4 replies to this topic

[Pegleg84]

Hey,

So I appear to have survived the holidays more or less. Aside from eating a few too many buttery treats (best gluten-free apple pie ever!), and accidentally eating a bit of stuffing (hey bro, is this gluten-free. Sure it is. Oh, this tastes like stuffing. Yeah, of course there's stuffing. Ergh...) Feeling sluggish today (could be lack of sleep) but hopefully should recover soon.

Something I did notice at home, that I never clued into before, and made me a little nervous not so much for me as for my mother, is that even though Mom has been diagnosed Celiac and gluten free for nearly 6 years now, she is somehow still using many old items, like the same cutting board (that we've had for a good 20 years), plastic measuring cups, wooden spoons, collanders, etc etc that she did before going gluten free, and that I'm sure my step-father uses as well for regular bread and such (he's really good about keeping things separate and clean, but he really should have a separate cutting board. seriously). I think she threw out some of the more scratched-up items. Mom tries to be very careful, is active with the Canadian celiac society and thinks she really knows her stuff. She's a lot better, but still has problems with dermatitis, acid reflux, and (I think) a bit of depression. I wonder if it could be linked to cc in the house that she thinks isn't an issue.

I didn't want to get into an argument (or mom just avoiding the issue), so held my tongue and washed everything really well before using it. But any suggestions on what I should do to get her to replace things? Buy her replacements? Say I'm super sensitive and can't use anything that's touched gluten? too bad I didn't think of this BEFORE christmas.

I'm back to my apt, where the only thing I still have that needs to be replaced is my cutting board (and cause it's got issues aside from possible gluten cc.)

Ok, enough for my concerned rant.
Any advice/experiences appreciated.

Cheers
Peg

[kareng]

Has she had her antibody levels checked every year? If they are normal, she may be doing Ok with the gluten part.

For Valentines Day, get her a red colander and a red cutting board ( target and Walmart has had these). Tell her hub that red is for gluten-free stuff only - which is most everything except gluten pasta and bread! You can get red toasters, too!

[gatita]

Kareng's idea of buying the red items is great!

I was going to say go ahead and give her a new set of everything as a special gift from you (your stepfather can use the old stuff so she doesn't have to throw it out and feel bad). I'm sure she'll appreciate it -- I know I would!

[Pegleg84]

I might just have to. New cutting board/collander/measuring cups for xmas next year or something, or early birthday gift for when I'm home in the summer.
They've got the toaster issue covered (4-slice toaster, 2 slices dedicated to gluten-free).

Anyway, hopefully she just isn't as sensitive as I am (and I seem to be getting more sensitive), but I do wonder if she would feel even more better using uncontaminated stuff.

Thanks all

Peg

[cavernio]

Just buy her the stuff that she needs. I'd zero in on the wooden utensils and mesh colanders first. Also a good idea to get them all one type or color or something, so that your dad will know which ones to use.

If your family were mine, I'd be much more concerned about cc from someone else eating gluten in the house and there being crumbs on everything, no one changing the dishtowels, the dishwasher depositing unknown particles on things, etc. My dad has is pretty clueless as to keeping my food safe from cc when I'm over, despite being told a million times, and no one can cook without making a giant mess of the kitchen.

If you can handle the slip and the dulling knives, go for glass cutting boards since they never scratch.