Thursday
Feb102011
Breaking News With Allergic Girl: Who She Is, About Her New Book, & How To Can WIN Your Own Copy
Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 1:33PM Read Allergic Girl's BLOG Please Don't Pass The Nuts
Watch Allergic Girl's BOOK TRAILER
BUY Allergic Girl's Book
Breaking News With Allergic Girl: Who She Is, About Her New Book, & How To Can WIN Your Own Copy
Reader Comments (3)
I have Celiac disease and there are so many ways that I have experienced love through my disease. I was diagnosed at 21 and immediately my parents made their whole house gluten free. Everything I had to eat at home, they adopted as well. My mom and I began a long journey that unleashed my passion for cooking. Together, we trade off nights preparing meals for each other now that I am married and out of her home. When I would travel to my brother's house out of state, their whole family, including my nephews, learned how to make quick accommodations and support me in my struggles to go gluten free. They always bought GF food before I even arrived, so I didn't have to travel and pack my own food. My best friend and colleague learned about my allergy and before gluten free cakes were even commonplace, she found a personal chef who could make me one and left one on my teacher's desk on the morning of my birthday. She went one step further when she found out that the staff was having pizza at a retreat and made sure they ordered GF pizza, in separate boxes, just for me! My boyfriend at the time, (now he's my husband!) wanted to create a date night while we were still beginning our journey together, and he went to Whole Foods to find all gluten free items and made a 3 course meal! He had never cooked a day in his life before, and I cried when he drove me around blindfolded and then brought me back to his place with a safe, gluten free meal in preparation. I traveled with him for a family wedding in Boston and we were greeted in the hotel, a midnight arrival, with a huge canvas bag filled with gluten free treats and local trinkets. At the wedding, reception and various parties, his family went out of their way to tell me they had done the research, checked the ingredients, and knew what was gluten free or not. When they had cake for dessert, they brought out GF brownies for me. It was great to be welcomed into his family with such love. Lastly, we could not find anyone to make a decent gluten free wedding cake for our own wedding, so we opted for a chocolate fountain and gelato instead. On our honeymoon, an amazing GF bakery owner found that out and made us a miniature gluten free wedding cake with white chocolate ganache... It was beautiful, delicious, and just the beginning of the love and delicious meals I share with those near and dear to my heart. I never feel unloved in regards to my disease. Gluten free is a gorgeous thing!
Your family's support for your diet changes is really wonderful. I think food allergies are sometimes not treated as serious as other diseases or allergies and it can be a struggle for other family members to appreciate how difficult it is to make food changes. It is nice to hear how supportive your family was and it is good to see many restaurants start to add gluten free meals to their menus. I just started my own blog to help raise the awareness of Celiacs disease.
My future Mother and Father in law overheard me saying how all potato chips seemed to have something I was allergic to in them. They found a brand that was safe for me and bought me 3 bags. When we go to visit them they make sure I have plenty of food options and never make a big deal about me needing different food. I'm not even part of their fmaily yet and they treat me like I've always been a daughter and understand that food allergies are frustrating. I know they love me.