I Hear People Around Me Talking About Food Constantly!

[Kimbalou]

I really need to vent...again. I started a new shift at work and it seems like all people talk about is FOOD! What they eat, what food people are bringing in, what diet they are on, what restaurant they eat at... etc. AND they look at what I'm eating and comment on it...the list seems endless! WHY? Why do people talk about food so much? Or is it just me now realizing how much they really talk about it because I am so sensitive about being Celiac sometimes?? I was eating a salad and a coworker said "Oh, you;re being so healthy." Then another said "Yeah, she has to!" So does that mean people should only eat healthy if they have Celiac? I don't think so! My thoughts about food have changed A LOT since being diagnosed last Nov. It's not as pleasurable to eat...about 80% of the time I have gas or diarrhea after I eat...usually the next day....so food to me is just what keeps me alive. Actually, I guess I could just drink a protein drink and not eat much at all...maybe that's the answer!

I'm just so tired of hearing about food! Isn't there something more interesting to talk about??

thanks for listening...I try not to come here to often so as to not focus on my problems...but I need to talk to people who understand...and it feels so good to vent about this stuff.

thank you my Celiac friends...only YOU get it!!

[Juliebove]

I know what you mean. I finally got to the point where for the most part I can tune them out. Once in a while my ears prick up when I hear someone say, "gluten-free". There is one girl at Angela's dance studio who can't have gluten. Used to be another one but she isn't dancing this year.

We have a dance convention coming up. I have to pack the food for that. We'll be staying at the hotel. We will have a small fridge but I don't want to count on that for our food. I will have insulin and my cat's meds to go in there too. So most of what I bring will have to be shelf stable.

The other people can just go off somewhere and grab some lunch for their kids. I won't be able to do that.

At the last convention we went to, one mom bought something on a stick and passed it out to the kids. She tried to get Angela to take one. When Angela said she didn't know what it was, the mom just told her to take one. I finally spoke up and said that she had food allergies. The mom just gave me a surprised look. Someone took a picture of all of the girls. They were all holding the treats to their mouths and Angela had nothing. Turns out they were balls of cake on a stick dipped in pink icing.

[Kimbalou]

Wow, that's so sad about your daughter and that cake on a stick. ugh. Yesterday we went out to eat for my mom's birthday and I all I heard was the word "bread". There was a lot I could eat there, but bread came up a lot...I miss toasted cheese bread! At least this place had food allergies labeled at the salad bar.

[Gemini]

I really need to vent...again. I started a new shift at work and it seems like all people talk about is FOOD! What they eat, what food people are bringing in, what diet they are on, what restaurant they eat at... etc. AND they look at what I'm eating and comment on it...the list seems endless! WHY? Why do people talk about food so much? Or is it just me now realizing how much they really talk about it because I am so sensitive about being Celiac sometimes?? I was eating a salad and a coworker said "Oh, you;re being so healthy." Then another said "Yeah, she has to!" So does that mean people should only eat healthy if they have Celiac? I don't think so! My thoughts about food have changed A LOT since being diagnosed last Nov. It's not as pleasurable to eat...about 80% of the time I have gas or diarrhea after I eat...usually the next day....so food to me is just what keeps me alive. Actually, I guess I could just drink a protein drink and not eat much at all...maybe that's the answer!

I'm just so tired of hearing about food! Isn't there something more interesting to talk about??

thanks for listening...I try not to come here to often so as to not focus on my problems...but I need to talk to people who understand...and it feels so good to vent about this stuff.

thank you my Celiac friends...only YOU get it!!

I think you have tuned into the fact that Americans have a serious hang-up about food and it's evident in how many people are seriously overweight. It is not normal to talk about food all the time but because it's so socially acceptable, people just don't know when to stop or aren't even aware how much their lives revolve around food. I have noticed the problem has intensified since all the no smoking agenda started and people were harassed about that.

Now they have shifted to food and that isn't exactly too healthy either. Seems a lot of people need oral gratification and it starts with the pacifier. We teach people right from the get-go that satisfaction comes when you put food or a pacifier in the mouth!

