Went To A Wedding....and I Was So Green With Envy...

[foodiegurl]

I went to my cousin's wedding this weekend. And in advance, I spoke with him about how my meal at the reception had to be gluten-free, and it was no problem. And yes, I did have a gluten-free meal and is was good. But at the same time, I was just watching how everyone else could just eat what was put in front of them without thinking twice about it, and it made me so sad.

I am someone who loves food. And until 2 months ago, I would be one of those people who would just eat what was given to me (well, within reason And now, it is so difficult, and there is so much thinking and debating involved, I hate it, it is exhausting.

The next day, we were walking around this area with all these international markets, and I just wanted some authentic italian pastries so badly...but nope...can't do that either.

I honestly will just smell things to try to satisfy me now...how sad is that?!

[MySuicidalTurtle]

It takes awhile to get used to this new lifestyle. I like to make replicas of things I can't eat now. Even something as simple as pudding (gluten and casein-free)! You know you're much better off without the food but that doesn't mean you can't have the gluten-free equivalent. Without Celiac Disease, I may never have become the cook I am today!

[WW340]

Sorry this is making you sad. I have been there, too. Honestly, it no longer bothers me.

You are at the point when I found the diet to be the hardest. I felt a terrible sense of loss from about the 2 - 4 month point. But it does get better, I promise.

I really just hate going out now due to the risk of getting something that will make me sick. The last wedding I went to was for my nephew. I didn't even ask for any special arrangements for me. Instead, a few of us got together for dinner before the wedding and went to a gluten free safe restaurant. I had a wonderful meal and never paid any attention to the food at the wedding. I would have never thought of doing that, but one of my brothers suggested it. We had a great time and great food.

I have had some people make special arrangements for me, and the food was ok. It used to bother me, but it really doesn't now. Sometimes, I will take something to eat, especially if it is a buffet.

I really think from now on, I will just try to have dinner before the wedding. That really worked well for me, and I never felt like I was missing a thing. (well, I do still miss having cake, lol).

[Ms. Skinny Chic]

I went to my cousin's wedding this weekend. And in advance, I spoke with him about how my meal at the reception had to be gluten-free, and it was no problem. And yes, I did have a gluten-free meal and is was good. But at the same time, I was just watching how everyone else could just eat what was put in front of them without thinking twice about it, and it made me so sad.

I am someone who loves food. And until 2 months ago, I would be one of those people who would just eat what was given to me (well, within reason And now, it is so difficult, and there is so much thinking and debating involved, I hate it, it is exhausting.

The next day, we were walking around this area with all these international markets, and I just wanted some authentic italian pastries so badly...but nope...can't do that either.

I honestly will just smell things to try to satisfy me now...how sad is that?!

I am sorry to hear about your experience.

It can be a difficult experience dealing with social situations.

I really try to avoid those kind of situations.... It kinda makes you feel left out.

[skyyblues]

I understand how you feel... I love it when someone offers me a "bite". I also love it when someone tells me well it will be better when they figure out what is wrong... HELLO I know what is wrong!! I can't take a pill and fix it. This is my life. I don't want their sympathy either. If I hear "I don't know how you do it" one more time I think I will scream. I have no choice. My skin breaks out so bad I can't use my hands and I spent all my time worried about where a bathroom was. My insides are great now and I see some improvement in my skin.

Now that I am done venting... I look forward to learning some new recipes and getting more creative in the kitchen. I am not passing up on any social activities either. I now have a pretty little lunch box and it goes with me just about everywhere. It gets a little easier everyday and I educate about Celiacs everywhere I go.

Hang in there! As awarness increases so do options for us. Look at Starbucks they baked us a cake!!

[DingoGirl]

You are at the point when I found the diet to be the hardest. I felt a terrible sense of loss from about the 2 - 4 month point. But it does get better, I promise.

I could not agree more. Although, for me, I would say it took longer than four months to get over it......but it really was the most excruciating time - the first few months. I was grief-stricken. I think so many of us felt this way - it's totally normal. I have always HATED cooking and planning my food, so I was furious to have this condition. (I was quite a foodie also, working in the wine industry and eating EVERYWHERE during the seven years I lived in Monterey.)

You know, I'm over three years into it now, and the change is so unbelievable I wouldn't go back to eating gluten for anything.

But, what has evolved is my thinking about social gatherings....I have NEVER let food stand in the way of something - I will either bring my own food, or order carefully at a restaurant, speaking to the chef or kitchen manager, and returning to places that work. Small bistros are fantastic in feeding us, I have found.

I was at a huge buffet on sunday, and just chose carefully - some meat, shrimp, salad, and asparagus. And two mimosas. It was delicious, and safe. I watched the people around me eating plates of EVERYTHING - pancakes, waffles, desserts - all of it - and I just laughed and make a joke -

"oh, you've returned with the gluten course, haven't you!"

But - I never really gave it a second thought, and I am no longer jealous of all these things people eat (I CAN make them myself). It was about being WITH those people, and not the food.....it always is.

Your sadness over this WILL get better, over time. Hang in there!

[IxMissxMysticxPizza]

i understand how you feel when i went to my cousins wedding i felt the same even though they made me a nice gluten free steak and i had a coke i had to watch everyone else get to devour delicious fancy adveres and wedding cake. they gave wedding cake to everyone including me! ugh it sucked. i just ate strawberries for desert. its not fair.

[gfpagan]

I'm coming up near the month point in my gluten-free diet. The excitement of finding out what it is, is slowly going away and I'm wallowing in jealousy of food now.

I just emailed my reception hall a few days ago about food for my wedding next May and she said gluten-free is one of the most common allergies they hear about and are able to make me a meal (don't know what yet) and their baker makes gluten-free cakes. It's good, but I'm sad I don't get to enjoy the tasting with my fiance and try all the food and cakes for our guests.

I'm also regretting telling some people about GI. We always have treats at work and a woman always says "oh, I wish I couldn't eat wheat either, then maybe I would lose weight". I want to smack her. As well as the "can't you try just one bite?" people.

Oh well, I guess I kind of went off, but we're all in the same boat and it's kind of nice to know that.

[Chrissyb]

I can so relate. I have been gluten free for a little over a year now and just this mothers day my family took me out, I picked the place to eat that I knew I could get a safe omellet and hash browns and everybody else would be happy. My husband orderd steak and eggs and biscuts. Man oh man when his biscuts came I was going to make him send them back. Yummy they were so big and light and fluffy and I could just taste them with butter and jelly. Ugh

I have been able to make some pertty yummy cakes and cookies but not biscuts that looked like that.

[cbear6301]

I seem to be struggling right now too...i hate this.. I love the way I feel but am really missing.. its been a little over a month now...its just social situations that bite, or those emergency times you didn't plan..

good to know it will get easier. Thanks!

[julirama723]

Bit of a threadjack here, but...

gfpagan--if it's your wedding, YOU have control! Why serve foods to others that you can't have? Why not make the entire meal gluten-free so you have no envy, no stress, and no worries!? I made sure the entire meal was gluten-free for my wedding. The food was fantastic, and nobody missed the gluten! I'm sure that had I not told people the meal was gluten-free they never would have known. Are you absolutely set on having a cake? There are many other options! We didn't serve cake, but had gluten-free blondies and brownies instead, as well as a fruit and yogurt platter.