Sunday, October 30, 2011

life, gluten-free

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease about a month ago. It's an autoimmune disorder, as is Type 1 Diabetes, and so they're inter-related and affect each other.

Life this past month has been a challenge, to say the least. Besides living a strict, gluten-free diet (and gluten is in SO many foods) it's had reaching effects on my blood sugars, hormones, mood & energy. Treating Celiac is so much more than just "not eating gluten;" it's a lifestyle change. Again. It's dealing with symptoms and listening to one's body.

I've been feeling extremely yucky for a while ... and it seems my list of "Emily-friendly" foods keeps getting shorter ... But I'm trying to see it as an opportunity to learn and try new things. I already know how to eat healthy, how to cook from scratch, how to invest thoughtful action & energy into my well-being. I'm trying not to let it get the best of me!

And I've celebrated several small successes, which give me joy.


Take these gluten-free banana muffins, for example. Made with gluten-free flours such as gf-certified oat flour, rice flour, tapioca starch and xanthan gum. Other baking successes include pumpkin spice pancakes with maple vanilla syrup, lemon zest cheesecake with sugar cookie crust, and flourless chocolate lava cakes with homemade brown sugar ice cream.

I want to prove to Celiac (and myself!) that I can still make and enjoy delicious foods that won't make me sick. Sure, I can't eat pizza or doughnuts, but with a bit of extra planning and effort I can still have a yummy life.

So if you see any gluten-free news or recipes, send them my way. Thanks for your love and support!

4 Comments:

Blogger Cait@Spudnut said...

you're awesome Emily! I'm sure you will learn to adjust and cook some amazing things! Hope you start feeling better :)

6:04 PM  
Blogger Hillary said...

My cousin has a blog and most everything she makes is gluten free. I can give you the link. http://marissasmenu.blogspot.com/

You probably also have to make changes for your diabetes but you can have a look at it.

I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well lately. The desserts you've been making sound amazing though. Good luck with another challenge but I know you can make the best of it.

9:15 AM  
Blogger CoCo said...

I am SO sorry that you have to deal with Celiac. My doc thought I had it for a while (until they did the biopsy) and so I tried the G-free lifestyle. It is SO tricky! It is seriously a filler in everything! I do think more people are aware of it than they used to be, and most restaurants even have a G-free menu. Hopefully it keeps getting easier, and maybe even you CAN have that doughnut, gluten free! (or at least a spud nut. :))

12:20 AM  
Blogger CoCo said...

Oh! I need to tell you... I was telling my friend who works at Outback Steakhouse about you having celiac. Apparently one of the founders' daughters has it. She said they have a HUGE menu and most things are GF. Thought I would pass that along! :)

4:29 PM  

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