I love a fresh start and January is a great time to make resolutions. This year I have decided that I am going to be more social and get myself out there. After being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and then having a baby, my social life died.
My brain says, “Go out, be social!”, but then I fight myself because going out is so stressful. Even just going to friends houses can be torture. If you have Celiac Disease or any kind of food allergy, I’m sure you can relate.
Celiac Disease does not mean your social life is over. It just means you need to rethink it!Click To TweetEating anywhere other than my house requires a multitude of questions. I’m either that person at a restaurant asking a million questions and getting the stares (plus it doesn’t help that “gluten free” is associated with fad diets) or I’m asking my friends 101 questions about every ingredient they are serving or I have to have people over to my house (which wouldn’t be a big deal, except I live in a small apartment.) None of these options are fun, but here is the deal:
When you have a Celiac Disease or food allergies, you are always going to be that person.
It’s all about how you look at things. Change your frame of mind from timid to advocate.
5 Tips for a Gluten Free Social Life
First of all, when it comes to my health, I get to be that person. It is literally a matter of life and death. I cannot have any gluten. Period. If I want to have a social life, I have to suck it up and ask questions. Here are few things that I am doing to help boost my social life this year, that I think will help you too!
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Come up with a list of local restaurants that have at least one safe option. Even if it is a salad, it’s about hanging out with friends, not the food. As long as I remember that, I’m good.
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Have a few easy recipes that use naturally gluten free ingredients ready to go when a friend asks us over and wants to know what to cook. Make sure they understand the importance of cross-contamination.
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If you don’t trust others ability to avoid cross contamination, suggest to do appetizers instead of dinner and bring something you know is safe.
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Educate others. People are more understanding than you think. You can’t get upset at them for something they don’t know.
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Find a tribe. Be purposeful in seeking out a few people who understand the world of Celiac and food allergies. Find a local support group where you can exchange tips and knowledge.
Tips from the Community
One of the best parts of having Celiac Disease is the friendships I’ve made. There is such an amazing food allergy community. A few of us have gotten together to share with you how we are dealing with allergies in the new year! Be sure to visit and read them all!
Pamper Yourself
“Sometimes food allergy related stress builds up and the best response is to pamper yourself! Allow me to be your allergy mom BFF and tell you why you should pamper yourself” read more here Sharon Wong Nut Free Wok
Become an Information Ninja
“When you are managing a serious medical condition, this could be the most important thing to do. I share the one tip I wished someone had shared with me when I first became a food allergy mom” read more here Gina Mennett Lee, Food Allergy Consultant and Educator
Allergies, What Do You Say?
“Food allergy support; this is a vast, never-ending place where people from all over the world meet. This is a family that you never knew existed and that you didn’t think would ever be a part of your life.” read more here Tracy Bush Nutrimom- Food Allergy Liason AllergyPhoods
Everything Will Be Ok
“Remember that everything is going to be okay, really. I know, food allergies are tough, super hard. You wonder how you’re going to get through it. But you will and so will your child.” Read more here Allergy Superheroes
35 Comments
Kate
January 27, 2017 at 1:21 amThese are all super helpful tips for someone trying to move into eating gluten free. Thank you for sharing them!
x Kate
http://www.thegoldsister.com
Cricket Plunkett
January 26, 2017 at 9:06 pmYes, it can definitely be so easy to just hide with Celiac. That’s why I started hosting parties, that way I’m incharge of the food!
Sharon @What The Fork
January 26, 2017 at 7:26 pmI really like how there was a lot of thought put into these tips! I really like how you discussed the social aspect of this and how stressful it can be. Thank you for sharing this! I will have to pass these along to some of my GF friends!
Megan
January 26, 2017 at 11:04 amI love this and these tips! The hardest part about avoiding gluten is definitely the social aspect. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:10 amIt is! I find it easy to eat gluten free at home, but going out is always such a struggle!
Chrystal @ Gluten-Free Palate
January 26, 2017 at 9:26 amThese are great tips! I love that you ladies came together and shared your tips.
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:11 amThanks! It was fun!
