This is the first post in a long time and may be the last post in a while...it is hard to say but I feel like writing tonight about something I've been encouraged to write about. A year ago I was told that I have celiac disease and as a result had to go gluten-free. It was a huge change for me as I was the person who rewarded myself with cakes, alleviated stress with bagels and made friends and allies of my gluten-filled treats. They were of course my enemy for a long time as any stress-eater knows but I didn't know they were actually causing real harm.
The change was instant for me. I didn't want to eat things with gluten any more. I craved them sometimes, sure, but the temptation to just take one bite or to just eat an entire cupcake and suffer the consequences hasn't appealed to me. I was told that in the long-term, continuing to allow damage to my small intestine could lead to cancer and short-term it would result in the problems I had been facing that lead me to get testing in the first place. That was enough for me.
I have complained about it; don't get me wrong, I find looking for "GF" on labels or asking a waitress for a gluten-free menu to be almost painful sometimes if not minimally inconvenient. But, I really haven't cheated consciously. One time, we had food at the office and I was embarrassed so I ate what I thought was safe. I regretted it when I noticed some celiac symptoms return. That was the last time I let my self-consciousness get in the way of me health (well, from this perspective anyway...).
There is one thing that really bothers me about having to go GF. It is dealing with wait staff at restaurants who feel inconvenienced by questions or requests to have food prepared a certain way. For the most part I have had EXCELLENT service at restaurants, especially those that have GF as a label on their normal menu. I am always delighted and grateful. Nizza and Friedman's Lunch in NYC are examples of restaurants who have made a fantastic effort to serve people who can't tolerate or are even allergic to gluten. There are many others too. Chipotle, (thank goodness!!!) has a primarily gluten-free menu and the counter staff will even change their gloves if you ask (I don't ask but they will do it). Even bars I go to like House of Brews, Bar Bacon and Landsdowne Road are always accommodating. HOB even carries Omission beer now which in my opinion is the most awesome of all GF beers.
Back to those who make me feel badly...they are the wait staff who don't want to deal with it or perhaps harbor some bitterness against anyone who makes any special request like dressing on the side or no onions. I had one waitress ask me, "is this a preference?" when I asked if the chicken was prepared with any flour because I had to have GF food. I said "No, it is a requirement. I'm allergic." Her answer, "I'm not sure." Then followed a brief staring contest which I lost. I had to ask her to find out from the kitchen and she rolled her eyes as she walked away. I was with a friend who was shocked. Had I been alone I would have thought I did something wrong. But no, she was just rude and there are a few like her.
I'm sure diet fads (and gluten-free diets are a fad for some and a necessity for others) are annoying to wait staff but whether it was a preference or not, rude treatment isn't warranted. Further, it is awkward to have to expose a medical condition, a disease, to pretty much everyone you know and the last thing you want is someone to question it.
If anyone besides me happens to read thing, take note that food allergies are no joke. They can be very serious or deadly even. Try not to begrudge someone when they ask you a question about what is in the food they are eating. Whether they could get sick or not, it is within anyone's right to want to know what they are putting in their own body.
As for being GF now - I have to admit that sometimes I do want an Oreo but I'll settle for a macaroon.
