What Else Can I Do?

[Adelle]

So my husband went gluten free with me a month ago. I know this has to be hard on him. Harder than it's been on me (I didn't like wheat, only ate it cause it was "healthy") anyway. What can I do to make it easier on him? Our house is gluten free because he's not so good at cleaning and he is afraid of glutening me. What would have made this transition easier on u non-celiac friends/fam? I tell him how much it means to me that he's been so supportive. But is there anything that would make this a little easier on him?

Thanx thanx!

[lorka150]

Hi Adelle,

I am the celiac in my house, too. When I was first diagnosed, I got really ill and moved back in with my family. As a result, we had a completely gluten-free house. My mom went completely gluten and casien free with me, because she has MS, and we heard it could.

For my dad, the onyl time he eats gluten is stuff packed for his lunch for work (in a seperate room), and if buys himself a treat here and there.

What I did, was learn to re-create every single thing so they would never be deprived. I refused to let my celiac result in them not getting their favourites.

What is your husband missing out on, specifically? There are great alternatives to everything.

[Kaycee]

Adelle,

I did not think or even consider it an option for my husband to be gluten free. But I do respect the stance you are taking, but honestly I don't know how to make it easier for him

My husband would've gone gluten free to support me, but why should he if he does not have to? On top of that and this fact dictates more than the rest, it would've cost us an arm and a leg, especially if the boys went gluten free too. So I guess the cost, and the fact, that they don't need to do it because gluten is not an issue for them, means they still eat gluten.

But I no longer cook with gluten flours. That seems to make me sick. Hubby is not the best at tidying up either, and he has worried about glutening me, but I have not come accross any problems with cc. He and my two sons have their gluten containing breakfast cereals if they want, and bread for lunch, but teas are usually completely gluten free, so that it makes it easier for me the cook. On occassion I will cook them their sausages, or throw in a pie for them, but basically it is gluten free teas. Oh and must not forget, he drinks beer, and the boys love cookies, they would miss them. Most of their gluten comes in packages, and don't need any handling from me.

All around, this option seems to work for us.

But I am toying around with having less gluten in the house once the two teenage boys have left home. Jim wouldn't mind, but I feel it would be too big an ask to do it now.

Sorry I am not much help.

Cathy

[Adelle]

Well I'm not sure what he misses. He hasn't mentioned anything. He decided to go gluten free after I told him that he must clean in these specific ways in order to curb cross contamination. He was raised by a woman who doesn't clean. At all. I can't believe dhs wasn't called. She collects trash, literally. So I have to teach him how to clean (he truly is working on it). He prefers NOT to risk me getting sick because he forgot to clean something properly.

Before we moved in together, he ONLY ate prepackaged food. He didn't actually know what asparagus was. I grew up in the country, growing most of our own food. No preservatives etc. Probably why I didn't get super sick till I was 16-17. Anyway, he really enjoys veggis, and fresh food (luckily). But I'm just wondering what was hardest for ya'll and how can I make that easier?

[Guest ~jules~]

Well I'm not sure what he misses. He hasn't mentioned anything. He decided to go gluten free after I told him that he must clean in these specific ways in order to curb cross contamination. He was raised by a woman who doesn't clean. At all. I can't believe dhs wasn't called. She collects trash, literally. So I have to teach him how to clean (he truly is working on it). He prefers NOT to risk me getting sick because he forgot to clean something properly.

Before we moved in together, he ONLY ate prepackaged food. He didn't actually know what asparagus was. I grew up in the country, growing most of our own food. No preservatives etc. Probably why I didn't get super sick till I was 16-17. Anyway, he really enjoys veggis, and fresh food (luckily). But I'm just wondering what was hardest for ya'll and how can I make that easier?

OMG, woman! I think our husbands are brothers, and they don't know it! Same things are going on around here, the poor man has no idea how to clean. His mom's house is a cluster**** and its gross. Before he met me he lived on pizza and soda. Wow, and I grew up in the country also, he grew up in the city. He's trying so hard but he hasn't got a clue even though his intentions are there, its so hard. The celiac is really hard to understand if you don't have it, and I think its also really hard to understand if you aren't a tidy person. I could have posted this same thing, and my only advice to you now is to keep myself healthy I am just having to do it myself, I can't rely on someone who is slobby, sad, annoying, but true.

