A New Reality

[ftmomma]

Fortunately I only work 1 or 2 days a week. The past few days I've been recreating my environment at home to be safe with lots of gluten free options.

I arrived at work today - my first day back since learning I have celiac disease. I got here at lunch time. First person I see is eating a huge piece of pizza...then I walk into the break room and it's an appreciation day and there are cupcakes galore. I love where I work and all the co-workers....but darn they love to eat...and SNACK! I'm only here for 5 hrs and ate before work and have a few snacks. Some gluten-free chips and pretzels, strawberries and grapes. It's all just sinking in. My life at work is forever different -

(which is fine ---if my insides get the memo and will be forever different soon too!)

It's also my first Friday night---and nt that I've wanted to drink beer recently (way too bloated after a few sips) I am now realizing I CAN'T. Ever. Wow.

[tictax707]

...But there ARE good gluten free pizzas out there, as well as gluten free cupcakes!! I have no idea if the gluten free beer is any good - but it's out there! So, while I understand the overwhelming finality of it all - there is definitely good stuff out there for us. So while it may be tough at work, take heart that you can have the stuff. I use my co-workers as guinea pigs all the time. I try new mixes and recipies and bring them in to work, and they disappear just as fast as the normal stuff

[MagpieWrites]

I can't speak to their tastiness - but there are quite a few gluten-free beers out there now (didn't like it before I was diagnosed, and happily use the "Oh, sorry, can't alas because of the celiac" excuse when it's waved about now ) if you are needing a quick tipple on the weekends.

Hard ciders are lovely, and if the fruit malt drinks were your vice before you can come rather close with a shot of schnapps or flavored vodka mixed with either fizzy water or a lemon lime soda.

You WILL be okay, honest. Lots of amazing things to eat - plenty you can even share with your coworkers. Promise. And the whole not feeling like hammered horse hooey is a definite perk too!

[kareng]

.

And the whole not feeling like hammered horse hooey is a definite perk too!

Magpie, you have a way with words.

[tmbarke]

Fortunately I've known my coworkers for 10 yrs before diagnosis......and when I told them, they wanted to understand and were even supportive.

If the donuts were brought in, they wouldn't say...."You can't have any!".....but then I wouldn't want any either......major bloat for the whole day and pants undone prior to diagnosis is NOT something I'd look forward to again.

Now they see me bring in veggies and dip - grilled chicken caesar salads - chicken and wild rice soup - snickers bars - cheese and grapes...........and they all say......."You're so healthy!" and I have to grin.

(aside from that snickers which is NOT but maybe one time a month for that little sumpin' sumpin.

I never really cared for beer unless it was on the hottest day of the year and it was ICE cold.

I prefer Sangria's or Rum and Pepsi these days.....and a great bottle of wine on occasion too!!

I make a gluten-free chicken alfredo pizza with no flour crust that is to die for!

Give it a shot.....use your imagination on the way you want it....

Deep Dish Pizza gluten-free

4 oz softened cream cheese

2 eggs

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1/4 t oregano or italian seasoning

1/4 t garlic powder

8 oz italian cheese blend or moz shredded

1/4 c pizza sauce

4 oz moz shredded

asst toppings

dash of garlic pepper or powder and some italian seasoning for the top of pizza

In med bowl - whisk crm cheese until smooth and creamy - whisk in eggs until smooth - add parmesan and seasonings - then stir in 8 oz moz until completely moistened.

Spread mixture into well greased 9x13 glass baking dish - bake at 375 20-25 min. or until evenly browned - Let cool - when nearly cooled, pry up edges with spatula to loosen and slide under crust to loosen - this makes it easier to remove finished pizza later.

Refrigerate until shortly before serving (dinner time) Spread chilled crust with sauce - then the cheese and toppings - sprinkle with seasonings - bake at 375 about 15-20 min or until bubbly - let stand before cutting.

Alfredo Sauce (for pasta or pizza)

This creamy white pizza sauce recipe has long been a favorite on

pasta, but it's one of the best things to happen to pizza in a long

time.

1/4 cup butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup heavy cream

Pinch of salt and pepper

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and

sauté for 2 or 3 minutes. Stir in the cheese, cream, salt and pepper

and heat through, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

It isn't an end - it's a beginning!

Tena

[Wheatfreedude]

One thing that you may want to certain to do, it snack on items that actually have protein. Protein is what makes you feel full and it's the driving force toward satiation (fancy word for feeling full).

Opt for:

Low salt roasted nuts (3TBS = 5g protein)

All natural low fat luncheon meats

All natural low fat veggie frozen burritos

Low fat cheeses/string cheeses

Low fat cottage cheese

Low fat/non-fat Greek yogurts

You're brain needs protein and GOOD fats to tell the rest of your body that you're full. You'll thank me.

PS - Drink 70-100oz of water too

~Wheetfreedude~

[MagpieWrites]

Magpie, you have a way with words.

The sad thing? I talk like I write.

And it gets worse.... when very very irate, I apparently turn into a foul mouthed mashup of Dr Suess and Winnie the Pooh. Complete with rhyming.

My home life gets very odd some days.

[lucia]

Just wanted to chime in that gluten-free beer is good, and some it is great! RedBridge is pretty good, and the others that I've tried have been great. Turns out there's no reason beer has to be made out of wheat.

If it's less about the beer though and more about the experience of hitting the bar after work, there are plenty of substitutions. The best to my taste is cider, which bars (where I live anyway) also have on tap.

[kareng]

The sad thing? I talk like I write.And it gets worse.... when very very irate, I apparently turn into a foul mouthed mashup of Dr Suess and Winnie the Pooh. Complete with rhyming.My home life gets very odd some days.

Turns out there's no reason beer has to be made out of wheat.

Just to clarify for a stray reader who may not know this:

Not all gluten beer has wheat - most don't. What they all have, if not gluten-free, is barley. Which of course, is a no-no.

[ftmomma]

Thanks for all the replies (and a few new recipies) 15 more minutes and I'm outta here. I survived. :-)

It's more just the "can't live on autopilot" anymore that will take a little getting used to. Just grabbing wahtever is in the break room, finishing my kids snacks or sandwhiches....eating whatever is out in social situations just because its there. Hey....sound kind of silly I was doing those things anyway.

Enjoy the weekend all~

[Jestgar]

You get a new 'auto pilot'. It just takes a while.

[Skylark]

You get a new 'auto pilot'. It just takes a while.

This is SO true! Mine unerringly locates fruits and veggies in break rooms and stashing Larabars in my desk is now second-nature. I don't go anywhere without an "emergency Larabar" in my purse.

[Jen13]

Hi, I just want to reply to what you wrote because I can definetly relate.

I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease about a month ago. At first, it didn't really hit me as to how different my life would forever be. I am realizing now- that I cannot go out with my friends and enjoy a good beer(even though I hated it before because I became wayyy to bloated after a few sips and started getting sick. However, I am starting to find alternatives to what I can consume when I go out- if anything. Thanks to a lot of great websites out there that show me what alcohol I can have and what to stay away from. Not sure if you are aware of this or like the following, but you can have (or at least I have been safe with) Red Wine and vodka- Arnolds Palmer has NOT made me sick. Hope you can enjoy it:)

It has been around a month since my diagnoses and months of being trapt in my home because I was so sick, it is all starting to hit me. I do feel alone and I feel like life sucks in many ways. But I know that it will get easier to cope with and manage. I wish you the very best, and I hope you never experience the horrible sickness ever again. Good luck with everything.

Jen