These past few days I have been suffering the aftereffects of making some dumb mistakes in my usually very careful gluten-free diet. My whole body has been crying “foul!” since I went away for a retreat in the Alabama countryside. As usual, I brought some items to eat myself, but I did rely on the cooks in the kitchen to understand what gluten-free, soy free, dairy-free means. That is a lot to ask. So that you may not suffer the same consequences, I am listing here 5 mistakes Not to make in the world of following a gluten-free diet (and other food allergies).
1) We don’t read the labels. I can’t say enough times to read labels before eating anything in a bottle or package. Manufacturers must list allergens. But you must learn to recognize hidden ingredients, too. Some people brought in some packages of snacks, including pecans and sugar covered pecans. I helped myself to the bag of “plain” pecans, but I did not look at or for the list of ingredients on the package. Mistake number 1.
2) We don’t ask questions. No matter who prepares the food, ask, ask, ask about ingredients. If you don’t ask, you will have no idea, what the items are cooked with and in which may contaminate your food. I ate a turkey burger that the cook prepared especially for me. I was so pleased that I did not ask if it was 100% turkey or if it had other ingredients, like vegetable protein (soy). Mistake number 2.
The following 2 mistakes have to do with our attitude and feelings around the gluten-free lifestyles:
3) We have the “This little bit won’t matter” attitude. Sometimes we think just this little amount won’t matter. It does. Even a little bit of gluten can reek havoc on your entire body if you are sensitive. For a long time, I ate Quaker Oats oatmeal thinking that it was gluten-free. Until I found out there was most likely cross-contamination. I did not know to look for gluten-free oats. I could not understand why my tests were still coming back positive for gluten. Lesson learned. Beware of cross-contamination. Mistake number 3.
4) We have the “I am sick of this” attitude. Sometimes we get so discouraged and tired of being so strict with our diet and the restrictions that we give in to temptation. It is inevitable. But, oh, the consequences! I know that I am not supposed to have yeast. But at the retreat, one of the ladies had brought some gluten-free bread. It did have yeast in it. Everyone else was having sandwiches and, by golly, I wanted a sandwich, too. So I had some. Mistake number 4.
5) We don’t do our homework. It is up to us to learn all we can about living with gluten and other allergies and sensitivities. There are lots of pitfalls, especially when eating away from home. If you are going to a restaurant, call ahead or look online to see if they have a gluten-free menu or can accommodate food restrictions. Tell your hosts if you are going to someone’s home for a meal. What to look for on a label. Hidden ingredients that have gluten in them. It can be challenging to navigate, but certainly doable. Take time to study up.
It is definitely worth it to stick to your food plan – if not, you will suffer the same consequences that I have been experiencing these past few days. Don’t make the same mistakes I did!
Jane Springer is a certified Life, Wellness and Style Coach who assists women in taking care of themselves, in body, mind and spirit. She coaches women who want to lose weight, avoid diabetes, and feel great. She also helps them thrive after divorce. She also helps them to clear their closets of old clothes and outdated attitudes, so they can shine and feel confident.