luvs2eat

I have several friends who are so aware and experienced cooks that I know I can enjoy a meal at their house and not have to worry. It is such a comfort and SOOOO appreciated by me!

Wow... I had no idea Walmart had all those "ship to store" gluten-free options!! I'd say 99% of those items aren't available in the actual store, which is a shame.

I'd KILL for a Whole Foods nearby... I'd be happy to travel an hour away... but not FOUR hours which is the closest. If you haven't read the article and scientific study (in the celiac publications forum)... about the rise in celiac diagnoses in direct correlation to the use or Round Up pesticides in GMO stuff... it's a fascinating read! The Whole Foods 365 brand (TONS of products) are all GMO free.

Colleen... what a brilliant idea... a wedge salad!! The last two times I went to restaurants and ordered salad they contained fried flour tortilla strips. The first time I found several after I was about 1/2 done w/ the salad!! The last time the salad will filled with them even tho the salad I ordered did NOT come w/ tortilla strips. I did not order something else... and we don't eat out anymore.

How long have you been gluten free? It seems like people's reactions happen faster when they've been gluten-free for longer periods of time. When I first started eating gluten-free, I made lots of mistakes and never had any symptoms. A few years later, I was glutened and it took about 4 hours for the explosive D to hit. I've been gluten-free for more than 10 years and the last time I was glutened (last year), it was within an hour and incredibly violent as my body simply purged itself for hours and hours from both ends.

This article/scientific paper is FASCINATING. Time to organic/grow my own food I'm thinking!!

Yeah, I'd stay home too. We don't have anything remotely resembling a certified gluten-free restaurant where we live so we don't eat out. We just make what we want at home!

My sister (who lives in France) had to INSIST that her doctor do a celiac panel. He simply refused because he said the incidence of celiac was so rare and she did NOT have it! The test came back inconclusive and... as she lives in the place w/ the best bread in the world... she is not gluten-free, but does notice a lessening of eczema and asthma when she cuts back on gluten.

I'm wondering why you had such a bad reaction to the endoscopy? I know everyone's different, but that particular test was the best one I've ever had! No prep... a nice nap... and maybe the tiniest sore throat afterwards.

I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you regarding your test results... but my doc also told me he'd never seen a higher celiac panel! That was 10+ years ago... I'm guessing by now he's probably seen some higher ones as celiac is booming!

These stories are exactly why I don't eat out anymore... almost NEVER. I'm so scared of what my last glutening did that I never want to repeat it... especially in public! I had LOADS of laundry before just stripping down and sitting naked on the toilet w/ the waste can in my lap after that one... it was awful.

Supper was FANTASTIC!! We began with an "amuse bouche... just a taste of something...  one kumquat, filled w/ goat cheese and chive blossoms on top. Then came a crawfish bisque with a sprinkle of parmesan and basil that was to die for! Then we had a thick slice of perfectly cooked filet of beef with a sprinkling of applewood smoked salt on top of steel cut oats w/ plumped up dried cherries and thin stalks of asparagus. Dessert was crème brulee... and the last tiny treat was a chocolate covered strawberry. Every single dish was delicious and none of us could decide which course was the best. I voted for the soup. The set up was almost like all of us sitting at a bar with the chef cooking and plating our courses in front of us. It was so personal and lovely. It was pricey, but I told the hubs we will definitely be going back soon!!

For any celiacs in Missouri... this was The Chef's Table at Dawts Mill in Tecumsah. What a treat!!

We're going to a teeny restaurant not too far away called The Chef's Table. It only seats 10 at a large family-style table and the young chef prepares one delicious meal. You don't order... you eat what he prepares from his organic garden and meats. There are two of us who are gluten-free going and the chef said that he would make the entire meal gluten-free rather than make something different for just two of us!

I can't wait!! We NEVER eat out!

I had an amazing experience at a Red Robin in Miami, FL. Our server explained to us that all of the servers have to attend a class on how important very specific standards must be followed for the gluten-free diet. I had the same experience at an Outback in Springfield, MO, where I had the opportunity to chat with the proprietor.

That said... I live in the middle of nowhere in northern Arkansas. In our town is a Chili's... that's it... except for all of the fast foods and pizza places I can't go to. The last TWO times I visited I did all I could do. I spoke to the manager and extensively with our server. Both times I had to send back my food... salads that the menu said contained no gluten but arrived with fried flour tortilla strips throughout. When I have to send back my food in a case like that, I do not order anything else. My trust is gone. We've not been back for a "third chance."

