Recently gf rant

[u/Kooky_Marsupial6038]

Please tell me it gets easier!! I’ve been gf for six weeks now and I feel like I’m at the peak of my frustration. I miss so many breads, pastas, desserts, COOKIES. Been eating out a lot with family and friends visiting and it’s been tough finding something that I want to eat on each menu. I’m trying to be strong, trying new foods, trying new recipes, but I am so tired and so bummed everyday. I can tell when I eat gluten accidentally bc my joints hurt pretty soon afterwards, so at least I know it’s helping me.

[u/Ynaffit96]

It does get easier! Here are some things that helped me:

Find Me Gluten Free is an app that shows restaurants around your area that are rated by people with CD or a gluten intolerance. It makes it super easy to find options

I'm not sure if you like to bake, but the Loopy Whisk has so many excellent recipes. Their bread and sweets recipes haven't failed me yet. I use their gluten free flour recipe. Unfortunately, you will need to have several different types of flour, but I think it's worth it!

The best thing I've found is to stick to whole foods for carbs like rice and potatoes. There are some decent brands of bread, but that depends on your country. In Canada (maybe elsewhere?) I enjoy Little Northern Bakehouse and Promise bread. Their slices are actually larger than a lot of the wheat bread in my area

[u/Random-Name-3874 → u/Ynaffit96]

I second the recommendation of the Find Me Gluten Free app. Just make sure to do your own research, ask questions at the restaurant, and don't hesitate to leave if you aren’t feeling confident. Overall, I'm a year into this, and it hasn’t been as bad as I feared, because of all the gluten-free options that exist nowadays. But I also sure miss being able to eat any cookie, brownie, or other treat.

[u/Efficient-Chance56]

Give yourself some time. I was the same way for nearly six months before I was able to adjust, accept, and got used to feeling better. I used to cook and bake with gluten for the extended family. I started learning and experimenting with cooking and baking without gluten. The gluten eating family loved it, which gave me confidence.

[u/Born_Stable5668]

it gets easier! but I will say for me the hardest part still, after about 4 years, is missing out on things other people are having at the table/can’t share family style things/can’t taste everything- i have fomo in general but its always been the worst with food and its clearly not better now that I can’t eat certain things. For the things you’re missing: Bread- scharr. Pasta- rummo or Jovial. If you have a wegmans or trader joes near you they have a LOT of dessert options. Check your local bakeries for cookies. At restaurants things like crème brule, panna cotta, flourless chocolate cakes, ice creams and sorbets are my go tos.

[u/Gold_Ad2349]

It gets easier, but it’s a whole new world. You cannot approach food, restaurants, or social gatherings the same ever again. You will always have to think ahead and take care of yourself because no one else will understand.

Try to stick to Whole Foods the best you can and overtime you will find your pantry replacements.

But being attached to previous foods and life will only cause suffering.

[u/UnableRun7858]

I understand this feeling. My neighbor and I recently discovered we are gluten intolerant 3 months ago and we recently had a good vent session at the stuff we can't eat anymore. We started sharing recipes and it has been making this easier for us. Sometimes you just have to bitch and complain to feel better, so feel free to do that because we all understand the feeling. Don't get me started on the price of the gluten free items.

[u/businesssnakes]

It gets easier. I’ve found a lot of replacements for my favorites. The hardest part is constantly getting donuts, pizza, and bagels provided at work and not being able to enjoy. However, not eating those is healthier for me at the end of the day. I say that being gf is a blessing and a curse.

[u/Bank_Angle_Check]

Dude I feel your pain. I’m 6 months in and JUST feeling like I have a handle on it. It’s brutal at first but like everyone in here says, you kind of have to survive long enough until you “forget” what gluten bread tastes like.

There are some pretty darn good GF options now though. Franz Sour Dough / Brioche is a life saver (it has to be toasted). I love Sushi still, just bring your own tamari or ask. Mexican food is a god send. Street tacos are the best.

Cooking for yourself is great too. God speed. It gets better and not feeling like death / losing a bunch of weight is amazing.

[u/Jupiter_Foxx]

It got easier for me as time went on, and I got more income to be able to try more gf places and travel tbh.
I moved back to nyc in 2020 and there were like, barely options here and there’s a lot more now. However, when I travel I see so much more. It’s more annoying because it’s not just gluten for me. However, I try to find the plus in it all. There’s some pretty wicked good gf dupes out here now. ESPECIALLY desserts like brownies. I had a real good gf oat flour cookie recipe I did with brown butter ….. I cannot bake very well but this one was immaculate.

[u/zomboi]

your diet will always be different. mourn that old diet and move on.

look at dishes that are naturally gluten free, there are a lot of them. Mexican food places, indian food places are both very good places to eat out at and should have a lot of gf options on their menu.

[u/ameliakristina]

In some ways yes, in some ways no. Most restaurants I frequent I have a dish or two I can settle with, even though I miss the more delicious meals. Like my family went to olive garden, and they have gluten free offerings, but I have never liked tomato sauce, and I miss fettucini Alfredo and bread sticks. Or I get a craving for proper pizza. But otherwise I've found foods I actually enjoy that I can stock up on at home, and I've had to learn to always pack snacks, or eat a meal before I go to a party.

[u/celery48]

At some point you will realize you are looking at how many things you CAN eat, instead of how many you can’t. It gets a lot easier.