I do not eat really healthy to make myself live longer....I eat healthy to have quality of life while I am here on the planet. If these people really knew how good you can feel when you eat right, they might eat better themselves. It has also taught me to keep food in perspective.....I love to eat and eat great, gluten-free food but I am not obsessed by food. Maybe the reason they make remarks is because they know they should be eating better also and they don't have the will power. I get ignorant remarks also but that's their problem...I am perfectly happy eating as I do.

Sounds like you are having a problem with the diet? If you are still having symptoms, you may have another intolerance going on. I know it can take a while to heal also but you should be feeling better by now. I am sorry you are having a hard time and hope those symptoms resolve soon and you feel better about food in general. There is a lot of good eating in the gluten-free world!

[katiekay]

hi... just wanted to say people are idiots. Sorry to hear about the daughter missing out on the treat... that hurts my heart. It's so hard at any age to feel left out.

[Luddie]

With all this talk of food, I'm going down to see what's in the fridge!!!

[wheeleezdryver]

I was eating a salad and a coworker said "Oh, you;re being so healthy." Then another said "Yeah, she has to!"

keep a stash of gluten- free brownies or cookies in your locker in case a coworker ever says the 'healthy' type comment again, then if they do, go and grab something from your stash and make sure they see you eating it!!

[wheeleezdryver]

If it's mostly other people talking about food, and I'm either just listening, or just agreeing as to wether or not something is good (wether or not I actually can eat it), that doesn't bother me. okay, some times it does.

Now, when the conversation is turned on/ to/ about me, then yes, that bothers me. Hmmm, gee, I just *love* having to tell people that I really could care less about that no, I just told you I don't want that bread or cookie (why, oh why, can't people take NO for an answer)-- and since you couldn't possibly believe that i didn't want it, you had to insist- again- so now I'm going to break down & tell you, I can't have those, I'm allergic--- which OF COURSE, now means now you're going to ask me all about all things gluten- free. Yes, these conversations are good for educating people/ finding out who else out there is gluten- intolerant, but--- Ummm, gee whiz, that's really what I wanted to talk about at this nice dinner/ get together we're all at...

this thread is reminding me a little bit of a conversation with my DH's home health nurse last month. My DH had just started recieving Homestyle Direct meals (similar to Meals on Wheels, except delivered flash frozen once a month, & the recipient gets to choose what entree's they recieve) and how convenient & easy they are to use... and at some point the conversation went to, frozen lasagne is easy, and you can buy those at Walmart... to which i (foolishly trying to avoid the gluten conversation) replied by saying something to the effect of 'i can't have Lasagne'... that, of course, brought about the 'why', and so i had to explain about needing to be gluten-free. And she has a friend she's worried about and thinks may have Celiac. It really was a good conversation, as are most of the ones I end up having with people, but I don't know, I just don't like the timing of the conversations or something or like feeling like the spotlight is all of a sudden being thrust on me...

anywho, feel free to vent here any time... we truely do understand!!

[Kimbalou]

Wheeleez: you took the words right out of my mouth. One time someone brought in cookies and asked me if I had one...I said no and then they had to probe about it. I told the whole Celiac story...next time I think I will just say I am trying to avoid JUNK FOOD! Sounds good enough to me!!

So, a friend invited me to lunch at her house tomorrow and I asked what I could bring. She told me she was serving BREAD, cheese and fruits and veggies...mmmm...ok?! She knows I have celiac and there's only 2 other people coming...so why do we have to have bread? She told me to bring whatever I want so I think I will stop by the gluten free bakery on the way there...ugh.

[angel9165]

I am one of those people who LOVES to eat. Being diagnosed last fall was heart breaking for me. I still love food and love to talk about food so don't mind telling people about celiac. Pretty sure this will change as time goes on but for now, I'm taking pleasure in finding good things I can eat cuz there is so much really good food I can't. I will say that I have started to do protein shakes at least once a day as I have a hard time with vitamins and it is definitely helping. Plus, I don't have to worry when I simply can't think of one thing I want to eat (that's gluten-free)...I just make a shake and squeeze a little herseys chocolate and a scope of peanut butter in it and yummy!!!

