When we first went 100% GF, it was tough. I liked the fact I wouldn't be cooking two of everything (one with gluten, one without). I did struggle with how to feed all of us GF without breaking the bank. However, that didn't last long as we found which places sold GF food at the best prices. It did take some time to price check lots of items at different stores, but in the end it was well worth the initial struggle.
The HUGE struggles came with friends and family (not all, just certain ones) that had a sort of an attitude that came across that we were inconveniencing them by asking them not to bring gluten-containing foods into our home. Some of them thought that we meant no gluten 'most of the time' not 'all of the time'. There was more than once (and more than one person), who was asked to please eat their gluten-containing food outside on our porch. Crumbs are crumbs - and if they're from gluten they don't belong anywhere in our home.
Other family members and friends have always gone out of their way to double and triple check labels of foodstuffs. They call us from the store and read us the ingredients before buying the products.
Our home has been 100% gluten free since October of 2003.
Would we ever go back to having gluten in our home? NO!
If you've been or are currently struggling between gluten and no gluten or just being 100% gluten free in the home, please know my family and I know what it's like.
If you have questions about how to go 100% gluten free (or any other allergen) in the home, at work, school, or a vacation, please post a comment and I'll do my best to help.
We've been gfcf since 2008. At first, we ate a lot less, I lost weight, etc. Now, though, we go through a month's worth of groceries in less than a week. Part of the increase is because it's summer and the kids are home 24/7 (and now we're homeschooling, so that will continue). I don't think that accounts for all of it, though.
ReplyDeleteNow, it seems like we are all hungry every minute, and eating nearly all day and all night long. Our grocery bill is approximately ten times higher than it was pre-gfcf diet days. Most of our income goes to food now. More and more of those foods trigger reactions.
I considered going back to gluten, because if we're just going to keep developing more and more food intolerances/sensitivities, what's the point? Might as well go back to eating food we can afford, right?
Well, I'm past the point of considering going back to gluten, but I am still tired of how we just keep developing more and more food sensitivities. It's to the point that I'd like to plant an orchard and eat nothing but organic fruit we grow ourselves. lol Of course, I could eat a bushel a day by myself - add in everyone else, and, well, it would have to be one very BIG orchard. ;)