I Hear Gluten Free Get Grouped With Things Like Vegetarianism

[UnhappyCoeliac]

Heard some bimbo on the radio saying...Assumptions about a guy you can make if he takes you to a 'gluten free' and 'vegetarian restaurant'

Was kinda mad, felt like ringing up and explaining the difference between eating for a life style choice and eating a certain way because you are forced to by a disease.

Also heard the skinny model bimbo types yawning on eating gluten free. Some people eat gluten free food... for like a FAD or a fashion and it kinda takes away from the seriousness of it all, these bimbo morons looking for a new crash diet to go on.

Anyone else see people not making the distinction?

ps: Dont know where to put this thread

[sandsurfgirl]

My favorite is when they think it has something to do with sugar. Just tonight a friend who is a NURSE said to me "Well you might not want to eat that with your gluten diet. It has a lot of sugar."

I'm not on a "gluten" diet and sugar is not my problem.

Some lady today at Sprouts was looking at a gluten free pizza. I told her it was good, although expensive and that there are pizza crust mixes that are cheaper and better. Then I asked if she had celiac and said "No, I'm just trying to watch what I eat."

Well lady, maybe you should try cutting out oh... pizza. I told her if she doesn't have celiac she's better off buying the whole wheat one. EYEROLL

[Pac]

My favorite: "Of course you can eat this ......(cheese, ham, jam, chips, crackers) it's all natural." For some reason people think I just want to eat healthy and gluten is in artificial foods. If it's labeled "no artificial colorants or preservatives" it must be ok for me. :-)

[polarbearscooby]

My sister is a vegetarian (by choice) and for the first few months after I was diagnosed she accused me of just making a choice not to eat wheat. Until I had my first major glutening, I was sick as a dog, and everyone around me knew it. After that she's layed off a little.

And she isn't the only one in my family who just ASSUMES I made a choice. It really ticks me off....

[T.H.]

Don't forget organic - you don't have to check the labels of things that are organic, right? They'd never had added gluten or cross contamination.

[polarbearscooby]

Don't forget organic - you don't have to check the labels of things that are organic, right? They'd never had added gluten or cross contamination.

Oh Gosh! lol How could I forget organic!

Also if it's "low in carbs" I should be able to eat it, right? *DEEP SIGH*

[kayo]

I also get sick of people saying, I should eat gluten free too so I can lose some weight.

That's when I know they really don't know what gluten is or why people have to stick to a gluten free diet.

[bonnie blue]

I also get the comments from friends and co-workers about the weight loss and how they should do my diet, my reply is always ok the weight loss came from being un-diagnosed for so long, not the gluten free diet. They dont understand the risk of eating gluten,(and yes I have tried to explain many times) so my reply now is just yes I do eat much healthier, and a well balanced diet and exercise is good for everyone. I have even got to the point of eating alone in my office so everyone doesnt comment on my lunch, (heavy sigh) sometimes I just feel so alienated from the rest of the world.

[kitgordon]

I also get sick of people saying, I should eat gluten free too so I can lose some weight.

That's when I know they really don't know what gluten is or why people have to stick to a gluten free diet.

I've gained nearly 10 lbs. being gluten-free; I assume because my body is actually absorbing fats now. And we all know gluten free cookies, etc. are so lo-cal - NOT! If people want to lose weight, why don't they try eating less, or healthier, instead of imitating sick folks? Geez!

[polarbearscooby]

I've gained nearly 10 lbs. being gluten-free; I assume because my body is actually absorbing fats now. And we all know gluten free cookies, etc. are so lo-cal - NOT! If people want to lose weight, why don't they try eating less, or healthier, instead of imitating sick folks? Geez!

HEAR HEAR!

I hate it when people tell me "At least you can loose weight" or "Maybe I should do that and get thin"

It irks me so!

[mushroom]

Yeah, the organic bit. Even the markets group gluten free with organic, but not with vegetarian or diabetic necessarily.

I once took an organic gardening glass and we had a potluck, and one of the gals was shocked that I put chicken stock in something and said, Oh, I just assumed it would all be vegetarian As we have found out, never assume anything anywhere.

