Feeling A Little Bit Sad

[runnerjen]

Hi everyone, I just need to vent a little bit. I've been gluten-free for a few months now. Yesterday I was at Trader Joe's and picked up a bag of their new potato cheese gnocchi, hoping they were gluten-free. Alas, they were not, not that I'm surprised, but I was upset about it. I literally started to cry in Trader Joe's! I know I looked stupid, but I just couldn't help myself. I bought my items, went home and made myself a nice gluten-free dinner. But I'm still just a little sad about all of this. Does it get any easier??

Anyway, thanks for listening!

jen

[Corkdarrr]

Hey Jen

I can SO sympathize. I've been gluten-free for 7 months now, but I still feel like I need to find a doctor who will prescribe me valium specifically to be taken before going to the grocery store. It's so frustrating! Especially because before all this happened, I used to LOVE to cook. Now it's a huge daily struggle just to figure out what I'm going to eat with the minimum amount of effort.

I'm sure it gets easier...I'm just not sure when it gets easier!

Hang in there

Courtney

[jayhawkmom]

Ahhhhh, I can sooo empathize.

I'd like to say that it gets easier, and sometimes it does seem that way. And, then all of a sudden you'll pick up an item you *know* is gluten-free - only to find out it's not - and it starts all over again.

We've been gluten-free since June and I fully admit, just last week this happened to me.

Tears were streaming down my face and I just could not grasp why certain foods that seem SO safe would be so harmful. Gnocchi would be something I'd totally assume was safe.

I'm sorry you are feeling sad, and I do understand. And, I'm certain there are LOTS of us who go through this.

[fatladysings]

Hi, I am a newbie to the board. I have a suggestion for you with trying to figure out what to cook for dinner since you love to cook. Record what your favorite meals are, or what you have eaten over the last month- gluten free of course... Then make a permanent grocery list that you can save on your computer. When you are ready to go to the store, go through and delete the items you don't need, print it off (or write it down if you don't have a printer) then DON'T save it. That way it takes some of the thinking out of your day! Also, if you discover that you have found a new gluten-free product or you find out that one you have been using all along has gluten make sure you adjust your shopping list accordingly. Also, I have been taking this as my personal challenge. I LOVE to cook...when I feel good. Which lately, not so much!!! But since I am working on changing my diet....again, I hope to feel better soon. Anyway, try to think of it as your opportunity to show your artistic gourmet talent. Then, could you remind me of this in about a month?

[dionnek]

Oh yes, I've been gluten-free for 8 months and just went to a new Super Walmart by us b/c I heard that they label things gluten-free (their brand anyway) and I could not find anything with a gluten-free on it so I started crying. But then I got to the cereal aisle and saw they had all the new Disney cereals that are gluten-free (Dora, Little Einsteins and Mickey clubhouse I think) for really cheap and I was smiling again

[Phyllis28]

I am sorry you are feeling sad but being gluten free will get easier. You will incorporate coping strategies into you daily life which will lesson the frustration.

There are lots of gluten free recipes on this site and on the internet you can choose from. The bulk of the meals I cook are naturally gluten free. My cooking strategy is to make a good tasting meal, not to replicate the standard American diet. I make my own spaghetti sauce which I serve over white rice. I have also put it over a baked potato, mashed potatoes and layered with corn tortillas and cheese.

Below is the link to Shauna James

[gabby]

When this happens to me, I don't allow myself to leave the store sad and frustrated and feeling left out. So along with the inevitable plain chicken breast and broccoli for dinner, I also pick up some flowers from the store (just a small bunch, or even just one stem of something...whatever they carry at the grocery store).

This way, it helps me to think of eating gluten-free as something that brings a bit of cheer into my life.

[Slackermommy]

When I have gotten REALLY down, and I save this for those emergency days...I order myself a lobster and have them steam it, go home and melt some butter, and I always feel better.

I have been gluten free for 5 months myself, and I find it a bit of a roller coaster myself...

Keep on chugging...

[gfp]

Hi everyone, I just need to vent a little bit. I've been gluten-free for a few months now. Yesterday I was at Trader Joe's and picked up a bag of their new potato cheese gnocchi, hoping they were gluten-free. Alas, they were not, not that I'm surprised, but I was upset about it. I literally started to cry in Trader Joe's! I know I looked stupid, but I just couldn't help myself. I bought my items, went home and made myself a nice gluten-free dinner. But I'm still just a little sad about all of this. Does it get any easier??

Anyway, thanks for listening!

jen

Yes and gnocci are really easy to make at home if a bit time consuming....

I usually make batches and freeze at least half...

Just follow any gnocci recipe and use a light gluten-free flour and optionally a little xanthan gum....

Its not something you can run home and make .. boiling the pots takes ages and letting em cool a while but once you make them the rest is simple and they freeze really well.... I actualy think theyre easier to cook from frozen anyway... just make sure they don't freeze in a lump... icecube trays work great !

[Iamstacie]

Hi...I can relate to how you are feeling. I was just diagnosed last week. I would almost rather deal with the stomach problems then this. I cry whenever I go into Wegman's. I have not gone out to eat yet as I am afraid to deal with all of the special requests. This is so difficult for me because I love food, dining out, cooking. I am also waiting to find out if I have ankylosing spondylitis. Do you know if anyone has celiac and this other autoimmune disease? If you need to talk please write back...I could use the support too. I don't have any friends with celiac, do you?

[darlindeb25]

Gabby--yes, flowers are a great idea. They brighten the day so well. Yes, we do all go through this in the beginning.

