A Gluten Free Life

Everyone I run into that finds out I am a Celiac is instantly amazed by the diet and self-control you have to have. It can really be a challenge at first, and almost depressing.  Once you get the swing of things, you'll feel like its a sixth sense to you.

I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease over three and a half years ago.  For those of you who don't know, Celiac Disease is where your body is unable to break down gluten. Instead, it destroys your villi in your small intestines preventing you from absorbing your vitamins and nutrients. This is something not to be ignored if you have it.  So I have no choice but, to eat gluten free.

Being a Celiac came in handy when I was pregnant with Aurbi. I didn't have one sign of morning sickness. My OB/GYN said that when you have a controlled diet before getting pregnant, such as being a Celiac or diabetic, you may not have much or any morning sickness. Which was fantastic! (I think I filled my canteen with nausea and throwing up for the six months I was sick before they discovered I had Celiacs.)

Eating gluten-free doesn't just mean you stop eating baked good and bread. There are a couple other dozen ingredients you need to cut out too.  For starters, modified corn starch and anything with the word "malt" in if, both of these are made with barley and wheat in most cases.   In addition to that, I can't have food coloring or caramel coloring too.  I know, its insane.  Some people can still keep these ingredients in their diet, but once I cut it out of mine, I noticed my headaches went away and my energy spiked.

 By far, the hardest thing about being a Celiac is eating out and at other people's house.  As of right now, here are a list of my go to foods and restaurants that will accommodate eating gluten free easily:

-Kneaders: Their salads are fantastic! You can also get any sandwich "protein style" at your request. At the Kneaders in Lehi and only at this Kneaders their eclairs and Cream of Broccoli soup are both gluten friendly.  The owner or his wife is a Celiac so they made a few changes of their own to work better with their diet.  And can I just say, you can't even tell the difference? They both taste incredible!

- The Wild Zucchuni Grill or Cafe Paesan: They have a gluten free option for a sandwich, with gluten free bread that is amazing, or you can also do a pizza.  We are frequent diners here, and when I say frequent, I mean they know our order and name the second we walk in the door. Pathetic, I know.

-Coasta Vida: Everything there is gluten free except their wheat and flour tortillas and of course their pies. And the second you say gluten-free, they whip of their gloves, wash their hands and put on new gloves.

- Astro Burger: When you really want a good ol' fashion gunge burger with a gluten-free bun, this is the place to go! Eating a burger "protein style" can get old. So its nice to have the option to go there and get one.  On top of that, they cook their fries in a completely separate fryer to prevent cross-contamination. I always get their Bacon Cheeseburger, I figure if I eat gluten free, I can afford the extra fat from the cheese and bacon.

-Sweet Cake Bake Shop in Kaysville- Their entire bakery is gluten free and heavenly!  Their bread and rolls taste just like your grandma's homemade ones. And the rest of their stuff does too.  They have cupcakes, cookies, bundts, pies the list goes on. But you should definitely go check them out.

-Harmon's:  They are my go to place for buying gluten free ingredients to make meals at home. They have a huge selection and the best prices of all the other stores out there. To top it all off, they have multiple brands to choose from and an array of products too.

-Eating at Someone's Home:  My best suggestion is to always offer to bring something you know you can eat. That way you know you will at least get something to eat while you are there.  My friends and family have all been fantastic and always check if I can have something or not.  Don't be afraid to speak up either.  It feels high maintenance at first, but everyone will get used to it. Especially when it seems like everyone has a one or two food allergies.

To sum it up, eating gluten-free is a lot easier then it used to be. Most chain restaurants have gluten free menu's( Chili's, Applebee's, Olive Garden, Five Guys and Fries.) After a while you get a hang of a gluten- free life.  You learn to modify recipes and really think outside the box of how to take a regular Joe recipe and turn it gluten-free.

If you are new to the gluten free world and need some pointers or recipes, let me know! I am more than happy to share this with you!