For years now, I have struggled with various stomach issues. My roommate (who has Celiac disease) suggested I start a gluten-free diet to see if that resolves some of my stomach issues. She asked me when the last time was that I ate a meal that didn’t have gluten in it, and I honestly couldn’t remember. I figured that in itself was probably an issue, so I decided to take her advice and try going gluten-free.
One of my biggest hesitations with starting a gluten-free diet was not knowing what food to eat. However, my first trip to the grocery store helped ease some of those fears. I was able to find the majority of my favorite foods such as pasta, pizza, and chicken tenders in gluten-free versions. There were also a wide variety of gluten-free snacks available like popcorn, applesauce, granola bars, and potato chips. They even had gluten-free baking flour that I bought to make my favorite cookies. I walked away from the grocery store excited to try these new gluten-free versions of my favorite foods!
Another area of concern for me was eating at restaurants. I made sure to check restaurant menus before deciding to go to them and found that most restaurants do have gluten-free options. Even Olive Garden had a gluten-free meal that I enjoyed more than my usual dish there! The most challenging aspect of eating out has been fast-food restaurants. Many fast-food restaurants have little to no gluten-free options, which has been difficult as a former fast-food addict.
After being on the diet for three weeks now, I can happily say that it has resolved most of my stomach issues, and I have a lot more energy. While it does suck to know that I will no longer be able to eat some of my favorite foods, I have been able to find a variety of gluten-free foods that I do enjoy. Do the gluten-free versions of these foods taste differently? Yes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they taste bad. In some cases, they even taste better! If you are also struggling with stomach issues, I highly recommend trying a gluten-free diet. It could make a big difference!