Hi, everyone! Sorry for my lack of posting this past week; I’ve been insanely busy with finals coming up and finishing up the school year. Today, I wanted to talk about going gluten-free! Recently I discovered my body’s intolerance to gluten (of which I suspect has been going on for years, the more I think about it), so I have made the commitment to go gluten-free. For those of you who don’t know, gluten is what is found in wheat, barley, and rye. So, yes, I am no longer able to eat the foods that I once cherished: mac & cheese, pizza, perogies – you get the point.
As disappointing as this was to come to terms with, I am trying to look at it as a blessing in disguise. It has forced me to eat much healthier, and honestly, not feeling like I’m being stabbed whenever I eat is enough to keep me away from gluten forever. My only complaint is that it’s difficult to be gluten-free away at school, when you don’t have a kitchen. Gluten-free can be a bit of a challenge, given that gluten practically sneaks its way into virtually everything. Did you know that SOY SAUCE even contains gluten? Fortunately, my sister, Sam, has been gluten-free for a while now, so I’m generally aware of what does/does not contain gluten. I have a few friends here at school (shoutout to Jordyn and Jordan!) who are also GF so, thankfully, I am not alone.
If you’re like me and are unable to access a kitchen and are on a meal plan, just try and be aware of what may or may not contain gluten. If you have to question it, I would most likely give it a ‘no’, because it’s really not worth the discomfort. Gluten is one of those things you can’t just cut back on; you have to entirely eliminate it from your diet in order to let your body heal from the damage gluten has previously done. Once you get over the initial shock of having to cut out 90% of what you eat, it’s definitely doable. Just feeling better in general has been my incentive.
Thankfully, Apps have been a lifesaver for me in this situation. The ones I use include: Find Me GF, Shopwell, and GF Fast Food (for those late night cravings – sue me). Luckily, many managements are becoming aware of the GF sensation sweeping the nation – some people are just doing it as a fad, whereas others truly cannot eat it (especially if you have celiac’s disease). Because of this, many restaurants offer a gluten-free menu, or are at least aware of what foods do/do not contain gluten. Just be sure to ask whenever you have any questions!
Like any other elimination diet, this will take some getting used to. I’m trying to remain optimistic about it, though – check out those DELICIOUS gluten-free pancakes I had this morning! It’s not all that bad, I promise. I’ll be sure to post some tips once I become more experienced. Good luck for those of you who are embarking on a similar journey!
Truly,
Taylor