In the Beginning

In April of 2017 my world changed forever when I learned that I had Celiac Disease along with multiple other food allergies (dairy, avocado, and coconut). Food had made me sick for as long as I could remember, and I dreaded mealtime and all the symptoms that would come with it. So finally figuring out what was causing my symptoms may have caused a lot of distress. But it also felt like hope knowing that this could help me feel better and relieved knowing I finally got an answer after years of being told nothing was wrong. 

When I first got my diagnosis, I had no clue where to begin and it felt so overwhelming. So, I just started by removing any food item that contained my allergies and removing them from my house so I couldn’t be tempted by the things I could no longer eat. Then I went to the gluten free section at Walmart which wasn't a huge selection and I just stared at the options not knowing what to get. The majority of the things I picked I thought tasted like cardboard and rarely was I finding something I actually liked. So, I began researching online and the best advice I got was to start by just shopping the outskirts of the store because the majority of those things are naturally gluten free. This helped me so much in the beginning and over time I slowly introduced other gluten free items into my diet and while there are still some things that taste like cardboard, I actually found things that I enjoy.

One thing I didn’t realize before going gluten free was how much of my social life revolved around food and how isolated I would feel at times. Not being able to just be spontaneous and go into any restaurant I passed by was a challenge and sometimes to this day is a challenge. Being invited over to a friend's and family's house means asking all the questions to make sure I can eat what everyone else is having (no the side salad does not count as the meal) or packing my own meal that I know will be safe. Being told I'm complicated because I ask all these questions feels super discouraging but over time it has taught me to speak up for myself and that my health isn’t something I or anyone else should be joking about. It’s ok to bring your own things and to have the emergency snacks in my purse if it means I get to eat something that I know for a fact won’t make me sick or cause me to use my epi pen (for my coconut allergy). 

There are some positives to my diagnosis and journey as well. I began reading labels and realizing the amount of junk that is in so much of our food. This has caused me to begin to eat healthier because I am more aware and there are a lot of things that I just can’t have anymore. This doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy the occasional processed foods, it's just no longer a part of my everyday diet. I have learned how to advocate for myself especially in a restaurant before I would never ask questions or make a correction if they messed up. To put this into perspective I once ate a bagel with no cream cheese because they forgot to put it on there so I decided they just decided I didn’t need cream cheese that day and they must have been doing me a favor. Now I ask all the questions and I check when my food arrives that it was made correctly. I have learned it’s okay to ask as long as you are being kind about it. My health is worth advocating for. 

It also challenged me to learn a new skill. I have always loved baking but when I went gluten free, I no longer could bake all the things I loved or so I thought. After a lot of trial and error I have been able to recreate a lot of my favorite recipes' gluten free and dairy free. But I didn’t stop there. I wanted baked goods that not only tasted good but looked good as well. I hated going to places and not getting to enjoy baked goods like everyone else and if I could they were overpriced or had another ingredient that I couldn’t have. So, I started making the baked goods for some of those gatherings so I could enjoy them as well and now I get to be the person that always brings the dessert that even people who can have gluten enjoy. I slowly started selling my baked goods to friends and family and now I get to share them with you all which is the most exciting part of this whole journey. I can’t wait to share my stories, trail & error, my wins, and my recipes with you!