Junior year of high school, my singing voice changed rapidly. I was breaking out into hives and feeling ill. After checking my health, we discovered that removing gluten from my diet could revive my health status. After multiple years of struggling to eat no gluten, reaching out to others, and relating to anyone that is gluten free, I've learned a couple things we all struggle with.
1. Trying to find good pizza is the hardest.
What, gluten free pizza doesn't taste like cardboard? Let me know.
2. People always notice if you aren't eating the food at a party.
When you go out with friends to a party, school event, or a class meeting and there is food, people always ask why you aren't having any. It is the ultimate struggle telling people you can't eat the food. They often times look around confused and apologize as they realize nothing they have on the table is something you can eat. It's totally fine. We're used to it.
3. You can't help but laugh when people ask if it's a new diet.
Do you seriously think we would give up our bread and cupcakes for no reason? Our wallets are suffering also. Gluten free food isn't cheap. We aren't in pain by avoiding gluten, but still.
4. People don't even know what gluten is.
Having to explain all the things with gluten in it to people makes their eyes pop out of their head. Many people have no idea the amount of food with gluten and always ask, "what do you even eat?".
5. There is no such thing as finding an easy snack.
You can't just walk into a gas station and buy a snack. You have to read all the labels and make sure you aren't setting yourself up for a nasty situation.
6. Your significant other won't kiss you all the time.
They love you! But, they just ate gluten and don't want to make you ill. That, my friends, is true love.
7. You watch your friend's meal with envy.
8. Your friends always make you pick the place to eat.
You tell someone you are gluten free and they either know what it is, asking you to pick the place. They may not know, which is exactly the other reason why they want you to pick.
9. You get jealous of your significant other, and not because they looked at someone else.
They get to eat everything you can't. Forget about that beautiful person in the corner that you may think is hotter than you when you're in public. That dish of food in front of them is so much hotter.
10. You occasionally and randomly get sick.
The contaminated food that you never expect always gets your stomach upset, when you least expect it.
12. You go on a picnic every single day.
You pack a lunch and snack everywhere you go. Forget about going out to eat lunch, unless you either want to drop a lot of cash and risk it. If you have a safe gluten free place to go grab a bite, you are blessed.
13. You get annoyed at anyone that eats the gluten free food that isn't actually gluten free.
There isn't any for the people that actually need to eat it! If there is, can you wait after we get a plate, though?
14. Cross contamination is real.
It is a nightmare when you want to cook something and aren't at home with all your pots and pans. You don't want to be rude and tell your friends to not bother unless they cook it all separately, but this is your health. Sharing food isn't really a thing.
15. It's always awkward when people ask what happens if you eat gluten.
You really don't want to tell them all the details, but they asked. . . right?
16. Most beer has gluten in it.
Not all alcohol has gluten, but often times the brewing process of alcohol has gluten. Seriously? Gluten free beer isn't cheap.
17. You trust barely anyone when it comes to food.
You never know how the food was prepared unless you're cooking it. Sometimes, we just have to stay in.
Seriously, why would we give up gluten unless it helped our bodies? God bless "Udi's". Am I right?
