Most of us will not find it too difficult to shift to a gluten free diet after discovering that we suffer from gluten enteropathy or the celiac disease. We may be prepared to change our lifestyles from top to bottom to accommodate the peculiar condition that we are suffering from. After all, the alternative is to live a life with diarrhea, head aches and other conditions that may lead to even diseases like cancer.
However, we often draw a line when it comes to our social life. We tend to think that suffering from the celiac disease means giving up our social life forever. Eating out, partying late, and grabbing a bit at a snack bar- all these activities seem beyond our reach forever. While there is no doubt that the disease will prevent you from eating outside indiscriminately, there is no truth in the conception that this disease means the end of your social life.
Many persons who are suffering from gluten enteropathy or celiac disease have ensured their condition does not affect their career and their jobs. They travel to different cities, stay in different hotels and attend numerous lunch and dinner meetings and yet retain a healthy lifestyle. How is this possible?
The first thing that you should do is stop expecting others to adjust for your condition. Of course, it will be great if the host of a party is considerate enough to prepare gluten free food especially for you. However, you cannot expect everybody to do this as their duty. More often than not, those suffering from celiac disease expect others to be as sensitive and careful about their food as themselves.
However, this is an impossible expectation. The smart way out is to realize that there is a lot more to your social life than eating out. Meeting people, having fun, laughing at good jokes, having a good time- you can do all this even if you do not eat a single morsel at the party.
To enjoy a gluten free lifestyle even on the move, make it a point to carry essential foodstuffs with you at all times. All you need to do is catch your host’s attention and inform them of your condition and request them to permit you to eat your own food. This gesture on your part will definitely be appreciated by others.
This is possible only if you become comfortable with the fact that you cannot eat foods containing gluten. If you treat social outings as excuses to stuff yourself with foods rich in gluten, you will never stick to your diet.
How to eat at restaurants if you are intolerant to gluten?
The most obvious thing to do is inform the management of your condition and request them to make special arrangements for you. Since you are paying for the food, you always can insist that the food be prepared in a particular way. Until you identify those restaurants and eateries which take your request very seriously and offer carefully prepared gluten free foods to you, make it a point to eat at home before going out to eat.
Since your stomach is filled, you can simply reject a dish if it is not made well and yet not remain the only hungry person on the table. Further, do keep in mind that fresh vegetables and salads with the appropriate dressings will never contain gluten.
You can simply order a salad and munch it as others eat their food. This will ensure you do not end up consuming gluten rich food only to avoid feeling left out. The basic idea is to adopt a very practical approach towards eating out when suffering from this disease.
You can even carry your own food items and request the eatery to cook it in the way you want. Nine times out of ten, your request shall be complied without any fuss. After all, you are a valued customer who will definitely come back if they make a good impression.
If your work takes you abroad, you obviously cannot refuse your boss just because you suffer from gluten intolerance. Rather, it makes sense to think ahead and try to make proper arrangements to ensure gluten free diet is available to you even when you go abroad.
Just log on the internet and find out whether groups and associations for those suffering from the celiac disease exist to the place where you are going. Get in touch with these groups and ask them to point out the best eateries and restaurants where your request for gluten free diet will be obeyed.
Rather than hiding from the various difficulties that you will face when eating outside, face them with a brave and confident approach. You will discover that you can have a good time at a party without anyone even finding out that you are suffering from the celiac disease.