It’s as Simple as Bread and Butter…or is it? The Realities of Living a Gluten-Free Lifestyle

Heather Fendell  

Bread and butter are staples of everyday life. But what would happen if this staple was cut out? Recently I discovered that my aunt has Celiac’s disease, which is an intolerance to wheat, barley, rye, and most other grains. This led me to investigate and learn more about Celiac’s by taking it upon myself to try to experience a gluten-free lifestyle for at least a week. Being lactose-intolerant and (now) gluten-free, I found it quite difficult to find foods that fit my diet, especially in a college environment.
Luckily my roommate has access to a car, and a trip to Whole Foods made my restrictions much less of an issue. I realized that gluten-free is not about what I can’t eat, but instead eating different forms of the foods that I love. The bakery section offered gluten free chocolate chip cookies, cakes, bagels, and fresh loaves of bread, and I stumbled upon a whole section of gluten free pastas! I substituted my favorite Special K cereal for Peanut Butter Panda Puffs, and found substitutes for pretzels. At first the list of forbidden foods seemed so overwhelming that I found myself feeling constantly hungry.
In today’s day and age, we are fortunate enough to be able to have gluten-free eateries (such as Silvio’s which offers gluten-free pizza, pasta, and cookies), bakeries, and a plethora of options in the supermarkets. Since becoming gluten-free I have noticed an increase in my energy levels and an overall feeling of healthiness. So far, I plan on continuing with the diet, and thanks to gluten free bakeries, I can have my cake and eat it too!