[lynnelise]

This bothered me at first too. It gets way easier though. Now that I've been gluten-free for a year and a half I actually like asking my friends what they ordered at a nice restaurant or what they think of new gluteny treats I see around. In fact if something looks really good I suggest my daughter or husband try it! Eating vicariously I suppose! lol

[Gfreeatx]

This bothered me at first too. It gets way easier though. Now that I've been gluten-free for a year and a half I actually like asking my friends what they ordered at a nice restaurant or what they think of new gluteny treats I see around. In fact if something looks really good I suggest my daughter or husband try it! Eating vicariously I suppose! lol

Too funny, I do the same thing! I always ask my friends and husband how something gluteny they are eating tastes. I still can imagine what it tastes like from their description. It used to bother me when people talk about food, but it really doesn't anymore.

[GlutenFreeManna]

When people start describing how good there gluteny food is I will just smile and nod and think about the most disgusting gluteny food I ever tried eating--like say a burger from McDonalds (I always thoguht they were GROSS and the buns were stale-- someone else might love them though). That way I am not jealous. I just imagine they are eating something gross and unhealthy and tell them I'm glad if they like that kind of stuff but I don't really like it. This is for aquaintences only when I don't wan to bring up the gluten-free/food allergy thing. I also bring my own gluten free treats everywhere and gush about how good they are. I just recenlty tried Trader Joe's gluten-free brownies. I shared some with a friend and they went on and on about how they seemed normal and how good they were. I just smile and say, "yep, I'm so glad gluten-free doesn't always mean eating lettuce and cardboard." I guess I like to talk about food too.

OP, if you are still getitng sick 80% of the time after you eat then something is wrong. Are you eating a lot of raw veggies? Raw salads are really hard on the digestive system when you are first starting out and that could cause all your gas and bloating. Or you might have an additional intolerance like dairy or soy.

[Lalama]

I think you have tuned into the fact that Americans have a serious hang-up about food and it's evident in how many people are seriously overweight. It is not normal to talk about food all the time but because it's so socially acceptable, people just don't know when to stop or aren't even aware how much their lives revolve around food. I have noticed the problem has intensified since all the no smoking agenda started and people were harassed about that.

Now they have shifted to food and that isn't exactly too healthy either. Seems a lot of people need oral gratification and it starts with the pacifier. We teach people right from the get-go that satisfaction comes when you put food or a pacifier in the mouth!

I do not eat really healthy to make myself live longer....I eat healthy to have quality of life while I am here on the planet. If these people really knew how good you can feel when you eat right, they might eat better themselves. It has also taught me to keep food in perspective.....I love to eat and eat great, gluten-free food but I am not obsessed by food. Maybe the reason they make remarks is because they know they should be eating better also and they don't have the will power. I get ignorant remarks also but that's their problem...I am perfectly happy eating as I do.

Gemini-Totally agree with you here. This gluten/dairy free diet has actually been a blessing in disguise for me. I was one of those people who talked a lot about food-ecspecially after getting married. I begin to cook and bake like crazy and was always engaging in coversation about food. I put on almost 15 pounds in my two years of marriage(and I am very petite). Since going gluten free and having many food restrictions it was like having to rewire my thought patterns about food. It wasn't until then, that I realized how much I idolized food. I am still a work in progress...but my diet and my thoughts are much healthier these days

[love2travel]

I am one of those people who LOVES to eat. Being diagnosed last fall was heart breaking for me. I still love food and love to talk about food so don't mind telling people about celiac. Pretty sure this will change as time goes on but for now, I'm taking pleasure in finding good things I can eat cuz there is so much really good food I can't. I will say that I have started to do protein shakes at least once a day as I have a hard time with vitamins and it is definitely helping. Plus, I don't have to worry when I simply can't think of one thing I want to eat (that's gluten-free)...I just make a shake and squeeze a little herseys chocolate and a scope of peanut butter in it and yummy!!!

I'm one of those people who can talk about food for hours and hours on end. It is such a huge part of who I am. I'm obsessed with cooking and culinary books. As I've mentioned before if I'm not eating or cooking I'm talking about it or reading about it. I often dream I am cooking in competitions (i.e. Iron Chef). But now I talk about it differently because I mourn what I can no longer eat. EVER. So, there is a huge element of sadness. Imagine your number one hobby literally shaken upside down overnight and my being a silent celiac doesn't help!!

