I’ve had celiac disease for nearly three years now. It’s been a long and sometimes very challenging road, but I am healthy and feeling great! Over the years, I’ve gone through my fair share of hiccups…some making me swear off half the restaurants and fast food joints I know. But I’m learning to live with the disease, and learning to live my life despite the restrictions it places in my path. Recently I was out to dinner with a group and the most liberating words came out of my mouth…”I have celiac disease.” I went on to explain the full story, I can’t eat gluten, I’m very sensitive to cross-contamination, please be sure to check with the chef. For the past three years, I’ve had a habit of telling restaurants that I have a gluten allergy. You and I both know that’s not the case, but allergies are taken seriously, and my health is not something worth risking.
Telling places and people that I have an allergy has started to bother me though, I’m doing myself and everyone a disservice by not telling them the truth. My friends and family may know that I have celiac disease, but there are so many people that still don’t know what that is. The month of May is celiac disease awareness month, so I’m making it my mission to never again tell that little white lie about my condition. I have celiac disease. I’ve been living with it for three years. Ask me about it and I’d be happy to share my story with you! If we can’t talk about it honestly ourselves, how can we expect others to understand? Join me in promising to tell restaurants, servers and chefs from this point forward, “I have celiac disease!”