Removing Another from the Table

I am officially that person, that person at a restaurant who asks a million questions about what is in the food, not only because I am gluten-free but am now also dairy free.  I hate being that person.

I found out last week I am cross-reactive to all dairy and yeast. So not only is half the food in the world off limits because of my gluten intolerance, but add a dairy problem and my choices become a bit scarce. 

Cross-reactivity is basically foods that cause the same reaction in my body as gluten does. 

The night after I found out I went to my fridge in search of dinner... 

I was greeted with the cheese, milk, yogurt, butter, pasta salad, chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, broccoli with cheese, mac and cheese, GF pizza, the 50 dollars worth of groceries I had purchased the day before, and all things that were now completely off limits.

I just stood there and stared at my full fridge, but with an empty scared feeling of what I was going to eat.

I stood there about 10 minutes.

But then I stopped…. I moved…. I reminded myself that I was in this very position 2 years ago, finding out I was gluten-free, and wondering how I would ever navigate this gluten-filled world. But I did it. And I am just fine.

I also reminded myself that these foods make me so sick I cannot function, and it is a blessing that I can CONTROL what makes me sick. There are many who cannot.

So I had apples and peanut butter for dinner, and hit the Internet for dairy-free alternatives that would now become a part of my daily routine.

But there is still that look, the glare from the waitress when you ask relentlessly about the menu…….or the sneers from the people who think my diet is simply some ‘fad’ or way to lose a couple pounds.

And the feeling of being ‘that person’ at a dinner party who can’t politely eat what is put in front of her.

But I have to accept that this is me. I cannot change the situation, I cannot eat the host at church, and I cannot have ben and Jerry’s’ ice cream any more.

I wont grow out of it, I wont cheat, I cannot take lactaid and be fine. I need to read labels like it is my day job, ask a lot of questions, and plan ahead for dinner parties and social gatherings. 

But that’s ok, I can do it, and I will.

So stay tuned for more gluten AND dairy-free recipes, as I once again re-think my baking skills…..

But for now I’ll just enjoy my dark chocolate almond milk…. Yumminess.

Happy living!

~M