Food is Medicine

If you are living with Celiac Disease or other health issues that require you to be gluten free then I know you've felt that pinch on the pocketbook.  It is true that the majority of gluten free foods carry a higher price tag than their gluten full counterparts.  I hear and read complaints about this price differential a lot!  When I was first diagnosed I know I complained, as well.  I mean, I'm sure we can all identify with this cartoon someone posted in a Celiac Support Group I am in on Facebook earlier today.

Have you ever stopped to consider just exactly WHY the prices of gluten free products are higher than other products? 

Now, don't get me wrong.  I HATE living with Celiac Disease.  I wouldn't wish this autoimmune disease on anyone.  However, let's look at this logically, shall we?  There is currently no medical treatment for Celiac Disease.  None.  Zip.  Zero.  The absolute ONLY treatment option for those of us with Celiac Disease is a 100% gluten free life.  This isn't just about diet, but EVERY aspect of our lives from our beauty items, bath soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, household cleaners, and the list goes on and on and on.  Right?!  That can be extremely daunting and discouraging.  It can be extremely isolating at times and means there is a whole lot out there that we can't enjoy or events we cannot participate in.  BUT - on the flip side, our food is our medicine!  How about that?! 

You don't have to rely on medications that break the bank and come with a plethora of possible horrible side effects!  YOU are in the driver's seat.  YOU get to decide what foods to eat, whether to chance eating out or to just say no.  Big Pharma isn't calling the shots - YOU are!  Compared to the price of pharmaceuticals, eating gluten free is cheap!!  Seriously!  I'll pay extra at the grocery store any day to be able to be in control of my health instead of Big Pharma!

One of my favorite places to shop is our local Farmer's Market.  The local fresh produce there is delicious and naturally gluten free.  Yep, you know it.  Fresh produce is more expensive than many manufactured foods.  BUT - they are all natural with no additives or preservatives.  They contain zero MSG.  They are healthy for almost EVERYONE (unless you have a food allergy) not just those of us living gluten free.  And, yes, farmer's market produce is generally higher priced than your supermarket produce.  BUT - the produce is fresher and more often than not, tastes better, too!

No matter how careful we are, we all know that we can still accidentally come into contact with gluten.  It's everywhere so it is impossible to avoid cross contamination 100% of the time, unfortunately.  Yes, our food is more expensive.  Yes, I do believe there are some food manufacturers out there just to make a buck off of the gluten free fad and they don't take our needs seriously.  But I also believe that those people and businesses don't truly care about their customers or about doing gluten free right.  There are so many gluten free food producers out there who ARE doing it right because they care about their clientele and want to provide the best and safest possible products for them.  We have several here in the Midwest who are doing it right and taking every step necessary to ensure the safety and quality of their products.

Did you know that it costs more to produce gluten free products than regular products?  Because it takes more ingredients to make up for the lack of gluten in these products, the cost is higher to the manufacturer than it would be if they were using ingredients containing gluten.  Add to that safety standards it takes to manufacture gluten free products in a safe environment.  Gluten free food producers also have to comply with strict FDA requirements and pay for testing to ensure that their products are safe for our consumption.  Our disease puts us in a highly specialized market.  Since the cost to the manufacturer is higher, the price we pay at the supermarket is higher, as well. 

There are many gluten free products and foods that I use on a regular basis.  Many of them are from local producers, as I feel very strongly in supporting the local producers who work so hard to provide safe, delicious food for their customers.  Some local producers I buy from regularly are Chebe which is manufactured in Spirit Lake, Iowa, Mama Stoens from Owatonna, Minnesota and Better For You Bakery located in Jefferson, Iowa.  Each of these manufacturers produce gluten free baking mixes that are easy to prepare and tasty. 

Better For You Bakery French Bread mix

I've been dreading the writing of this part of my post.  Dreading it because it makes me sad every time I think about it.  Another amazing local gluten free food producer we have in Sioux City, Iowa is the 100% gluten free, nut free, fish free establishment, Gud n Free.  This restaurant was opened by owners Mike and Brenda Orlando not quite two years ago as a safe haven for those of us who have to eat gluten free.  This is the only restaurant in the area like this. 

Owner, Mike Orlando waits on customers this past Friday the 13th

I am so sad to say they will soon be closing their doors.  April 28, 2018 will be their last day in business.  While they've had many patrons come from many other states to enjoy the wonderful gluten free comfort food they provide, unfortunately, they did not receive enough support from the local Celiac and gluten free community.  This continues to boggle my mind.  Many people would prefer taking their chances on cross contamination at other restaurants that offer a few gluten free options on their otherwise gluten filled menus.  We've had such a gift in Gud n Free and it breaks my heart to see them go.  

Gud n Free Chicken Parm Sandwich with Steak Fries and their original marinara

Gud n Free's Bacon Chicken Ranch pizza with a side of cheese balls

Mike, Brenda and their employees, Eric and Susie, have all put their heart and soul into making this restaurant an oasis for us.  There are so many things I'm going to miss when the restaurant closes, including their famous cheese balls, pork loin sandwiches, house burger and their mouth watering marinara. 

