Why You Shouldn't Criticize Others For How They Eat Gluten Free



The Evolution of a Gluten Free Lifestyle
Everyone who is gluten-free has gone through the process of learning how to adjust to the gluten free lifestyle in their own way. Most of us who have Celiac went through the stages of grief  - shock/denial, pain, anger, depression/loneliness, the upwards turn, reconstruction and working through then acceptance and hope. Going from the traditional lifestyle of eating normally to a lifestyle with strict guidelines based on the wellness of our entire being is tough to take on. It’s something that takes time to work through and I believe that everyone goes through an evolution when being diagnosed with Celiac Disease or a gluten intolerance. With all the negativity towards others lately, I think it's important to understand that not everyone is at the same point you are and that everyone is going through this process in their own way.


Step 1 (We replace the foods we once missed):
First, we look for the simple substitutes to replace the foods that we absolutely love and that are convenient so that we can still feel normal. Gluten free breads, pastas, pizzas, cookies, etc. Sure they are more expensive than their gluten filled counterparts but it’s definitely worth it to us to feel like we still belong to the gluten eating world.  When going gluten-free it's irrelevant that a good amount of time is needed to educate yourself on where gluten can be hiding and where the dangerous ingredients lie.

Step 2 (We become more aware of the ingredients that goes into our body):
After finally starting to feel better from eating gluten-free for a while, we start to pay a little more attention to the other ingredients in our food that may not be that good for us. Food has turned into a necessity to live rather than an entertainment factor which it once was to us. Going gluten-free really makes us sit up and take notice that what we put into our body affects our overall health. This is such a simple thing but something that takes a shock to the system to comprehend.

Step 3 (We realize how these foods affect our body and the importance of avoiding them):
Overtime, we then start to take notice to preservatives, GMO’s, food coloring, additives, organic and whole foods. Something that most of us would have never even thought to pay attention to in our glory days of eating fast food, frozen pizzas and doughnuts. But now we understand the truth to the saying, “garbage in, garbage out”, and what we actually put into our bodies. It really does affect our overall health and well-being.

Be aware of others and where they are at in this process:
My point to all of this is to help bring awareness to those in the gluten-free community to show that living a gluten-free lifestyle means something different to everyone. Today, our gluten-free diet may mean something different to us than what it will mean tomorrow.  The positive thing is that we are always learning and evolving. That being said, let’s be kind to those who are just starting this journey and are in the first or second steps of grieving and venturing into the gluten-free world. Think back and remember when your journey started as and how you may have evolved from the place you used to be to where you are now. Be kind, be informative, and most importantly, be supportive of those in the gluten-free community around us.



What step are you in for eating gluten-free? Comment below! All opinions are welcome!
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5 comments:

  1. Great post lovely! I love cooking different types of gluten free bread, chickpea flour is amazing! I've nominated you to take part in the liebster award because I really love reading your blog! liebster is fun and a good way to get to know a bit more about the authors of the blogs you love. feel free to hop over to my blog to find out about it! x

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  2. What a refreshing, positive post I think the Celiac Community (and others) needs to read. I'll definitely be forwarding this blog post link onward. Thank you so much for a well-written blog post!

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  3. Thank you both for commenting and I'm glad you liked it!

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  4. Thank you for this post! As a recently diagnosed celiac (May 1st), I have been gobsmacked at the rudeness and judgemental behaviour I have seen between celiacs. It has made me reluctant to express my opinions and share my ideas online.

    Since you asked... I've been borrowing all the GF cookbooks from my library, and buying the ones that really appeal. Now that the weather is cooler and I don't mind having the oven on, I'm ready to try my hand at GF baking. I still enjoy baking bread, cakes, cookies, etc.. for my gluten-eating family. I just pretend those muffins are hockey pucks, and don't feel at all like I'm missing out. :)

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  5. What a mature teen you are Taylor! My family (ages 10 to 79) and I were diagnosed with celiac and gluten sensitivity 2 years ago. We went through the same process you describe. It truly is a personal process that evolves. The most profound part has been looking back on my life. I now understand why I was depressed and so sick...and, it explains my family's history as well. The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together. Love to read your posts. I'll share your blog with my 10-year old.

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