Even restaurants that have awesome gluten-free menus and are very aware can make mistakes. PF Changs is one that comes to mind. I've been several times and never had a problem and then I'll read about someone's awful experience. It's all kind of a crap shoot...

When I was diagnosed (10+ years ago), my doc suggested I call the dietician/nutritionist at the hospital for food advice. By the time I got to her and we talked, she told me I already knew way more than she did about being gluten free.

Choose sedated!! I remember back in the 70s (in nursing school) watching endoscopies (where they put the tube down your throat, thru your stomach, and into your small intestine to take the necessary biopsies) without sedation. They were awful! Take the sedation! There's no prep (except not eating for a certain amount of time), you have a nice nap, and wake up feeling just fine.

I was tired of mixing flours for different recipes. I had little bags all over the place... and they are pricey! I went to Better Batter flour which already contains xanthan gum. It's all I use and I love it!! I also use Pamela's bread mix and my fave is Namaste pizza crust mix.

I was never lactose intolerant and was diagnosed with celiac very quickly (as opposed to those who suffer for years before definitive diagnosis). I became lactose intolerant about 8 years into being gluten free!! Giving up dairy for me was harder than gluten... cause there is NO substitute for delicious cheese and butter. The lactose intolerance seemed to disappear after about 6 months of being mostly DF and now I'm dairy light... and take an occasional Lactaid.

I'd be happy to eat the cheese rolls and the crème brulee... apps and dessert?? I make the cheese rolls all the time. They're delicious!

Yeah... been there... done it. I've ordered off of gluten-free menus... had the "talk" with wait staff and managers... and been given items with obvious gluten in them. It's all about talking to wait staff and managers and having THEM make sure the cooks in the kitchen are following protocol. It's such a crap shoot... we don't eat out anymore. I miss it!

I live in the middle of nowhere. I have Amazon Prime and buy stuff from there all the time... pasta and Better Batter Flour. My daughter sent me a bunch of really yummy gluten-free stuff from Miami, Florida... including Against the Grain baguettes, which defrosted en route and I just refroze 'em. They were delicious... I have one left and am keeping it for something special!

I used to open a can or two of good diced tomatoes and heat it in a pan w/ olive oil, garlic, and some sliced onions. Then I'd toss in some pine nuts or leftover diced chicken and serve it over pasta. The kids loved it and it was so quick and easy.

Another fun short cut we used was cleaning out one of the produce drawers and lining it w/ paper towels. I'd clean and super dry several heads of lettuce and just dump it in there! Whomever was on "salad duty" for supper would just fill a bowl w/ handfuls of lettuce and we'd add other veggies. All this lettuce lasted nearly a week! Ya can't put the other veggies in there w/ the lettuce tho cause it'll get slimy.

I had to go DF about 8 years into my gluten-free lifestyle. I was SO unhappy... I swear, going gluten-free was easier. No matter what anyone says... there is NO substitute for good cheese, I'm sorry.

I was (mostly) DF for about 6 months and all of the symptoms went away. I've just started limiting dairy again and the symptoms are already better.

Welcome!!

"Shiny poker chips..." HA HA... your description of them (and I know exactly the chips you're talking about) is perfect!! There ARE better crackers out there.

It's all a learning process. You'll weed out the duds quick enough. This is THE place to be for any and all celiac information/support.

Hi RaccoonMama! I'm in very rural Arkansas too... not far from Mountain Home. Where are you? I'm the only celiac in our house, but there are only 2 of us... so cross contamination isn't much of an issue. The hard part, for me, is that it's slim pickings for gluten-free food available in stores. I can usually find Udi's bread and Tinkyada pasta, but they're pricey! I order pasta, bread mixes, and baking flour online which saves a tiny bit of $$.

Welcome! This place is THE place to be for information and support. Whatever question you have... peeps here have been there and done it and will have an answer or a suggestion.

Been there... done it... after being gluten-free for 10 years! I feel the same way about throwing up, but after grabbing a package of Rudi's hot dog buns and chowing one down, I spent the next many hours on the john w/ a waste can in my lap while my body completely purged itself from both ends. I was amazed that my stomach kept trying to empty LONG after it was dry. I didn't know Rudi's made non-gluten free stuff and didn't even look at the package. THAT was a night I won't forget!

I live in west bum-#($* Arkansas and Walmart is about all we have. They have a disclaimer on their rotisserie chicken thingy so I never buy it. I do buy it sometimes from our smaller Harps grocery. Funny... I never make it home w/ 2 drumsticks on it... one flies off and into my hand on the way home!