Part of what I do is test recipes for a few US places. Heaps of fun but I am limited in what I can test, obviously. So, food is on my mind. C O N S T A N T L Y.

But I am thankful not to work outside of my home except for teaching cooking classes when I am in control of what we make. So, I do not get all the sickening talk about fabulous gluten-ridden food. That would nearly almost literally do me in. So, I really feel for you. LOTS! It can be very painful.

[chasbari]

I do not eat really healthy to make myself live longer....I eat healthy to have quality of life while I am here on the planet.

I don't know why, but this is really profound to me at present.

[Marilyn R]

Everything is going to drive you nuts at first! You're going through withdrawal and you're tired and you feel like crap. And you would love to just smack your roommate/co-worker/boyfriend, somebody cares too much, someone else cares too little, it's all part of what you go through. It's normal. Not nice. (It's not nice to be normal, but right now, it's normal not to feel nice.)

That probably doesn't help, but I hope that it helps to know that it gets so much better. The anger and irritability subsides! You start to feel like your old self! You will smile without it being forced, joke because you feel like joking, have happy moments and great days again. And you won't give a rat's ... rearend about what someone says about what you're eating or what they're eating or all that food talk.

If you don't start to feel better soon, then you might want to explore other food intolerances/allergies. Some of us have had the double/triple/quad whammy after going gluten-free.

[Gemini]

I'm one of those people who can talk about food for hours and hours on end. It is such a huge part of who I am. I'm obsessed with cooking and culinary books. As I've mentioned before if I'm not eating or cooking I'm talking about it or reading about it. I often dream I am cooking in competitions (i.e. Iron Chef). But now I talk about it differently because I mourn what I can no longer eat. EVER. So, there is a huge element of sadness. Imagine your number one hobby literally shaken upside down overnight and my being a silent celiac doesn't help!!

I also am a cook and have always made about 80% of what I eat. To be honest, I was so close to dying from Celiac that the day I found out it was official, I was overjoyed and relieved. I was not crazy as many doctors had implied and there was a reason I was fading away to nothing. I know you said you were asymptomatic but that is more deadly because of obvious reasons and some not so obvious. You would hate to keep eating gluten and then when you hit 70 years old, find out you have intestinal cancer and are going to die. You may have become very symptomatic down the road also.

Why do you feel there is so much that you cannot make or eat? Put those cooking skills you have to the task of creating and converting your recipes to be gluten free! I jumped into all this with excitement and 6 years later, make just about everything I used to eat except that it's safe for me to eat now. My husband loves my cooking and happily eats gluten-free at home. Cooking is my number one hobby also and it was just a minor quake with going gluten-free, not an earth shattering experience. OK, the baking part needs to be somewhat relearned but it's not impossible to do. If a person loves to cook, going gluten-free should not be a big deal...it's those who hate cooking that will have a hard time with it. There has to be a gluten-free cook-off out there you can enter!

[gleegan]

I think people have always talked about food this much, but we just notice now because we have the dietary restrictions. I'm a lot better about listening to it now; I do try to tune out, but a lot of the time (when it's not too terribly rude, I just leave the area or change the subject). The thing that always annoys me, though, is at work. People are CONSTANTLY bringing in gluteny baked goods, home made and low quality doughnuts, etc. from chain stores, putting them on the kitchen table and sending department wide emails about "goodies" in the kitchen. Of course, I know I can never eat any of it and try to avoid the kitchen until it's all gone and just the tell tale crumbs remain, but they bring in so much, it's usually there most of the day. It seems like my coworkers use this as a way to show off (bringing in the most fattening treats and trying to one up each other). As annoying as this all is, the MOST annoying part is when I'm in the kitchen making my lunch, avoiding looking at the brownies, etc. and the stream of people continues and as each one picks up a brownie, they smile guiltily, insist on making eye contact with me, and say "yum, brownies" like it's some earth shattering discovery. I give some version of a fake smile and move along, but it's exasperating, especially when they KNOW that I can't have any of it. As someone mentioned earlier, I think they want to feel less bad about eating it so they want everyone to eat it, hence the weird eye contact thing. I don't know, but I wish that work places weren't so clogged up with this stuff. It's not fun for us and it's not good for those who are eating it all the time...