[babygirl1234]

thats why you need to read the ingreats or read the lable to make sure its gluten-free its hard i still go though it and ive been gluten-free for 10 years or so

[snapple]

Hey, it does get better. And there will certainly be days where you're going to feel down in the dumps. But then there are going to be days when you find something gluten free that you didn't know whas (cheese balls for me) and you get really excited (I was jumping up and down in the store, totally embarassed my hubby) and happy.

Anyway, FYI Wegman's labels their own brand of food with a green dot and a G if it is gluten free. And they have a lot of of choices.

Lastly, for those of you who HATE eating plain chicken breast (me), try mixing a cup of storebought pesto, gluten-free of course, with some grated parm cheese, aprox 2 cut up roasted red peppers, and about a tsp of diced/crushed garlic( from the jar) together. Heat it up in the microwave a little and spoon it over your chicken. Wowzers is that good! No more plain chicken.

anyway, you have my support and understanding!

Kate

[UR Groovy]

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[GeoffCJ]

I can 100% relate. I don't have too many issues when I shop in the grocery store, but I'm in an MBA program, and there are TONS of events, speakers and panels and presentations. I'm very active in my school, so I go to 1-2 events a week. Nearly all have food, often Pizza, which I love. That gets pretty hard, I've certainly felt like crying at times. And then I get frustrated with myself for being sad. Which makes me more upset...

And I'm a 5'10", 275 lb, masculine, active leader at my school. So crying over pizza would certainly be noticed!

The other night I was flipping channels, and there was an entire show on the food chanel about brownies. I watched the whole thing, drooling. My wife accused me of being a masochist.

Geoff

[key]

I have been doing this 18 months and I don't feel like it is truelly getting any better. For me it seems to go in cycles. For awhile I seem to enjoy gluten free foods I can have and then I am back to feeling depressed that I can't eat out, the rest my family eats gluten and I make it for them and watch them eat it, they order delicious pizza and eat it in front of me. I don't blame them. They shouldn't have to suffer, because of me. I wouldn't eat this way if I didn't get SO ill from eating it.

I am sorry that you had a bad day. It really does seem to come into every area of our lives.

Monica

[Queen Serenity]

I'm so sorry that you are feeling so sad. I know that it is very hard to get used to it. But, with time, it will get easier. I have been living with this for 11 years now. You just have to say to yourself--"I have to stick to my diet, or I will get very sick." Soon enough, your mind and body will make the switch from gluten to gluten free. And yes, your mind is the key to acceptance. I'm not saying it's easy, because to be honest with you, it can take up to 1 year for your body to heal. Sometimes it takes longer. But, once you overcome these hurdles, you should be ok. So, good luck to you, and to all the newbies out there. Keep reading the boards to learn new things.

Vicki

[Viola 1]

I'm another one that has been at this for a long time. Mostly I've adjusted and I just do 'routine' shopping. Pick up the stuff I know. What up-sets me is when they change a formally gluten free product and put malt or something stupid in it. I can deal with the stuff that's always been off the list pretty much.

It's funny because my non celiac hubby has got far more patience than me for reading labels. It's him that tends to find the new, marked gluten free products. Good thing he doesn't mind helping with the shopping.

When you get really sad, buy a gluten free chocolate that you can melt, maybe a plain milk chocolate, or dark chocolate bar. Then go over to the produce section and find some strawberries, or if not in season, a banana will do. Then go home and melt that chocolate in the micro and sit and dip your fruit and pamper yourself

Oh yes ... Gabby .. I love the flowers suggestion too!

[2wheels4eyes]

I've been gluten-free since August (yay!) and it's definitely gotten better for me. But it's still a loss--and still pretty new--so there are definitely times I want to cry about it all. The worst for me is not the grocery store but restaurants and especially parties/events revolving around food. Absolutely brutal still.

One thing I've noticed though is that I'm missing things I never thought I'd miss and things that I wouldn't guess would make me feel better actually do--e.g., pre-gluten-free, I never ate whatever toast/bread/buns/etc. were served with the meal at a restaurant. Now though, if I bring my own along I definitely eat it and then I don't feel left out when everyone else is having their appetizers/bread/etc.

I guess what I'm agreeing with an earlier poster-- try to be creative about replacing what you're missing rather than going for exact replicas.

Then again, there's nothing wrong with a good howl on the shoulder of a loved one once in a while...

That and reading the boards here has helped immensely.

[Paulr]

I'M NOT TO SURE WHAT KIND OF FOOD YOUR TALKING ABOUT BUT MY WIFE CALLED EVERY COMPANY SHE COULD THINK OF AND THEY GLADLY SENT US GLUTEN FREE PRODUCT LISTS OR GO TO. WWW.PENNY.CA AND GO TO CELIAC CANADA MAILING LIST THEY HAVE THE CANADIAN AND AMERICAN PRODUCT LIST YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED ,YOU WILL FEEL HUMAN AGAIN AFTER YOU SEE THIS GOOD LUCK

[Saz]

If I see a new product that doesn't obviously contain gluten, I find it easier to say to me myself "I bet I can't have it but I'll check just in case" . I find that by assuming it does have gluten in I don't get as disapointed and if it turns out that I can eat it, its a nice surprise. I'm not saying that I still don't get annoyed, espicially if its only one ingredient in the food that I can't have, but I just find that I get less frustrated.

I also like others ideas of buying yourself something really nice that you can have. Even going for a coffee and piece of gluten free cake (even if it is just the standard orange and almond or jaffa) can help, I agree that some of them aren't the best tasting but it does help to make you feel "normal"

[heathen]

i broke down at a fast food drive-in and during an oreo commercial. it does get better, i promise.