Ep 50 Holiday Survival Guide with Ellen
Let’s start the blog with the Show Notes for this episode:
This week I spoke with Ellen Bayens of theceliacscene.com to discuss the Holiday Survival Guide issued by the Canadian Celiac Association. We chat about our own experiences with relation to the tips and recipes given in the guide. Thanks to Udi’s and Schar for sponsoring the guide, and thanks to the contributors for their articles and recipes. I mentioned Lisa, a co-host on my other podcast Gluten Free Weigh In, is on a ketogenic gluten free diet, as this was of interest to Ellen. Lisa’s Instagram is gf_ketogirl. You can find the Holiday guide at https://www.celiac.ca/living-gluten-free/holiday-survival-guide/
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
(search Sues Gluten Free Baking)
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
New Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
The holiday season is always very busy and stressful foreveryone. Those of us with celiac disease must not only learn to function in our own lives on a gluten free diet, which is no easy feat, but at this time of year, we must learn to function in an environment that includes other friends and family members.
I’m sure most of us can remember back to a time when we had never heard of celiac disease or the gluten free diet. Once we were faced with it as our only treatment, it was a steep learning curve, all in an effort to become healthy. Now, it’s difficult to imagine knowing nothing about the gluten free diet, or its importance, but that’s the reality for many people we come into contact with.
I remember, it was December many years ago, when I had my endoscopy and the doctor told me to keep eating gluten until I had another blood test, then to go on the diet. It wouldn’t be till after the holidays that I would be able to meet with a dietician. After doing some research into gluten, I distinctly remember saying to my mother – “It can’t mean all gluten, it must be something where I have to limit it, or keep track of the amount, how can anyone live completely without gluten?” We all know how that turned out.
As frustrating as it can be for us to encounter those who don’t understand celiac or the gluten free diet, remember – we’re the lucky ones. We’ve had a diagnosis and we know how important it is to be on a strict gluten free diet. The Holiday Survival Guide gives great tips to help us through some difficult situations. Hopefully it won’t happen often, and I’m glad to say awareness now is better than ever. Ellen said it best in the podcast – this time of year is not the time to educate – but it is the time to be vigilant. Enjoy the holidays gluten free and hopefully stress free – it’s the healthiest thing you can do for yourself.