The Trouble With Food

We are a family that suffers from various food allergies, the most prominent being wheat and gluten.  Whatever scientist thought it was a good thing to inject 9 times the gluten in one teeny grain should be fined for cruel and unusual punishment.  It was the tragic death of my Granny that brought the symptoms of this problem to light which my mom, siblings and I suffered from.  Once we avoided wheat and gluten, or anything that contained even a fraction of either one, our health improved immensely.  I remember the awe of discovering feeling good after I ate a meal, instead of pain, and bloating and having to live on the toilet days after.  I mysteriously lost my weekly 'flu' and the perpetual rashes that plagued me cleared up.  Bliss!  I can not explain the change physically once we cut out the evil grains.

That was close to 12 years ago, and believe you me, at first it wasn't easy.  The flours that were available made hard, crumbly bread, or solid, break-the-edge-of-the-counter-if-you-dropped-one muffins.   We ate tons of rice, I think most people's weight issues improved actually.  I had so much more energy, and having just had my first child that was a blessing.  I remember once, after I'd been off gluten for a year, I was at a work Christmas party, and my boss had made brownies.  I had one, to be polite, and immediately wished I had cut off my hand instead.  My co-workers wanted to rush me to the hospital, I was doubled over in pain, but I managed to convince them that my reaction would pass eventually.  I ate some yogurt, and as the pain subsided I was able to slap on a smile, even though my forehead was waxed with cold dew and my whole body was shaking like I had a terrible cold and just couldn't get warm.  When someone tried to put a blanket around me, I insisted I was too hot, and that would make me vomit.  In hindsight throwing up the brownie would have been my best choice, but I hate-hate-hate barfing.  Hate it.  Especially when the force is so powerful it comes through my nose.  That burns.  Somehow I made it home, and I was fortunate to have already had the next day off to recoup from the party.  I tell you, I learned my lesson, I had flare ups sporadically throughout the following months.  Never again was I going to put myself through that, even at the expense of making someone feel bad.  It's not worth it.

Now, after I met my husband, and we married, my mother-in-law would do her best to accommodate my allergies.  However, it wasn't until other family members went off of gluten that the seriousness of it really set in.  After we had all of our kids, and each one of them were allergic to gluten, it become apparent that this wasn't all in my head.  I've been accused of that before.  Like I'd choose to deprive myself of onions rings just to be 'cool'.  Right.   I wouldn't wish this on anyone, even those I don't like very much.  I often wonder if my kids will grow out of it, but of course that is wishful thinking.  It's in our DNA, they're stuck, and I'm sure most of the world will be off gluten once my kids are grown anyway.  Here's hoping.

Yep, gluten-free has become the largest fad ever.  It's no 1920's mystery cake, or the 70's fondue, classics that will never go out of style, but going gluten-free has several nutritional benefits that has a higher overall positive impact on people and therefore is a guaranteed money-maker for those who have dollar-signs as pupils.   What has started out as a few companies who produced quality food is now offered full of sugar and less than ideal ingredients, but it doesn't contain that monster gluten so it must be good.  Now I have to discern which product is actually real or not.  Just because it's label states it's safe, doesn't mean it's good.
Also, my children have other food sensitivities, like, tomato's, potato's, beans (not the green or yellow, but the backed ones...and sigh, no hummus.)  I won't go into all of them, but it's a lot, and because of the diversity I am challenged daily to not make the exact same thing for meals because it's safe.  I refuse, absolutely won't, make separate meals for individuals.  If we all can't have potato's I don't make them.  It's easier that way.  It's also motive for me to ensure each of my children learn how to cook at a reasonable age, so that if they do complain about what mom puts on the table I can smile and say, then make something else.  As long as they clean up after themselves, who cares right?  I am a fan of family dinner, and so as long as we have one main meal we all eat together, I am happy.  We spend all day together, so eating together isn't a big deal at all.
It's a losing battle when getting together with those who have no food allergies, regardless of how hard the hostess tries, one of my kids usually snap up a forbidden treat, and then suffer for it.  I get to clean up the mess, they get to stay in bed, it's no fun for anyone.

However, this is an ongoing trial for us designed by God, and I am thankful that food trouble is my biggest problem.  I am sure as we all grow, more and more problems will arise, but we've got the food part covered.  I say bring it.

There's nothing cuter than a two-year old asking if something is wheat.  Or seeing the excitement on my children's faces when a cooky is offered baked especially for them.