Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
Maintaining Relationships as a Celiac
Being a Celiac and trying to keep it all together in the world of friends, family, and dating can be tricky at best.
I see living gluten-free as my diet, and while I try not to expect people to remember every food that is safe for a Celiac to eat, I have found that it’s ten times easier to find out in advance which restaurant we will be lunching or dining in. With the Internet at the ready, I can “Google” the establishment and then review the menu well in advance! This way, when it comes time to order, I’m prepared and can avoid any issues with my meal. Also if I am asked to suggest a restaurant, I am able to look at my list of restaurants with gluten-free menus, making it easier all the way around.
Dating has its own drawbacks. Primarily, how to handle the food situation without looking as if I’m a food neurotic or some sort of high-maintenance nightmare! This is a fine line, let me tell you!
However, with increased global awareness of Celiac disease, and restaurants that designate menu items as gluten-free, outings with friends and dates have become much easier. Resources such as the Gluten Free Restaurant Awareness Program help those with Celiac disease find restaurants that have gluten-free menus. Other resources like CeliacHandbook.com offer guides to restaurants that have gluten-free items on their menus.
-Estelle