| If you have been diagnosed with gluten intolerance, | | | | restrictions. After all, they are parents too and hopefully |
| you may have begun to experience a new kind of | | | | their maternal or paternal instincts shine through |
| stress. You may discover potential stresses | | | | eventually. |
| associated with adapting to a strict gluten-free lifestyle. | | | | Dealing With the Gluten-Free Diet |
| Please rest assured that you can and will adapt just | | | | Dealing with the gluten-free diet used to be the most |
| fine and once you are over the hump of this challenge | | | | difficult part of being diagnosed with any form of gluten |
| you will enjoy much greater health and energy. | | | | sensitivity (celiac disease or not). However, thanks in |
| Dealing With A Lack of Understanding and Sympathy | | | | part to the natural and organic foods movement, |
| I wish I could say that everyone will be supportive and | | | | finding suitable replacements for your gluten-containing |
| understanding, but I am afraid that is just not the case. | | | | standards is easier than ever. |
| Instead, you may discover a few too many of your | | | | Grocery chains like Whole Foods and the dearly |
| fellow humans to be remarkably insensitive. You will | | | | departed Wild Oats Markets pioneered gluten-free |
| find some insensitive and impatient individuals are not | | | | awareness and labeling, and now even mainstream |
| crazy about helping you when they should. This | | | | chains often have explicit labeling or a gluten-free area. |
| includes the customer support at various | | | | Manufacturers like Amy's Natural Foods and Bob's |
| manufacturers, the employees at restaurants and if | | | | Red Mill now offer a wide range of foods without |
| you are the parent of a child with celiac disease, you | | | | gluten. These range from ready-to-serve packaged |
| will even find this problem among other parents in your | | | | meals to the core ingredients you need to replace |
| child's class or on his or her soccer team. | | | | gluten in common recipes, like tapioca flour, brown rice |
| However, I can assure you that understanding and | | | | flour, xanthum gum and guar gum. So whether you |
| sympathy for the trials and tribulations of someone | | | | want to bake from scratch or microwave to go, you |
| with celiac disease has increased exponentially in the | | | | will now find a plethora of selections for your |
| past decade. In many areas, it has become | | | | gluten-free diet. |
| commonplace to find gluten-free labels both in grocery | | | | Again, I know that there will be stressful times ahead. |
| stores and on restaurant menus. And many parents | | | | But please hold on to hope. I can assure you the |
| will come around when they get to know you and | | | | greater strength and vitality you gain through your new |
| understand the seriousness of your child's dietary | | | | gluten-free life will be well worth it. |