Vacations will be hard.
My boyfriend and I love traveling and eating at local places, trying new things. But celiac disease will really limit what I can eat while out. It seems everything on every menu contains gluten.
It doesn’t help that I love foods that contain gluten. Waffles and pancakes. Garlic bread and pasta. Local beers.
Hawaii was an eye opener. I tried to limit my gluten to one meal a day. When I “saved” my gluten for dinner I felt fine all day.
We always research ahead of time where we are going to go. There were very few places that had specific gluten-free items on their menu. I had to assume with a lot of things that appeared to be gluten-free.
I think the hardest meal for me was breakfast. On vacations I love stuffing myself silly with crazy pancake or waffle dishes. I don’t eat a lot of pancakes or waffles usually so it is a special treat. I may not be able to have these ever again, as most places aren’t offering a gluten-free versions of pancakes or waffles.
All of these things I can figure out how to make at home. There are alternatives available. I will struggle while eating out, while on vacation. I know if this is celiac disease I have to give up gluten. I will feel much better but (and as bad as this sounds) giving up gluten makes me feel depressed.
One night while we were looking over menus for the next day I became very upset. I didn’t want to eat anywhere because everything I wanted on the menus would make me sick. I didn’t want to go somewhere where I would have to pick a sub par breakfast item. I didn’t want the omelet. I wanted the brioche french toast.
I love being able to just order anything off the menu. To go anywhere to eat. But now this freedom is in danger of being taken from me. I don’t have a choice anymore. I think this is what makes it most difficult. I will have to pick a runner-up meal over what I really want.