{restaurants.}

As time goes on, Celiac awareness is rising. The best part: this includes restaurants. Here are a few places with gluten-free menus I've tried:

1. Uno's Pizzeria: Their only gluten-free specific item is their gluten-free pizza. I have tried it at three different Uno's, and at all places, I've been pleasantly surprised. Mind you, it is not the BEST GF pizza I've tasted, but I really like it. The crust is thin and flakey, and the sauce is really good. They have a separate GF menu which is very helpful. My picks- pepperoni pizza and Caesar salad

2. PF Changs: I.LOVE.PF.CHANGS. Enough said. Their food is always delicious, and their separate GF menu is amazing. My picks- Cha.ngs spicy chicken or chicken fried rice.

3. Bertucci's: Not the best GF menu. I mean, the rolls at the table are already torture. Although they do have a separate menu, they do not offer GF pasta, which would be nice considering it is an Italian restaurant. There is nothing really worth mentioning on the menu. Just chicken, steak, etc. My pick-Something not on the menu that I asked for- chicken parmesan (with grilled chicken, of course)

4. Maggiano's: By far, my favorite. They offer GF pasta on every pasta dish they make. 3 of the many times I have gone, the chef personally came to my table, discussed my gluten allergy, and gave me his card. He even made my previous favorite, the fried mozzarella, with corn meal. I hardly noticed a difference! My picks- fried mozzarella and the pesto chicken pasta. SO GOOD

Until next time....

{celiac & college.}

*Just FYI before I start...I did not know I had Celiac disease before I applied for colleges. Unfortunately.*

Okay. So college and celiac disease don't mix. I learned this the hard way. No one else has it at my school, so obviously the dining hall isn't going to prepare a gluten-free meal for me breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This makes it tough.

My dining hall is set up in different stations: pizza, sandwiches, salads, grill, etc. (notice 2 of those 4 are automatically poisonous for me?) They always make grilled chicken, which SAVES me, but I get sick of it. But how could I not? I eat it all the time. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, they will have turkey, or roast beef. But seriously, this school is carbohydrate-obscessed. Most lunches and dinners are pasta. Imagine my frustration.

Breakfast is always fine. Everyday I get scrambled eggs or an omelete. Pair that with fruit or a yogurt and I'm golden. It's lunch and dinner that is the issue.

Luckily, there is a Who.le Fo.ods within walking distance. I am able to stock up on biscuits, pretzels, soy crisps, and other GF goodies every Saturday. However, my meal plan is already paid for at school, and the extra bill from Who.le Fo.ods isn't ideal. So after a few meetings with the dining hall manager, they ordered some GF pasta and cookies for me. This was great news. The only downside is the planning. Having celiac disease, you must always plan ahead. I have to call them 25 minutes prior to wanting pasta. I know I shouldn't be complaining, because it is really not a big deal. But it's just another frustrating reminder of how different my life is now.

::sigh::

I must point out, though, the one silver lining in all of this: If I were not gluten-free, by now I would have gained the "freshman FOURTY". I mean HELLO?! Belgian walffles, cupcakes, french toast, hamburgers galore, fries....oh my.

{random notes.}

I will soon do a post solely on the topic of eating gluten-free in college because, believe me, it'll be a long one. But since returning for my second semester, I have started a few habits worth writing about.

For one, I have started keeping a food journal. The main reason is just in case I have my "Celiac" pain, I can look back and try to figure out what caused it. There are many additional benefits, however. This lets me physically see what I have eaten. I wouldn't say I'm an emotional eater, but if I have a bad or lazy day, I eat more. The journal has made me very conscientious of what I put in my mouth.

Secondly, I have stopped drinking soda. I have not had one sip in two weeks, and let me tell you- it makes a huge difference. I feel healthier and most significantly, my skin looks amazing. I have had my battles with my skin over the years, and I cannot believe what the absence of soda has done. In place of soda, I have added more water...the best thing I can drink!

And finally, I have added much more fruit and vegetables. I have a least one banana a day, eat berries all the time, and eat melons to mix it up. Although the berries are a bit pricey (thanks a bunch Who.le Fo.ods!), the fruit fills me up and decreases my craving for junk food. Because I have added so much fruit, I have not eaten one bag of chips in two weeks! Mom, you should be proud...I finally listened.

Overall, I feel much healthier. My body is a normal, healthy weight and I look so much better. I feel good about myself. If only I could get on a treadmill!

More to come...

{official welcome.}

Hello!

I know there is no one reading this yet, but that's okay- this is for me too. This is the ups and downs to living with Celiac Disease. This is my daily struggle, yet daily blessing of a diagnosis.

But most importantly-this documents how my life became lively again.