Eating gluten free has started to become a negative thing I think which is sad because it shouldn't be. People are assuming if you eat gluten free you are trying to lose weight, are "crazy", or a food snob. Maybe you are eating gluten free for those reasons but probably not.Why is eating gluten free becoming a bad stereotype? I eat gluten free because I have Celiac Disease, an auto-immune disease, which means I am allergic to gluten which is found in wheat, rye, and barley. Therefore I have to maintain a gluten free diet or else I feel extremely ill. I remember the night I found out I had Celiac because I went and had pizza and beers with my mom, sister, and brother in law. At the dinner table I kept complaining of a stomach ache and by the end of dinner I literally thought I was dying because of the extreme pain and discomfort I felt. Anyways I found out about my allergy and was told I could control it by not eating gluten.
When I tell people I can't eat the cookie or brownie they are offering me they always seem offended and ask why I can't eat this delicious treat. I then say I have food allergies and then it becomes such a long conversation that usually ends with someone saying "I could never eat gluten free. I have no idea how you do it. Don't you miss bread?" I always want to answer, "Why yes I do thanks for mentioning it" but I keep my mouth close and just smile. Why does it matter what someone else is eating?
A girl I work with is a vegetarian and people at work are just starting to learn this. I was around when two other people first found out and they both asked the same question, "Do you miss eating meat?" Who asks a vegetarian that? Most likely they do not because they have their personal reasons as to why they eat no meat. Maybe it's just me who thinks asking a vegetarian if they miss meat or someone eating gluten free if they miss bread is just rude. Instead of thinking a person is "crazy" for their different food preference why not just enjoy the fact that we are all different and maybe even try something out of the ordinary like eating gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, etc. one day a week. Open minds people, open minds.
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