Irritated With My Family!

[RachelisFacebook]

Okay, so saying this makes me feel like a greedy b-word, but hear me out.

When I make a special baked good for myself, I have to hide it from my family if I want any. Now I don't like hiding things, and I don't mind sharing. Its just that everyone else in my house can eat whatever they please, but they choose to eat my stuff first. I can't stand it! I feel a bit like they're disrespecting me because of it. I don't know, maybe I'm overreacting. Does anyone else feel this way, or have a similar problem? How do you handle it?

[hh73]

They are totally disrespecting you IF you have already told them how you feel. What have you done to tell them about these feelings?

[RachelisFacebook]

Well, nothing. I just figured it was a given that "this is Rachel's gluten-free food, so eat your gluten-laden brownies before you eat hers."

[kareng]

Whe I was a teen, I had this problem with regular gluten cookies. I would make a double batch, eat 2, go to work, come home eat 2 and by morning, they were all gone. I started taking a baggie for myself into my room.

I still put my cookies in a seperate bag because everyone else might have gluten on thier fingers. I tell them I have my own baggie & this is your container so you don't have to worry about crumbs. This might be a good way for you without sounding like an ungrateful daughter.

[hh73]

Well, nothing. I just figured it was a given that "this is Rachel's gluten-free food, so eat your gluten-laden brownies before you eat hers."

I think you've found your problem! I have found in my life that people are well meaning, but you must communicate your wishes to others - they can't read minds, and dont mean to disrespect you!

It may also help to label your food e.g. "Rachel's Gluten Free Brownies"

Little reminders help in big ways!

[kareng]

I think you've found your problem! I have found in my life that people are well meaning, but you must communicate your wishes to others - they can't read minds, and dont mean to disrespect you!

It may also help to label your food e.g. "Rachel's Gluten Free Brownies"

Little reminders help in big ways!

Go to Walmart & get colored tape (in hardware section). Get a color your family would associate with you. Like you love purple & pink or lime green. Write gluten-free/ Rachel & stick it on everything they should keep thier gluteny hands off of. I do this at my house. It's just so you know that your PB or cookies or favorite cold cuts aren't contaminated with gluten crumbs.

[Marilyn R]

I think it is disrespectful of your family to eat your gluten-free food. My family isn't perfect, but they understand the importance of my food.

I've had to get really P.O. and verbal a couple of times for them to get this. That doesn't make me a greedy b word person, it just means I'm going to survive and some people (usually family) need reinforcement. You need to spell it out in an authoritative manner and voice. And you may need to repeat your instructions/requests.

They need to "get it". You didn't choose this, it's a DISEASE. They can flop down to the grocery store or fast food joint and pick up any number of things before eating your safe food. You don't have that option.

Meantime, I'd freeze all of my goodies in packages labeled "brocolli" or something else that they don't like. (I guess that makes me a sneaky B person .

[mushroom]

I think they just don't really think - they want it, it looks good, they eat it. My hub KNOWS that he can eat lots of stuff that I can't even though he's celiac- e.g., he can still eat soy, tomatoes, citrus, potato, corn. So I buy some special sorghum chips for me, and find him eating them, when I tell him THOSE ARE THE ONLY CHIPS IN THE HOUSE I CAN EAT!!!! In fact, the only chips I have FOUND that I can eat!!!!! GRRR. I am still not sure that he totally gets it

[Marilyn R]

I think they just don't really think - they want it, it looks good, they eat it. My hub KNOWS that he can eat lots of stuff that I can't even though he's celiac- e.g., he can still eat soy, tomatoes, citrus, potato, corn. So I buy some special sorghum chips for me, and find him eating them, when I tell him THOSE ARE THE ONLY CHIPS IN THE HOUSE I CAN EAT!!!! In fact, the only chips I have FOUND that I can eat!!!!! GRRR. I am still not sure that he totally gets it

I think you should remind hub what Lorraine Bobbit did to her hub. Cheating is cheating, and we can be down right mean when it comes to our food.

I've never seen sorghum chips, I guess you're getting them down under.

[mushroom]

I think you should remind hub what Lorraine Bobbit did to her hub. Cheating is cheating, and we can be down right mean when it comes to our food.

I've never seen sorghum chips, I guess you're getting them down under.

Yeah, Bobbit, a real appropriate name

Yep, an Aussie product. They grow the stuff there - we don't.

[gfreecollegegirl]

I've dealt with this as well! Most of the time, I don't have a problem sharing my treats with my family but sometimes I hide or mark certain foods and warn them that these foods are MINE and NOT theirs! For example, I marked all my condiments with bright round stickers that say "gluten free" and with "(my name) only!" and they are all on my own shelf at the bottom of the refrigerator. Although, all of this still did not stop my dad from using some of my strwaberry preserves one time. I let him know that it was totally unacceptable though and he won't be doing it again! haha!

It never hurts to remind your family of what they can't touch, even if they are tired of hearing it!

[cap6]

I label my stuff "mom" and no one touches. But it is also a compliment that they like your stuff.... or maybe not? ! Label & hide!

[GlutenFreeManna]

I think they just don't really think - they want it, it looks good, they eat it. My hub KNOWS that he can eat lots of stuff that I can't even though he's celiac- e.g., he can still eat soy, tomatoes, citrus, potato, corn. So I buy some special sorghum chips for me, and find him eating them, when I tell him THOSE ARE THE ONLY CHIPS IN THE HOUSE I CAN EAT!!!! In fact, the only chips I have FOUND that I can eat!!!!! GRRR. I am still not sure that he totally gets it

I have this problem too! I hide my chips and other goodies from my husband but he KNOWS I hide them from him so it's not like I'm being overly sneaky. He freely admits he will eat it if it's there in plain sight. He's not doing it to be disrepectful, he just forgets that I have so few snacks I can eat and he can run out and get something anytime he wants it. I do share most of my gluten-free stuff since our house is gluten-free, but there are some things that are expensive and he will eat a whole package if he sees it in the cabinet. So I hide things all over. We have a good laugh now and then when I find something that I hid and forgot about.

OP--I think you should employ a triple-threat strategy:

1. Nicely inform them that your gluten-free stuff is for YOU and ask them to eat their own stuff first.

2. Label with brightly colored tape.

3. Hide some of the goodies for later in case 1 & 2 fails.

[srall]

My daughter and I are gluten free and my husband is not. He really doesn't eat our "special" food. But what does drive me crazy is when the neighbor kids come over for snacks and either eat muffins I've made from expensive ingredients for my daughter, or the very expensive Lara bars, bunny snacks etc. It makes me feel so bad for being so stingy, but that stuff is so pricey and it's a stretch for me to just buy it for my daughter, much less feed the hungry neighbor boys. I now buy other snacks to keep on hand and just tell them that my daughter gets the gluten free stuff but they can have the other snacks. And it works pretty well because most children prefer the bad stuff. As far as the muffins go and gluten free foods I've made from scratch, it is sort of validating that the kids like what I make since my husband usually turns his nose up at my "special diet"

I'd say, make a specific request and label your food. I would not be above having a secret stash either. Good luck.