The Five Stages of Celiac Disease

Is there an international symbol that represents gluten free.  For example if I am in Europe and wish to take gluten free communion wafer.  How do I show that without speaking the language?   Thank you.  

On 1/17/2020 at 3:11 PM, Guest Carobehr said:

Is there an international symbol that represents gluten free.  For example if I am in Europe and wish to take gluten free communion wafer.  How do I show that without speaking the language?   Thank you.  

Hello, it's often a staff of wheat barred... I cannot upload an image here, sorry, but you can check it out here Open Original Shared Link.  I still wouldn't automatically assume it's understood by all, both the symbol and what gluten is and where it's found. But at the supermarket, say, for labelled goods, it should work.

I accutely remember the grief I felt as I cleaned out my cupboards of all the things I could no longer eat, and the grief of passing by all the grocery aisles I could no longer shop from.   But the acceptance comes from feeling well and never wanting to go back to the way we were.

I have to share about fried chicken.  A restaurant in my closest city used to advertise gluten free fried chicken, which I was delighted to find was really good!  Then one day, gluten-free fried chicken was no longer on the menu!  Sob!  So I asked about it.  The gal behind the counter said "Shhh.  We still make gluten-free fried chicken.  Only gluten-free fried chicken.  But we don't advertise it as such because non-gluten-free people might not buy it."  LOL.  Thought you might get a chuckle from this, too.

It's a stalk of wheat in a circle with an X through it. (Search "crossed grain symbol") It's probably not universal, but it's used throughout Europe and Latin America.

2 hours ago, Guest True for us all, I'm sure said:

I accutely remember the grief I felt as I cleaned out my cupboards of all the things I could no longer eat, and the grief of passing by all the grocery aisles I could no longer shop from.   But the acceptance comes from feeling well and never wanting to go back to the way we were.

I have to share about fried chicken.  A restaurant in my closest city used to advertise gluten free fried chicken, which I was delighted to find was really good!  Then one day, gluten-free fried chicken was no longer on the menu!  Sob!  So I asked about it.  The gal behind the counter said "Shhh.  We still make gluten-free fried chicken.  Only gluten-free fried chicken.  But we don't advertise it as such because non-gluten-free people might not buy it."  LOL.  Thought you might get a chuckle from this, too.

 

Running a gluten free bakery before starting my catering taught me to only say my stuff is paleo unless they mention gluten. If I say gluten out right they will not even try it...I had so many people say they like their gluten but not even know what gluten was.....

On 1/17/2020 at 8:11 AM, Guest Carobehr said:

Is there an international symbol that represents gluten free.  For example if I am in Europe and wish to take gluten free communion wafer.  How do I show that without speaking the language?   Thank you.  

It is the wheat stalk with grains on it and a circle cross through symbol of some kind...do note that are variations of it.
Many "gluten free" wafers for communion are actually low gluten ones as some sects will only give communion with wheat based ones. Some celiacs are alright but others still react, I personally do not take the chance, use gluten free baked goods, pray and do communion yourself, god will understand. In my case I take my loaf/batch of baked goods and get them blessed and keep in the freezer for at home communion.

It is similar in other European countries and the word "gluten" is much the same everywhere. Plus in many countries in Europe people can have very decent levels of English, especially in hospitality services.

I understand that this article is tongue-in-cheek, but I wanted to say that as far as diseases go, celiac is the least suck-y disease.  There are no expensive medications to take for the rest of your life.  There is no surgery.  I was astounded to find out that all of my myriad symptoms were due to gluten.  I dove right into figuring it out.  There was definitely a learning curve, & still occasional missteps (gotta keep reading labels -just because something was once gluten free doesn’t mean it will stay that way).  And we have plenty of substitutions available.  Not only that, but growing up I didn’t like cake or get why people loved pizza.  Now I do.  

   So yeah, it stinks not to be able to indulge in the plethora of microbrewery culture (kudos to you if you like cider), but that just means I have more calories I can budget to cake!

6 hours ago, Guest True for us all, I'm sure said:

I accutely remember the grief I felt as I cleaned out my cupboards of all the things I could no longer eat, and the grief of passing by all the grocery aisles I could no longer shop from.   But the acceptance comes from feeling well and never wanting to go back to the way we were.

I have to share about fried chicken.  A restaurant in my closest city used to advertise gluten free fried chicken, which I was delighted to find was really good!  Then one day, gluten-free fried chicken was no longer on the menu!  Sob!  So I asked about it.  The gal behind the counter said "Shhh.  We still make gluten-free fried chicken.  Only gluten-free fried chicken.  But we don't advertise it as such because non-gluten-free people might not buy it."  LOL.  Thought you might get a chuckle from this, too.

 

What city and restaurant is that?

I don't know where you are going in Europe but I went to Italy 2 years ago & the eating was wonderful I spent most of my time in Rome but also Assisi. There were gluten free options everywhere, even gluten free pizza. When I booked I was sad that I was going to Italy & not able to enjoy my favorite food-Italian & pasta especially. But no longer sad. Italy is clued in. They did such a good job on the gluten free pasta I thought I was eating the real thing! I never once got sick from anything. If my gluten free pasta was so good I can only imagine what the "real" pasta tasted like!! But I felt like I was eating the real thing so it didn't matter. And the gelato shops were wonderful. Unless you get something with gluten containing things put on it there is no problem.  I can't wait to go back to Italy!!!! I don't know if the rest of Europe is that clued in since I've never been anywhere else? I don't understand why we can't produce a gluten free pasta as good as Italy??

I was diagnosed in 2011 after being told for years I had IBS or was just stressed. Problems gone now unless a little sneaks in somehow.

As I read each of the 5 stages, I said to myself, "Yes, that's exactly it was with me."  These stages are spot on.  Thank you for the article.  It was affirming.

I am wondering if there is a way to find the name of the supplier for the gluten free breading for the fried chicken and also where to get the gluten free communion wafers.  This information would be helpful as chicken is a favorite item locally here and also the communion wafers are not available here.  Thanks for the help on this.

4 minutes ago, Guest JWMN said:

I am wondering if there is a way to find the name of the supplier for the gluten free breading for the fried chicken and also where to get the gluten free communion wafers.  This information would be helpful as chicken is a favorite item locally here and also the communion wafers are not available here.  Thanks for the help on this.

 

Amazon has some offers that can ship about anywhere IE Open Original Shared Link
 

For the Chicken Breading I personally like to just paleo based ones like nutcrumbs (almond flour breading pre seasoned), or make my own with crushed pork rinds (or buy Pork Panko or coconut flour blends.  Again all on Amazon so you can source via your sites local.
Open Original Shared Link