style="font-size:15px;"> People who are new to the concept of being gluten-free sometimes comment that the diet is boring. When we ask what they’re eating, their cuisine routine usually centers on carrots and rice cakes. Who wouldn’t be bored with that? That type of a diet is appalling, not appealing.
A healthful, gluten-free diet doesn’t have to be boring or restrictive. You’re not constrained to eating 32 individual portions of fruits and vegetables each day, like a rabbit nibbling nervously on carrots. If you enjoy bland foods, snaps for you. But if you think gluten-free has to be flavor-free, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
You don’t have to let the gluten-free lifestyle hold you back from doing anything you want to do. Well, okay, there are some things you can’t do – like eat a pizza from the place around the corner or devour a stack of gluten-laden donuts. But as far as your activities and lifestyle are concerned, you can – and should – get out and about as you always have.
For the most part, ordering out isn’t as easy as walking into a restaurant and asking for a gluten-free menu. But eating at restaurants is definitely doable, and getting easier every day; you just need to learn to special order, tune in to contamination concerns, and ask – chances are getting better all the time that they may actually have a gluten-free menu. Traveling is a breeze when you master eating at restaurants (and get a handle on language considerations, if you’re traveling abroad). Going to social events just requires a little advance planning, and holidays may barely faze you after you get the hang of going out in gluten-free style. Chapter 6 of Book I gives you more information on being gluten-free when you’re out and about.
Lots of ideas are key in raising happy, healthy, gluten-free kids. Some of the highlights include giving them control of their diet from day one, always having yummy gluten-free treats on hand, reinforcing the benefits of the gluten-free lifestyle (if you need some crib notes, see Chapter 6 of Book I), and remembering that they’re learning how to feel about the lifestyle from you. Promoting an optimistic outlook can instill a positive approach in them.
By the time your kids are teens, they should be in full control of the diet. The most you can do is help them understand the diet and, just as important, the implications if they choose not to follow it. Young adults away from home at college have a huge advantage these days, as many colleges and universities now feature and highlight gluten-free menu options.
Setting reasonable expectations for what life will be like after you adopt a gluten-free lifestyle is important because you will encounter challenges and you need to prepare to handle them well. Friends, family, and loved ones may not understand. They may not accommodate your diet when you hope or expect they will. You may find social events to be overwhelming at first, or you may get confused or frustrated and feel like giving up on the diet. You can overcome these trials and emerge stronger for them.
This book is the resource you need – wade your way through it, and dog-ear the pages you want to come back to when you need some practical or emotional reminders for how to deal with difficult issues. If you have an optimistic but realistic approach, you’ll encounter fewer obstacles along the way.
The good news is that because the gluten-free diet is exploding in popularity, you can find lots of information about it. The bad news is that not all of that information is accurate.
Be leery of what you hear and read, and check the reliability of the source on everything. If you find conflicting information – and you will – dig deeper until you find out which source is right. Just remember to keep a skeptical eye out for the good, the bad, and the completely ludicrous.
Surviving Social Situations
Eating away from home and entertaining guests at your place can be intimidating when you’re on a restricted diet, but you really can do it successfully! All it takes is a few supplies and an adventurous attitude. And with some easy food-preparation techniques, whipping up a delicious and satisfying meal – even for people who can eat anything – is no trouble at all.
Fortunately, gluten-free eating is popular. Most people have heard of the gluten-free diet, and many restaurants are prepared to accommodate you. So surviving social situations on a gluten-free diet may not be as tough as you fear.
You probably know how annoying it is to hang out with people who never do what you want to do or eat where you want to eat and constantly try to change the plans of the group. But that doesn’t need to describe you just because you need to avoid gluten.
One of the first ways for you to set the stage for social survival is to tell your family and friends about the limitations of your gluten-free diet. Be specific but brief about what you can and can’t eat. If someone asks for information about gluten or your new diet, feel free to share the basics in a positive light. No need for tons of detail on personal health issues or a lecture on the evils of gluten. If no one asks, assume people aren’t interested in making it a topic of discussion.
Use these tips to be an upbeat gluten-free diner:
✔ Asking if something contains gluten is very important because you can’t tell by looking. Ask, “Can you tell me if this contains gluten?” If it does, just skip it. No need for a big explanation. If the person you’re talking to doesn’t know what gluten is, your best bet might be to talk with the manager.
✔ Avoid saying, “I can’t eat that.” Just say, “No thanks,” when offered a gluten-containing item.
✔ Don’t pout or complain if there’s nothing you can eat at that moment. You can always eat before or after an event.
✔ Always be prepared with a protein bar or snack in your car or backpack.
✔ Avoid discussing diet or digestion issues during a meal!
✔ Don’t generalize why everyone should go gluten-free.
Successfully cohabitating with people who don’t share your gluten-free lifestyle requires a bit of organization and communication. Here are a few simple ideas to help you keep your environment safe and your roommate relations strong:
✔ Be kind and specific about your expectations of cooking and cleaning procedures. Reassure roomies that you’re not limiting what they can prepare, just asking that they keep things clean.
✔ Keep your foods and preparation items as separate from others’ as possible.
✔ Clean your kitchen well daily.
✔ If you find your frustration level rising because of lack of cooperation on the part of your roommates, take on kitchen duty yourself.
