My First Gluten Free Torture

[sandsurfgirl]

We live by a cute little beachtown with a Main street that has all those adorable shops, etc. So of course there is an amazing little family owned bakery.

I haven't been in there since I got diagnosed, and today my kids wanted cookies. The smell in there is DIVINE. They have the best cupcakes and cinnamon rolls ever ever ever.

I haven't felt deprived so far, but today was definitely a knuckle biter. That smell is heavenly!

[kareng]

I've been gluten-free about 3 weeks. Last Sat, 17 yr old son said "let's get pizza!" Then I think he realized what he was saying because he got a sheepish look & looked at the floor. Weather was bad but Dad said "we can go out boys." Fortunately, I thought of gluten-free Godfathers so all were happy. Then he was going to get burger & fries from local favorite greaseburger place & asked if he needed to eat it there or could bring home. 14 year old hiding stuff like pretzels so I won't want them. After they've been in a 14 year old boys room, would you want them?

Anyway: the point is: I feel you. My guys try but sometimes its hard. I think it will get easier when I don't remember how glutenous stuff tastes.

[ravenwoodglass]

It won't be too long before you find great gluten free versions of your favorite 'junk' foods. Gluten Free Pantry makes great cake mixes and has a French Bread mix that makes great pizza dough. Gluten free pretzels surprisingly taste very much like wheat ones. Glutino makes some good ones and I love the Wylde pretzels because they don't have soy and taste great.

If you keep gluten free versions of the treats your family enjoys it can make it easier to feel less deprived.

[sandsurfgirl]

It won't be too long before you find great gluten free versions of your favorite 'junk' foods. Gluten Free Pantry makes great cake mixes and has a French Bread mix that makes great pizza dough. Gluten free pretzels surprisingly taste very much like wheat ones. Glutino makes some good ones and I love the Wylde pretzels because they don't have soy and taste great.

If you keep gluten free versions of the treats your family enjoys it can make it easier to feel less deprived.

Yeah I know. It's a lot about the experience too. It's that particular bakery, at the beach, etc. KWIM? You see couples all the time sitting on the little bench sharing a cinnamon roll on a cold night type of thing. It's romantic and sweet and fun.

[Kategrad7]

We live by a cute little beachtown with a Main street that has all those adorable shops, etc. So of course there is an amazing little family owned bakery.

I haven't been in there since I got diagnosed, and today my kids wanted cookies. The smell in there is DIVINE. They have the best cupcakes and cinnamon rolls ever ever ever.

I haven't felt deprived so far, but today was definitely a knuckle biter. That smell is heavenly!

I am with you! I am not very far into my gluten-free diet but I can already see the social repercussions. I think that is going to be the hardest part. Im still in school, so what do I do when a bunch of friends want to go out for pizza, sit there with nothing to eat? That just makes them feel awkward. I feel like this disease is going to cause social isolation. "Its just food!" That is what I keep telling myself, but really our society bases so many social interactions around food, that its hard not to think of a gluten free diet as social suicide.

[lizard00]

I am with you! I am not very far into my gluten-free diet but I can already see the social repercussions. I think that is going to be the hardest part. Im still in school, so what do I do when a bunch of friends want to go out for pizza, sit there with nothing to eat? That just makes them feel awkward. I feel like this disease is going to cause social isolation. "Its just food!" That is what I keep telling myself, but really our society bases so many social interactions around food, that its hard not to think of a gluten free diet as social suicide.

I felt the same way, too, in the beginning. I'm not in school, but I had the same feeling that oh no! I can't go out with my friends to restaurants... but I'm a little over 2 yrs into this. What I've learned: you explain it quickly, in a way that makes sense, and don't make a big deal out of it. Eat before you go, have a drink with them or whatever, and enjoy being with your friends. Which is really what it's about, not eating pizza. Right? In my experience, the less of a deal you make out of it, the less it freaks out your friends. My friends and family know that I will not eat anything that I can't be sure is gluten-free, no matter where I am or what we are doing. So be firm, but don't let it be your focus. Enjoy hanging out with your friends.

[Shannonlass]

This happened me last week. I was only a few days into my gluten-free diet and trying my hardest when into the staff lunch room arrives a huge black forest gateau, a chocolate cake and a box of dunkin' donuts. I felt really sorry for myself but I didn't give in but boy it was tough. Prior to my positive diagnosis I'd have had all 3!!!

