Listen to your gut

Instinct doesn't get a lot of credit, generally. There's always a reason why some guy isn't as bad as you think, or that person didn't really mean that. Logic always has an answer, an explanation. I should know, my Boy is doing a PhD in Logic! But logic doesn't explain everything and it's time more people listened to their gut.

In the case of us GF folks, I mean it literally! So many random comments I've read on the internet say that we're faking it, that we won't die so what's the harm in a little bit? Calling us cruel if we don't let our kids eat what the other kids are eating? Scorning us for taking on what has become the newest version of the carb-free-diet. Well, you know what? Screw them! They don't have to live with a stomach that is vocal and unhappy for about a week, or the smell of the most appaling flatulence known to man (TMI but it's the truth), or a red blotchy face, or the mood swings or the or the or the.... there are a thousand variations. My doctor told me that 12 hours of sleep daily was obviously normal for me. My boyfriend thought I wasn't allergic as all that until I did the two month gluten testing. Now? He's more militant about me eating gluten than I am!
And I'm not even coeliac! I'm just 'intolerant.' My childhood doctor gave me the most sensible advice I've gotten about the whole issue once I'd finally travelled home to get a second medical opinion - "If it makes you feel bad, just don't eat it. The blood test either way won't tell you to do anything differently."

Living in Melbourne is great. Gluten free is slowly appearing everywhere. Safeway supermarkets have their own line of allergen free foods at vaguely reasonable prices that aren't bad. Hoyts cinemas advertise gluten free snacks. Many restaurants have allergen information close to hand.
Sure, being gluten free can be depressing when all your friends are eating at the pub and your only choice is a plain steak (not even with salad as it's already dressed) or a packet of plain potato chips. But you can also see it as an oppurtunity and the perfect excuse to get takeaway sushi and eat it in the pub with everyone else. Because special sometimes means better food (thank god!).
Melbourne is known for it's restaurants and while I've been making an effort to not eat out lately, they are fantastic and I highly recommend many of them (like Spiga Bar!). Which is strange, because I read so many blog articles about how sad people are that they can't go out. Maybe things are different in America, but in Melbourne I'm finding it different. Sure, I've had restaurants tell me I can have a glass of water but that place closed down a month later. Why? Well, they laughed at a customer with allergies and obviously didn't care about their food! I go to many places to eat and don't mention my allergy. Possibly stupid of me but when going to a traditional Thai or Indian place one assumes that most of the food won't contain gluten. If it does, it's not all that authentic is it? I'm lucky enough to feel well enough now that I'm willing to be the guinea pig without "making a fuss." But these places, when I've "made a fuss" have mostly just smiled and pointed to the two things on the menu (not counting the breads) that I can't eat and suggesting I call ahead next time and they'll make the naan bread with chickpea flour for me especially.

My point after this long rambling post? Trust your instincts! Love your food and seek restaurants that love it too! Sure eat at home if you want but don't get scared by the wide world! People are often nicer than we give them credit for if we let them be....


In other news:
Don't walk past that little Asian grocery! Sure, you won't be able to get those frozen dumplings or steamed buns like you used to, but the other day I found something better - cheap rice pasta! It's only made of rice which is different to gluten pasta but still tasty and..... cheap! It was $1 a pack! The macaroni was uber fantastic in a spanish style soup (though it did soak up more liquid than a normal pasta) and the spaghetti was tasty with a simple pesto last night. No idea what it's called. Something in Asian. But gluten free is right there on the pack. I bought them at Asian Way, on the corner of Bourke and Waverley Rds, Malvern.

Basco cereal - tasty! 5 stars for their Apricot breakfast cereal. Full of dried fruit and puffed grains this is not too dear and everyday feeling while not being Gorilla Munch! It feels adult and healthy and is definately tasty. Though for some reason it's not on their website? Strange but I bought it twice now so it really does exist, at least in my local Safeway.