[Guest nini]

my hubby tried going gluten-free with me and my daughter for a while, but he couldn't stick with it, he felt it was too expensive for all of us to be gluten-free and he missed wheat...

what I do is when I'm doing the cooking I only cook foods that are naturally gluten-free. Like tonights dinner was tacos. I very seldom do substitute things like pasta, but when I do, he will eat them with us. I've just tried to focus on recipes that are naturally gluten-free as opposed to finding a bunch of specialty products. There are a few specialty things that I get just for me and my daughter, anyway, since he's not the best at cleaning up after himself, I clean up before I prepare food... sure it's a pain in the butt but I'd rather do that than be sick. When I try to press the issue about crumbs, he looks at me like I'm crazy... so I've given up and just clean up before I make food...

[Guest ~jules~]

Lol, I just had to add this for a chuckle to all us married wemon....I complained today how I was tired of making bread, ( I make my own bread like 3 times a week) He said okay hun, I'll make it...He's so sweet, and trying so hard and I love that. So,,,,I let him make the bread, (so hard for me not to hover over him but I didn't ) Well, its been in the breadmaker, its on the last 23 minutes, I just peeked in there, Holy Heck!! It looks like a big, lumpy, scary brown rock!!!!!!!!! The worse thing is I'm going to have to eat it and smile

[Adelle]

I would just "eat the bread" while he's out of the house!!! Lol. It's sweet that he tried, but ack!! Ha ha.

I guess I'm just lucky, ryan can't clean worth a darn, but he is willing to try (and change his diet so I won't get sick). I clean enough as it is, I can't imagine cleaning up extra after his sandwich making escapades too! That just seems unnessecary!

[CarlaB]

My whole family is gluten-free at home. My hubby eats whatever he wants when he's away from here, but at home, it's gluten-free. We live around the corner from a bakery, on the same block as us, and walking distance from Dominos, so the kids get donuts and pizza once in a while and don't bring it in the house. Hubby is fine with it .... he can't fix his own meals anyway, and I don't prepare food that has gluten, so he really has no choice!

[par18]

my hubby tried going gluten-free with me and my daughter for a while, but he couldn't stick with it, he felt it was too expensive for all of us to be gluten-free and he missed wheat...

what I do is when I'm doing the cooking I only cook foods that are naturally gluten-free. Like tonights dinner was tacos. I very seldom do substitute things like pasta, but when I do, he will eat them with us. I've just tried to focus on recipes that are naturally gluten-free as opposed to finding a bunch of specialty products. There are a few specialty things that I get just for me and my daughter, anyway, since he's not the best at cleaning up after himself, I clean up before I prepare food... sure it's a pain in the butt but I'd rather do that than be sick. When I try to press the issue about crumbs, he looks at me like I'm crazy... so I've given up and just clean up before I make food...

Basically this is what my wife and I did. We made the house 100% gluten free to start with. Because we never had children it was just a matter of getting her to agree. She did this with no questions asked. I do most of the cooking and like Nini most of our meals are naturally gluten free. We spend a lot "less" money on food because nothing is wasted. Personally cooking two meals is out of the question! We buy gluten free bread and pasta but not much else. In the 16 months I have been on the diet I have seen the quality of both of these items improve. Any chance to buy a mainsteam product like pasta sauce is taken because of the savings. I make things like muffins and pancakes out of corn or buckwheat flour and both taste very good. I eat almost all of the same things I ate before except the bread and pasta. I really didn't care for pizza before anyway so I don't miss it. I think the issue with most families in which only part of the members are gluten free is that the convenience is lost. This is just a fact of life with us. If some of our family members insist on being "difficult" then this is the price we are having to pay in order to feel good. Actually this is an excellent opportunity for the whole family to once again make mealtime the quality time event that it once was before the fast food revolution. Like anything else in life adjustment by all is the key. You can always subsitute things like tacos every now and then for the standard meat and potatoes. I am sure there are a lot of favorite foods in every family that are naturally gluten free. It is just a matter of trial and error until we learn what they are.

Tom