme of things. Only once a month or so do I even eat food I didn't prepare with my own hands and then I do my best to ensure it's safety. At least the fakey-gluten-free people have caused the gluten free market to expand somewhat.

[IrishHeart]

My issue is with people who call eating gluten-free a "fad"....fad? Celiac disease almost killed me

As I often say...there needs to be a better understanding of what 'gluten intolerant' really means. I always cringe when someone says it's an "allergy"....sigh...

I suppose it's easier than explaining "It's an autoimmune response to the...." by then, their eyes have glazed over like a donut...

[No.Wheat.For.Me]

....then they ought to honor the code

I'm new here and have a question. You refererd to a code. Can you tell me what the code is?

Thanks!

[kareng]

I'm new here and have a question. You refererd to a code. Can you tell me what the code is?

Thanks!

I think she just means if you say you are gluten-free then demonstrate gluten-free. don't say it while munching on a wheat-filled cookie.

I think we are still working on the secret code and handshake.

[lizard00]

It means that if people are going to proclaim that they're gluten-free, then they need to be gluten-free. In public, anyway.

[Poppi]

My issue is with people who call eating gluten-free a "fad"....fad? Celiac disease almost killed me

Like my chiropractor ... or should I say my ex-chiropractor. Last time I was there I commented that I was really sore from accidentally eating some gluten. He went off on this tangent about how his wife has gone on this gluten-free kick so now she only makes their cookies out of barley and spelt and oats .... and this celiac thing is such a fad and next month it'll be something different. Then when I insisted that all those things his wife cooks with have gluten and that celiac is really serious and I can get sick from a few crumbs he called me a freak.

Time to shop for a new chiro.

[IrishHeart]

Like my chiropractor ... or should I say my ex-chiropractor. Last time I was there I commented that I was really sore from accidentally eating some gluten. He went off on this tangent about how his wife has gone on this gluten-free kick so now she only makes their cookies out of barley and spelt and oats .... and this celiac thing is such a fad and next month it'll be something different. Then when I insisted that all those things his wife cooks with have gluten and that celiac is really serious and I can get sick from a few crumbs he called me a freak.

Time to shop for a new chiro.

I saw a recipe in a magazine where the cook said she was cooking for gluten-free people and she used spelt instead of wheat...um, hullo???

he called you a freak?!! well, he's a (fill in the blank)......

[IrishHeart]

I think we are still working on the secret code and handshake.

gosh, we're STILL working on that handshake??? who's in charge!!??

[maximoo]

Is a fist bump OK?

[Jungle]

A fist bump followed by the dusting of imaginary crumbs.

[ElseB]

I have a colleague who is also celiac and I've watched her more than once just scrape the toppings off a sandwich. And she's confessed to me that she drinks beer every once and while. And then she'll look to me for sympathy on those days when she's not feeling well because she thinks that as a celiac, I can relate. Um no, I can't. I NEVER cheat, so I really have no sympathy for someone who makes themselves sick!

[kareng]

A fist bump followed by the dusting of imaginary crumbs.

I think you may have it! Do we swipe our hands, flat palmed? You know that sort of " Good riddance" sort of thing?