And as I sit here thinking about it, the thing I miss most of all isn’t even a food item. The thing I miss most is being able to walk into any restaurant and order something off the menu without having to ask a billion questions, do research before hand, and then I still have a 70% chance of getting sick. Not being able to travel wherever I want without taking food, or making sure there is a place I can buy/store food. Having that freedom. (And I admit I miss McDonald’s and Pizza Hut most of all) But at the same time I know I’m healthier for it. (because we all know McDonald’s isn’t really food)

The cost of my food bugs me as well, the fact that companies can take advantage of people who have to eat gluten-free by charging and arm and a leg (and probably my first-born) for the SMALLEST portion of food they can get away with giving you. But I guess that’s life, nobody is in it to make nothing.  And at the moment there isn’t really anything I can do about it.  (except refuse to look at my personal grocery bill)

Most of my family has been incredibly supportive this last year. A few members fail to see how hard this has been on me. And think jokes about how expensive I am are funny while they aren’t. But thats a minority.There is only one other diagnosed member of my family, but I don’t believe we are the only two. (We had to have gotten it from somewhere right?)

The Glutening have gotten fewer and farther apart (although the reactions are just as bad) which leads me to believe I’m actually starting to get the hang of this. Although I’m not going to lie and tell you that I’m completely okay with it. Because I’m not. There are still times when the idea of always having to read ingredients and watch everything I eat for the rest of my life is so depressing I just want to give up. But the moment passes and I move on with my life.

Surprises. Sometimes it seems as if every time I think I have this under control, or figured out something new pops up and smacks me in the face. Take DH for example. No one EVERY told me I could get DH, but during August when I got a rash that looked like poison ivy (even though I hadn’t been near any) and wouldn’t go away with calamine or anti-itch meds I discovered the wondrous joys of DH. I was miserable and of course it was the hottest week of the summer and I was in charge of watching 10 preschoolers for the week. In pants. Outside. Running around. It eventually went away… (although I have a few spots of darker skin)

I guess what I am trying to say is: I survived a year Gluten-Free and although it was hard, and full of challenges, I am glad that I got that year, and I am looking forward to the year to come….(sorta lol) Thank you for reading my blog and I hope to post more during this next year (Lord willing) and I hope that in another year I’ll have more positive things to say

Kristi

It’s amazing! I had thawed them out (accidentally on the way home) and cooked it in my little toaster oven for about 7 minutes with cheese, sauce and pepperoni, it’s a bit on the thin side for me….But I love it! Such a change of pace and I just love.

Pizza in it’s bag

So good I couldn’t wait to take the pic

What I used:

Udi’s Pizza Crust

Ragu Homestyle Pizza Sauce

Kraft Natural’s Sharp Cheese

Hormel Pepperoni’s

As you can see from the picture I could hardy wait to eat it…

It had amazing texture, great taste, and I just had to thaw it out. Very easy and very yummy

I found it online at the Gluten Free Store slightly more expensive than at my local heath food place

You can also buy it at Udi’s website http://udisglutenfree.com
Kristi

The day I found out I had been GF for a few days I went straight home and ate 4 slices of plain white bread, I regretted that for hours…after that I’ve tried to look at the upsides….

I feel amazing! I didn’t get sick all winter for the first time in my life! No more worrying about when my next ‘attack’ would been, where all the bathrooms were in any given building, being afraid of any long trips because I never knew when an ‘attack’ would come. My stomach isn’t swollen anymore, I’ve lost a lot of weight, I’ve gained more energy and I just feel better!

Overall I’d say the upsides from going gluten-free outweigh the negative; even though it’s been hard at times and I’m sure it isn’t over yet, but it’s worth it. Every time there’s a pizza party, a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese, or a Hershey’s Cookies and Cream bar I just have to remember about the upsides and move on with my life Stop living in the past and what-not…

Plus my family has been amazingly supportive; they even went GF with me for two days last month during the GF challenge! I don’t know what I’d do without them

Anyway that’s my post for today, I’ll try posting more often from now on and I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Kristi

I was just at school and needed a drink, and lo and behold NO pepsi. again. So I got a Root-Beer well then I read the back and it had Modified Food Starch and I was like Uh-Oh! So I logged onto the website (mugrootbeer.com) and looked at the FAQ’s and it said like TEN times that the product was in fact GF This is cool because it’s one of my favorite drinks

I also thought of a new “You might have celiac if” saying “You might have celiac if: It takes you twenty minutes to make a sandwich, that takes you less than 10 to eat.” Last night I got home late and realized I hadn’t eaten so I put some bread in the oven to toast…It takes about twenty minutes in my gas oven I need to get a dedicated toaster.