Gud n Free Pork Loin sandwich and fries

Gud n Free World famous (no?  They should be!) cheeseballs

Gud n Free vegetarian Mushroom Falafel

But the biggest things I will miss when Gud n Free closes it's doors is having that safe place where I can go and NOTHING on the menu is off limits to me.  It's a place I can go where I don't have to whip out my laundry list of questions and concerns that I have to go through at every other restaurant that I ever eat at.  I don't have to worry if they are going to understand my needs, because they do - firsthand!  These four people have become very special to this blogger and I feel nothing but friendship and kinship for them.  If you are in the Sioux City area between now and April 28th - stop in to Gud n Free for an excellent meal!  Tell them you heard about their wonderful establishment through their friend, Siouxland Celiac.

This blogger with my mama at Gud n Free on April 13th

I TOLD you that I'm going to miss these cheeseballs!

Also - for those of you in the Sioux City, Iowa area, the April Siouxland Celiac Support Group meeting (no relation to this blogger) will be meeting this coming Wednesday night, April 18th from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm at Gud n Free.  Tessa, the Gordon Drive Hy-Vee Dietitian who normally facilitates our meetings was not able to plan anything for us in April, so Gud n Free's own, Susie Joens and your's truly are hosting the meeting this month.  We hope to see you there!

Celebration of Life

Today I attended the Celebration of Life for a woman whom I met only once.  Even though we met just one time, she has had a profound affect on my life.  Her name was Michelle Lara.

I met her through my parents at their home many years ago.  She and her family had become very special to my parents.  I know she is one of the many that their hearts came to love as if she were one of their own.  The first thing that comes to my mind about Michelle was when I first met her and her children, Lupe and Larissa.  My parents introduced us and I know she'd heard as much from them about me as I had her.  Her smile was beautiful and genuine and without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around me and enveloped me in a warm hug.  She was easy to talk to and we hit it off immediately.  Her love of life was infectious.  She struck me with not only her big, easy smile, but also her optimism about everything. 

Michelle's life was cut much too short by colon cancer, but in her 48 years, she lived a very full life.  She raised two beautiful children as a single mom, yet also worked on schooling and helping others.  Michelle was a person who wanted to help others so much that she became a nurse.  She was a surgical nurse for 14 years until she suffered a traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident in 2009.  The accident happened less than two months after my dad died.  Even though we'd met only once, I felt like I knew her through my mom and dad.  They were so impressed by the loving, kind-hearted, beautiful soul she was.  And so she became very special to me, as well.  We all prayed so much for God's touch on Michelle.  Her faith in Him was strong, but her injuries were great.  She had to have part of her brain removed and she endured paralysis on the left side of her body.  The fact that she survived the accident at all was a miracle.  BUT...she didn't just survive.  Through determination and a "Never say never" attitude that wouldn't let her quit pushing through, she took her life back and she thrived through enormous adversity that would completely defeat most people.  She pushed through years of rehabilitation and dreamt of getting back to helping others.

At a Mercy Me (a Christian band) concert in Sioux City a year or so after her accident, Michelle won a scholarship that was offered that night to Grand Canyon University where she achieved her goals and obtained a Bachelors degree in Nursing and a Master's degree in Nursing Education.  She had recently almost finished her Doctorate in Nursing Education. 

This is a woman who seemed to have everything going against her.  Time and time again today, people who spoke about Michelle talked about how she never complained through all of the hard times.  Yes, she would get frustrated and discouraged at times, but she maintained her optimism and kept that big, beautiful smile on her face and always pushed on, advocating for others and for herself.

Yes, this is a blog about Celiac Disease written by someone living with Celiac Disease.  So, what does this post have to do with Celiac Disease and Celiac Awareness?  Absolutely nothing.  And - absolutely everything.  I started this blog in 2014 after my diagnosis because I want to help others.  I want to advocate for them and for myself.  There have been many times I have gotten discouraged and felt like I have nothing to give.  Am I really helping anyone?  Are the things I want to accomplish really obtainable?  Can I do it?  Do I have what it takes?  So many times I have answered, "No".  I have allowed my insecurities and fear of failure to stop me from moving forward.  Then today as we celebrated the remarkable life lived by this strong, beautiful, loving and amazing woman named Michelle Lara, it dawned on me that anything can be accomplished when we don't give up.  I know that this isn't a new thought, but it is something that can be easier said than done.  We can succeed.  When we don't let our circumstances, obstacles and fears stand in our way.  Michelle squeezed the most out of every moment of her life.  She never quit growing, learning, loving, advocating and taking care of others.  If Michelle can do all of the things she did - and she did it by never quitting, by never saying, "I can't do it" - if she can do the remarkable things she did and accomplish all that she accomplished - we all can.  Michelle's legacy is not only her beautiful children and family, but every person's life that she touched and inspired.  Being reminded again today of all that she was able to do reminded me that I can accomplish the goals I've set for myself by believing in myself, pushing through the obstacles and never saying never.  I can do more with this blog.  I can write my book.  I can successfully advocate for myself and others.  And I am going to continue to do this for as long as the good Lord gives me breath to do so.