A Glimmer of Hope

What do you notice when you look at this box? Well, if you have Celiac disease you notice that it says GLUTEN FREE!! And, if you happen to read this blog periodically you might remember the post I made when I was pregnant about how much I just love Fruity Pebbles cereal. This is very exciting for me.

You see, I've had to put almost everything extra curricular on hold--including my blog--while I literally spend all my free time researching my new gluten free life. It is so time consuming because there really is a lot to learn. Over the Christmas holiday I have experimented with a lot of GFree recipes. Some have been good and some have not. I have also spent a LOT of money buying different foods to try. Let me just say that unequivocally almost all baked goods SUCK! I mean really, really bad. The one bread that people tolerate most costs $6.50 for 12 slices and I have to drive to Memphis to buy it. I just don't believe that you should have to tolerate what you eat. Eating should be enjoyable. So, until the breads and baked goods improve, I'll be abstaining.

This is my prediction, though. In the next 2 years the quality, quantity and accessibility of Gfree food is going to increase ten fold. Celiac is one of the most common, altough untreated, diseases in America. More and more people will figure out that this diet is not only critical for some but super healthy for everyone. And speaking of healthy, I think I am going to notice a big difference in my family's health. One of the "side effects" of this new diet is my having to study every food label that comes into this house. It's been a real eye opener. I just can't believe how much "stuff" goes into the food we eat. It's horrible. My goal is to shop the outsides of the grocery stores, meaning avoiding all the processed foods in the middle, and buying as much organic foods at possible (well, everything except the Fruity Pebbles). I know its more expensive, but man! I think I really owe it to my family and myself.

That being said, I thank God that he has blessed my husband with a good job that allows us to shop the outsides of the grocery store and that we have had the luxury of trying lots of new foods. I don't take that opportunity for granted and realize that this disease could be much harder for someone with a very limited income. While I get down sometimes when I can't eat pizza or my favorite breakfast breads, I am constantly reminded by other events in my life how truly fortunate I am. This might seem like a mountain to me sometimes, but compared to other issues its just a mole hill.

My new mantra

"It is not a sacrifice to give up gluten. It is a gift to understand the need to give it up."