Dealing With New Food Allergies During The Holidays

 

 

 

Happy New Year!  To all that follow ~ I hope that this year you find more health and answers to any issues you may have.  I hope that you cook, bake and eat lots of good, truly gluten free foods this year.  I hope that you get outside and exercise and get some sunshine if it is out. It does a body and mind good.  And I am working on all of these myself.

 

 

 

As I type this, I have not though done much exercising lately, other than unpacking boxes and moving from one room to another organizing all our belongings.  As I type, it is once again in the 30s and raining outside.  I so want to go for a walk.  I am missing it.  I am missing my sunshine and warmth and my lush green palm tree landscape, but will learn to love our new home ( Side note: I Do know where I am retiring). 

 

 

 

The kids are settling into their schools. My husband is enjoying his job.  All a plus. I am unemployed for the first time in over 11 years?  Strange, but true and hopefully that will be taken care of soon as well.

 

 

 

I wanted to share a recent experience. I am hoping it was my "out with the old, in with the new moment".  One last pout before the New Year.   Yea, yea, I know I will have more, but really trying to focus more on the positives this year rather than the negatives.

 

 

 

I am hoping with this post ~ I will feel cleansed in some way.

 

 

 

I felt childish and irrational, but at the same time felt justified.

 

 

 

We had planned on cooking a pork roast, sweet potatoes and asparagus for New Years Eve. 

 

 

 

We were out running errands after spending the morning unpacking more boxes.  We had been busy.  We were now in WalMart picking up some odds and ends.  We ended up over by the food and I walked off to see what gfree items they may have at this "new to me store". 

 

 

 

Little did I know the Chef of the House was thinking about dinner.  He realized that we would not have time to cook the pork and started picking out something else fast to eat, so we could just relax for New Year's Eve.

 

 

 

I walked up to my family.  They were hoovering over the cart and talking.  Apparently, my teen son was telling my husband that what he had picked out was "Not a Good Idea".  I love him even more for this moment.  What was in the cart were eggs.   I know.... Gluten Free, but I have added recently more "No, Nos"...Food allergies to my diet. Eggs being one of them.  While my family eats gluten free meals with me, I do not expect them to cut eggs, chicken and potatoes from their diet because of me.

 

 

 

But.......it was New Year's Eve.  One of those holidays where you "want to eat together". 

 

 

 

My husband says,"I thought we would just do something quick and this would be easy".  He had bacon and grits.  He had forgotten ....I think during his 2.5 months being away from us had erased some of his memory.  He had forgotten that I can not eat Quaker grits. I did not think I had any Bob's Red Mill at home.  Remember we just moved and all my gluten free food is still in some box somewhere in our dining room. He had forgotten that I might still have sadness visit again due to my "Can not eat list".

 

 

 

I said fine, but I am going to be completely honest here.....I started panicking a bit and got quiet. I often get quiet when I am upset.  I am in some ways more Male at moments like this than Female. 

 

 

 

I walked off to the produce area to get some ripe bananas. I thought I would make some Elana's Pantry banana blueberry muffins.  While I love her muffins and make them with apple sauce now.... this was not making me happy.  I was becoming more and more irritated. Especially when I realized I needed Applesauce. 

 

 

Bottom Line was:  I wanted to eat with my family.  I wanted Eggs too.  This was not planned ... our dinner dilemma or my moment.

 

 

 

As I met up with them again close to the register I could not make eye contact. I was angry somewhat with my husband and almost equally with myself as I thought I was over all this silly pity party stuff. Who was I kidding?

 

 

My husband futilely tried to apologize to me.  And I  told him it was fine, I was fine .......

 

 

my husband quietly told our son to go put the eggs back.

 

 

 

You'd think this would have made me feel better, but to the contrary it just upset me more. Yep, I was still feeling quite childish.

 

 

 

I told him to keep the eggs that I would be fine and I walked out.  I walked out of a new store, a new town and to my car to silently cry and wait.

 

 

 

When they got into the car I was irritated with myself, very sad, very frustrated, but  at the same time felt my feelings were very justified.   Our daughter got in and hugged me from the backseat.  I sat and willed my tears away as we quietly drove home. 

 

 

 

I can't even remember now what we ate for dinner.  Brain Fog is sometimes  a good thing.

 

 

 

I do know that I got over my moment and two days later I bought eggs for my family. 

 

 

Out with the Old, In with the New. I will even cook them for them.... as they like the way I cook eggs the most.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a side note, an observation I made this week .... and somewhat related, because yes, this is how my mind works :

 

 

We moved with two cats.  One was ours and the other became ours over the past 6 months due to being a pregnant stray.  They had learned to love each other in their own spaces ~ One mainly in and the other out.  They are trying to come to terms now with being in the same space now. 

 

 Both have been getting lots of attention when they eat.

 

Cats love to have company with their human owners when they eat.  Just like us.

 

They love to be petted and rubbed and they will eat more when you do this. Actually right now my male will only eat when you do this.

 

 

If you have a dog you probably have noticed the same thing, especially with a small one.  Ever watch how they go and get a few pieces of food and bring them into the family room to eat?  Where you are?  They want to have company and share their food with you too.

 

We all want to eat and enjoy food together .... we are no different than our furry friends.  We want to share, we want to talk about what we are eating, share and share some more. It is painful when we can't eat together.  It just is.

 

Things are not always simple.  Learn to roll with changes and plan when you can. 

 

 

 

If you are a family member or friend of someone with Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance or food allergies remember to plan with them especially when it is a holiday as those are the days where we want to feel the most normal of all.



And always have someone who understands what is going on in your life to talk to during times like these.  A special thanks to my gluten free Florida friend for texting with me during my Pity Party Moment.  xoxo

 

 

 

 

Now onto 2013.  Wishing everyone peace, patience, much love and good health.