Kristi

Just search around you’ll be surprised what you can find! Like Hershey’s Chocolate is Gluten-Free! (mmmmm)

Happy Hunting!

Please feel free to share your favorite gluten-free ‘normal’ food!

Kristi

Sure I’ve gotten a hold of gluten since then (by accident, and the one time after I was diagnosed that I ate a Peanut butter sandwich out of defiance to prove to myself that I still could. I couldn’t. But that’s another story), but I’ve been living Gluten-Free with Celiac since the end of Aug. last year!

Since being diagnosed I’ve started this blog, met a total of ONE person who had celiac in person (I’ve met a few online), eaten some really tasty foods, and eaten some really nasty foods

I am so thankful to God that I am better now tho. Even when I complain that I miss the foods I am still great-ful that I am no longer sick. I just thought I’d share that with y’all. Now off to cook some spaghetti!!

Kristi

Kristi met Kinnikinnick Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts the most amazing things on the planet!! I just put them on some aluminum foil (one will usually do)  and cover with pizza sauce, some hamburger meat, and then cover it all in cheese! It tastes so amazing! There is a link at to buy it from the site, and you can look for it at your local Gluten-Free store! Enjoy!

http://consumer.kinnikinnick.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.home/productcategoryid/34#62013300557

Please share your favorite foods, recipes and ideas

Kristi

You should go read it and then post your own here! (Or on your blog)

You might have Celiac if: You have your own Peanut Butter jar and shiver at the thought of evil crumbs entering it.

You might have Celiac if you think crumbs are evil (which they are)

You might have Celiac if you do a happy dance when you find a food that is Gluten-Free that you USED to eat

You might have Celiac if someone has ever told you “A little gluten won’t hurt” and you wanted to scream or smack them!

Now it’s your turn! Post post post!

(Lactose-Free one’s too!!)

Kristi

I had been researching places to eat online other than AppleBee’s (not that I don’t LOVE Applebee’s I just figured my family might want to shake it up a little). I found out that Chipotle had a Gluten-Free menu and decided to try it next time I was in Topeka. (Fast forward a week or so and let the fun begin)

Dad and I were in Topeka (which happens to have a Chipotle) and needed to eat. So we of course decided to try this ‘new’ restaurant, we walked in and went up to the counter. We spoke to the woman there. What follows is EXACTLY how the convo took place….I swear.

Dad: “Do y’all have a gluten-free menu we could look at?”

Lady Behind the Counter (LBC): “Burrito?”

Dad: “No. Do you have a GLUTEN-FREE menu I could look at??”

LBC: “Burrito…Bowl??”

Me: *silence* “Maybe we should leave?”

Dad: “Do. You. Have. Anything. Gluten. Free????”

LBC: “Burrito?”

Dad: “Can I speak to the manager?”

LBC: “I AM manager. Burrito?”

Dad: “Could I speak to someone who can understand me?”

LBC: *yelling to grill guy* “Talk to these people. They no understand me.”

Grill guy: “What’s up?”

Dad: “Do y’all have ANYTHING gluten-free???”

Grill guy: “Yeah, pretty much the hard taco’s and anything you want to put on it…” *looks at LBC* “NO WHEAT”….”Put on clean gloves and ONLY use un opened ingredients….”

Me: *nervous*

LBC: “Ok. What you want?”

Me: “A crunchy taco with just cheese and meat”

LBC: “Meat spicy.”

Me: “…..Ok…..”

After I got through the line I heard her turn to my Dad and say. NO JOKE

LBC: “Burrito?”

Anyone else have a funny story they want to share about trying to eat out gluten-free? Please share it!!

Kristi