[SGWhiskers]

It makes me nuts that my new grocery store puts the gluten-free foods with the organic whole wheat products. A big bank of gluten-free and whole wheat all mixed in together. One product I want to buy sits right next to a bag of Wheat Gluten. I find myself wiping down a lot of my cans and bags before I open them just to get the paranoia off them.

[flutterby]

I've had the same experience. My favorite was a vegan acquaintance who said "Oh yeah, dude. Cheer up!!! I TOTALLY know how you feel. I'm vegan, after all."

I explained to him as politely as possible that the difference was that he has a CHOICE.

The best advice I heard was during my initial diagnosis. A close friend told me about her Celiac friend, and how they would just laugh and laugh and laugh when people said things like "OH! BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE EGG THEN!"

It's also important to give kudos to people for trying, even if they don't get it right.

[Loey]

Heard some bimbo on the radio saying...Assumptions about a guy you can make if he takes you to a 'gluten free' and 'vegetarian restaurant'

Was kinda mad, felt like ringing up and explaining the difference between eating for a life style choice and eating a certain way because you are forced to by a disease.

Also heard the skinny model bimbo types yawning on eating gluten free. Some people eat gluten free food... for like a FAD or a fashion and it kinda takes away from the seriousness of it all, these bimbo morons looking for a new crash diet to go on.

Anyone else see people not making the distinction?

ps: Dont know where to put this thread

Wish I could remember which thread has the video of an Indian doctor talking about just this. That celebrities and other people want to go on the gluten free diet to lose weight but it isn't necessarily healthy for them and it is the ONLY way we can eat. I would love to be able to have a slice of pizza as I remember it ( and I can't even have the gluten-free type right now because I'm off of dairy and tomatoes). Do I like the fact that I did lose weight, yes. Do I like the way I lost it (bedridden for 6 weeks), HELL no! None of us chose to live this life. It's the hand that was dealt us.

OK, I did find one clip about the celebrities using it as a way to lose weight and another clip of a doctor talking about celiac. I couldn't find the original clip I was looking for. I pasted them both down below.

Loey

[mbrookes]

Thank you so much for the link to the doctor talking about gluten problems. Every family member, friend and acquaintance of a Celiac should have to watch that. It would solve a lot of problems for many of us. Thanks again!

[srall]

I get the..."Oh, well the co-op sells organic wheat so you could try that."

And then last night my gluten free daughter and I went out to dinner. There is a Latin restaurant that has a lot of "safe" things on the menu. So I spend time with the waiter talking about what we can and can't eat...no croutons on the salad. He was very prepared to discuss what on the menu was gluten free, so imagine my frustration when my daughters pork chop came out with fried onion rings on top. And then the waiter brought us bread and butter. I don't expect everyone to know what gluten is, but he was so informed when discussing what was okay to eat from their menu.

[Loey]

I get the..."Oh, well the co-op sells organic wheat so you could try that."

And then last night my gluten free daughter and I went out to dinner. There is a Latin restaurant that has a lot of "safe" things on the menu. So I spend time with the waiter talking about what we can and can't eat...no croutons on the salad. He was very prepared to discuss what on the menu was gluten free, so imagine my frustration when my daughters pork chop came out with fried onion rings on top. And then the waiter brought us bread and butter. I don't expect everyone to know what gluten is, but he was so informed when discussing what was okay to eat from their menu.

That bites it. I went to a restaurant that my GI recommended for their gluten-free menu except they didn't bring what I ordered out correctly. We had waited so long for the meal that I just ordered a second appetizer.

The Triumph Dining series has cards you can purchase that are laminate and in several languages (cuisines). One side is in English, the other is in the language of the cuisine. I pasted the link to the cards below. Of course if the chef is going to ignore you, what's the point?

Loey

Open Original Shared Link

[Loey]

Thank you so much for the link to the doctor talking about gluten problems. Every family member, friend and acquaintance of a Celiac should have to watch that. It would solve a lot of problems for many of us. Thanks again!

You're welcome! I'm lucky that my husband and son understand my special needs (and that gluten will never be in my house) but when i try to explain it to others I get a glazed look. Glad if you'll be able to show it to someone and have them learn what it means to be on this diet and what it does to us if we're not.

Have a happy gluten free Thanksgiving!

Loey