I felt the same way, too, in the beginning. I'm not in school, but I had the same feeling that oh no! I can't go out with my friends to restaurants... but I'm a little over 2 yrs into this. What I've learned: you explain it quickly, in a way that makes sense, and don't make a big deal out of it. Eat before you go, have a drink with them or whatever, and enjoy being with your friends. Which is really what it's about, not eating pizza. Right? In my experience, the less of a deal you make out of it, the less it freaks out your friends. My friends and family know that I will not eat anything that I can't be sure is gluten-free, no matter where I am or what we are doing. So be firm, but don't let it be your focus. Enjoy hanging out with your friends.

[ravenwoodglass]

Yeah I know. It's a lot about the experience too. It's that particular bakery, at the beach, etc. KWIM? You see couples all the time sitting on the little bench sharing a cinnamon roll on a cold night type of thing. It's romantic and sweet and fun.

Yea I do know what you mean. It is hard but it will hopefully get better in time. It is great to feel better but I do think we go through a 'mourning' period when we realize how much is having to change in everything we do. My DD is getting married soon and when I asked her if she had asked about gluten free options for me at the reception she said no. I was really hurt at first until she explained that as sensitive as I am she would not trust the place not to CC me. I still feel a little sad that I won't even be able to taste a piece of her wedding cake. Maybe I will bring a little gluten-free cake for myself but it just won't be the same.

[Roadki11]

You could always ask if they do any gluten free stuff! A local butcher does gluten-free sausages to order (done at the start of the day on a clean machine with the standard rusk filled sausages done later minimum 5Kg order). Although I imagine controlling the contamination in a bakers would be far trickier than in the butchers.

[plantime]

I tell my family and friends not to worry about what I will eat, just tell me where we are going and when. Then I take care of/make arrangements for myself. I feel better knowing that I have control, and they have one less thing to worry about. Sometimes it means carrying my food with me, sometimes not. You will go through the mourning period, and it will get easier.

Until then, {{{hugs}}}

[Nightingale8472]

I am with you! I am not very far into my gluten-free diet but I can already see the social repercussions. I think that is going to be the hardest part. Im still in school, so what do I do when a bunch of friends want to go out for pizza, sit there with nothing to eat? That just makes them feel awkward. I feel like this disease is going to cause social isolation. "Its just food!" That is what I keep telling myself, but really our society bases so many social interactions around food, that its hard not to think of a gluten free diet as social suicide.

Most pizza places have salad...what about a green salad with just oil and vinegar, or bring your own salad dressing?

Something I've noticed when eating out with my friends is that they tend to feel less uncomfortable digging into the rolls or bread basket at the table if I've ordered a salad and asked the waiter to bring it at the same time as the bread. As a society, we've been conditioned that it's polite not to eat unless everyone has their food, so it's awkward when one person isn't eating anything, especially if people know it isn't because you don't want to, it's because you can't.

[jenngolightly]

Sprouts has mini salad dressing packets that you can throw in your bag for times like these. I love them. I used to carry around the spritz kind of salad dressing, but it was so inconvenient and my checkbook smelled like balsamic vinaigrette all the time. Almost all the places that friends/coworkers suggest we eat on the spur of the moment have lettuce, so if I can't order something gluten-free, I just order a plain salad and whip out my handy-dandy salad dressing packet. I also whip out craisins, nuts, and other goodies that I ALWAYS carry. They either act as snacks, or they go into my salad to spice it up a little. My bag is like a mini shopping bag with tuna (the bag kind) and fork, craisins, salad dressing, nuts, energy bars, Glutino pretzels, orange (they don't bruise like an apple does), dry herb mixes(for when the restaurant insists on making your meal absolutely plain because they don't know how else to alter a recipe that's got gluten in it - I just sprinkle the herbs over my food to jazz up the flavor)...

I'm always ready for an impromptu lunch meeting! And I'm always happy with what I have to eat.

[newgfcali]

Sprouts has mini salad dressing packets that you can throw in your bag for times like these.

All great ideas!

I've been looking for salad dressing packets but can't find any locally. What brand does Sprouts carry? Maybe I can find them online.

[Nightingale8472]

All great ideas!

I've been looking for salad dressing packets but can't find any locally. What brand does Sprouts carry? Maybe I can find them online.

Most of the dressings at Carl's Jr. are gluten free. I ask my friends to grab me some when they eat there. Some McDonalds have Newman's Own dressings that are gluten free (specifically the Newman's Own