Sometimes it is not fun being gluten free. There are time where I miss eating what everyone else eats. I miss that time in my life when I was not reading every label. I miss not feeling like a pain in the ass when I go to a restaurant. I feel high maintenance.
There is a lot that I love about being gluten free. The pros far out weigh the cons. I love not getting sick when I eat ( unless I get cross contaminated. I love how healthy I feel and knowing that my intestines no longer hate me. I love how my body loves being gluten free. I just have had a hard few gluten free days lately.
My boyfriend and I went to Texas Road House on Tuesday night, we have eaten there before and I always get the steak. I had a craving for french fries and a burger. I asked the server to please find out if they cooked the fries in a dedicated fryer that was only for french fries because I was allergic to wheat and gluten. She came back and told me that it was a dedicated fryer. My exact order was for the fries and a burger with no bun. She then came and told me that the management was nervous and they wouldn't feel comfortable with me getting french fries. I was really bummed out. I ordered a salad with no croutons and dressing just lemon. She then (not knowing anything about gluten allergies) asked if I was allergic to eggs and cheese! I never mentioned a dairy allergy. After she left, my boyfriend asked me if I wanted to change my order to steak and I told him no, but I was bummed out. I am sick of going out to eat and more often than not feeling unsatisfied.
Our food comes and it is just a burger with no pickle (like it stated on the menu, and I LOVE pickles) and no lettuce or tomato. I just looked at my plate. I am sick of feeling high maintenance or like I am a complainer. I am sick of explaining my allergy to people that just don't get it. I cant even tell you how many times I have said wheat allergy to someone and they tell me that they can make me a sandwich on white bread! Um...no! So, then my boyfriend calls another server and gets me my sides. I was happy he was there because I may have cried.
The following morning I was dying for some trail mix with nuts and m&m pieces. It sounded so good and I had watched my boyfriend eat Nutter Butter's. I wanted something sweet. We went to the store to see if we could conquer my craving. All of the bags had the cross contamination warming on it. I was so bummed out. I couldn't even get my trail mix.
I must sound so whiny. I love living gluten free most days. If I didn't, I wouldn't blog about it so much. I love cooking, baking and learning about how to prevent further damage gluten has caused my insides. I just wish the world was more gluten friendly. I wish more restaurants and food were gluten free friendly. I know that more and more restaurants are developing options I am just frustrated!
There are so many foods I miss. I am missing eclairs again in the worst way. Am I the only one that has moments of missing gluten?
8 comments:
My biggest temptation is always beer. I've even had dreams about it! The restaurant thing is something that you'll always have to do. I've learned to be very specific in how I order a bunless burger: "A bacon and mushroom cheeseburger, no bun, with the lettuce and mayonnaise on the side." You'd better mention the mayo or you won't get any! What do they think, I'm trying to lose weight by ordering a bacon cheeseburger?! And the fries - often they are coated with flour, so even if they're in their own dedicated fryer, they may not be GF. It took me a long time to figure that one out. I guess I was in denial.
I feel your pain! I was just diagnosed with severe allergies to gluten, wheat, rye, barley, casein, dairy, soy, and believe it or not, beef. I'm also highly allergic to every bean. After eliminating these foods for just a few days, I feel like an entirely different person. I'd been suffering all through college with severe gastrointestinal problems and oral allergic reactions to wheat, too.
But it is very hard at a restaurant! Sometimes I feel like I'm so annoying because I can't have SO many things others can have. And people don't understand it because they're like, "well, what will happen if you have just a little bit?" I get embarrassed and I don't want to explain how sick I'll be later on if I even have a tiny bite of their sandwich!!!
The funny thing is that up until a few weeks ago, I was a food writer--and actually craved the things I was most allergic to! Like got a high off them and felt so sick after eating them...I couldn't get enough of these foods. How crazy...
Your blog gives me hope and makes me realize I'm not alone. Thanks so much!
Holly:
I am so sorry that you have all of these food allergies. I guess you have a food challenge ahead of you. I think I may have a magazine in mind if you miss being a food writer:
http://www.allergicliving.com/
they are also on twitter too:
http://twitter.com/AllergicLiving
Maybe you could write for them?
Are you working with a dietitian for help coming up with food ideas?
Thanks so much for your kind words, your comment truly touched me.
Michelle
Michelle,
Thanks so much for the link to Allergic Living! I'm definitely going to look into that :)
I'll keep visiting your blog for inspiration & ideas for my new lifestyle.
Our GF bakery in Virginia makes fantastic eclairs! (my mouth is watering even thinking about them - may have to make a run). Three Feller's Bakery. They are online - and I think they ship (although eclairs may be tricky...)
Anonymous-
Thanks so much for the info! I will look into it! Like you said, eclairs may be a tricky thing to ship!
I'm new to the G Free diet but the one thing I miss so far is ordering pizza.
Karen-
Pizza is tough because it is everywhere but look for the gourmet pizza shops, they are most likely to carry gf pizza. Also, Unos now carries gf pizza too!
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