Kortney
January 26, 2017 at 4:16 amThose tips are great! I totally agree about building a supportive group of friends who look out for you and become your advocate. This is so helpful when you go out and something happens, it eliminates any sort of embarrassment you may experience.
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:11 amIt does make it so much easier. I’ve been lucky to have a few friends who are also gluten free, and we have a great support group in South Florida.
Alisa Fleming
January 25, 2017 at 11:43 pmThese are such great tips for anyone with special diet needs. I’m still searching for my local dairy-free tribe 🙂
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:12 amI hope you find one! I honestly think being strictly dairy free would be harder for me than gluten.
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons
January 25, 2017 at 11:41 pmI bet it’s getting a little easier as it becomes mainstream, but I’m sure you’re still always worried about cross contamination!
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:13 amIn some ways it has, but in other ways the worries about cross contamination are more because people don’t understand how serious it is.
Sarah
January 25, 2017 at 9:04 pmSuch great tips. I was diagnosed with Celiac years ago before it was “mainstream”. I lived that way for years until I found out 8 years ago I didn’t have it and rather a gluten sensitivity and that is just as much of a shock and adjustment after as it was before being so sick.
Amanda
January 25, 2017 at 9:30 pmHow did you find out you didn’t actually have celiac?
Nutrimom
January 25, 2017 at 7:29 pmThank you so much for being a part of this with us Amanda <3
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:13 amIt was fun! Always glad to share!
Strength and Sunshine
January 25, 2017 at 7:05 pmI just always cook when I go out!
Amanda
January 25, 2017 at 7:11 pmThat totally works! I’ve been known to do thay as well
linda spiker
January 25, 2017 at 10:45 amGreat tips! GF peeps need all the help they can get when it comes to eating out!
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:13 amYes we do!
Tara
January 25, 2017 at 10:45 amSuch a wonderful post. I love all the tips you included to help others who are new at navigating food allergies.
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:14 amThanks! I hope it helps people with food allergies to navigate and those without to be more understanding!
Platter Talk
January 25, 2017 at 10:41 amI’ve got some peeps that are GF. Great info and makes me feel so lucky that I’m able to eat anything.
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:14 amI hope the info helps you better understand their needs!
Charla @ That Girl Cooks Healthy
January 25, 2017 at 10:40 amExcellent tips and this is coming from someone who is afflicted with IBS. I used to thing it would ruin my social life however I have found many ways (some you have listed) which have helped to adapt my life around my ailment. I think one of the most important things is understanding, get others to understand your complaint so they can be more supportive in any social environment.
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:15 amYes! Getting others to understand is key, but it can be difficult. Some people have to have been there to understand.
Raia
January 25, 2017 at 10:36 amSuch great tips! I’ve found church potlucks to be the hardest in the past, but thankfully our church now makes their potlucks pretty much 100% gluten-free so everyone can eat everything!
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:16 amThat’s awesome. I used to have a lot of issues at my MOPs meetings, but now people are starting to realize how easy it is to make things gluten free. Church is still difficult, but they are trying.
Michelle Frank @ Flipped-Out Food
January 25, 2017 at 10:08 amThanks for the great post! I have been working with a company that is developing a medical device to detect gluten, so celiac disease has been on my radar. This is all very good advice!
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:16 amThanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the article. I’d love to hear more about the device you are working on!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
January 25, 2017 at 10:04 amI just found out that my cousin was diagnosed with celiac, so we’re having to make adjustments for her. It doesn’t have to be a hard thing, by just eating whole foods, but there’s the risk of cross contamination — oh – and hello??? why is gluten free bread more than $5 for 4 rolls? That’s nuts!
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:20 amYeah, it is a hard adjustment at first. It took a bit for my family to get it and really the cross contamination is the biggest thing. A lot of foods are naturally gluten free, but the price of bread is a bit ridiculous. I just don’t eat a lotof it. If your cousin (or you) have questions, just shoot me a message!
Elizabeth
January 25, 2017 at 9:46 amIt can’t be easy, but these are some great tips. I’m so thankful that I can eat absolutely everything!
Amanda
January 26, 2017 at 11:20 amDefinitely something to be thankful for! I took it for granted for a long time!