CeliacChicks

Book Review: Life Disrupted-Getting Real About Chronic Illness

Has adapting to a gluten-free diet or accepting that you have celiac disease been extremely hard for you?

Are you dealing with an autoimmune disease or difficult medical condition in addition to celiac disease?

Have you ever been frustrated while trying to live a full life despite your health?

Do you need guidance on how to take charge of your medical care without getting nasty?

Or, perhaps you know someone who lives with a chronic illness?

Have you been waiting to find an encouraging book on this topic that is more than just a thrown together compilation of enthusiastic platitudes or a depressing self-obsessed pity party? Then Life Disrupted-Getting Real About Chronic Illness In Your Twenties & Thirties by Laurie Edwards is the book for you, regardless of your age.

Laurie Edwards is a writing teacher at Northeastern University who is living a full life, one that includes normal every day challenges, along with celiac disease and primary ciliary dyskinesia (a rare genetic respiratory disease). I've never met Laurie, but through her book I know that I like her! Her writing is so fluid that the book almost reads like a novel and she not only has valuable experience to pass along, but you can tell that she is diligent, reasonable, honest, insightful and compassionate. The chapter titled, "The Waiting Room As The Great Equalizer" brought tears to my eyes-likely due to my recent hospital waiting room encounter-as she succinctly captured all of the suspended emotions everyone experiences on the other side of the swinging doors.

Laurie Edwards is a writing teacher at Northeastern University who is living a full life, one that includes normal every day challenges, along with celiac disease and primary ciliary dyskinesia ( a rare genetic respiratory disease). I've never met Laurie, but through her book I know that I like her! Her writing is so fluid that the book almost reads like a novel and she not only has valuable experience to pass along, but you can tell that she is diligent, reasonable, honest, insightful and compassionate. The chapter titled, "The Waiting Room As The Great Equalizer" brought tears to my eyes-likely due to my recent waiting room encounter-as she succinctly captured all of the suspended emotions everyone experiences on the other side of the swinging doors.

This book will resonate with the 125 million Americans living with a chronic illness. A wide variety of chronic conditions are covered, and the book includes stories from other patients. The book confirms that are certain universal themes that transcend specific conditions or symptoms--namely, loss, acceptance, identity, and survival. This is why those with celiac disease can benefit from reading about the experiences of Laurie and other patients.

Here are some of the topics explored:

How much your illness should be a part of your identity

How much healthy people need to know and when you should disclose illness

Tips on how to manage your education, career, social situations, and relationships

Finding the balance in your lifestyle while caring for your health

I'm really excited about this book, and in my opinion, Laurie Edwards is a great example of triumph despite obstacles that will inspire you regardless of your health condition. For a bigger taste of her writing be sure to check out her blog A Chronic Dose.

******

I'll be back next week to share more of my gluten-free adventures in Portland, Oregon. Stay tuned.

Gluten-free Italy

If you're like me, your Italian vocabulary is limited to a few indispensable basics , like "Gucci", "Fendi" or "Prada". And when I'm really showing off my multi-lingual skills I'll throw in a "Mama Mia, Pizzeria!" or  "Holy Cannoli!" with no doubt an American accent that Dean Martin would make fun of. (That's ok, Dean baby.)

So, as you can see, trying to eat gluten-free while traveling in Italy without a skilled translator might be difficult for someone like me. Well, thanks to Maria Roglieri, author of The Gluten-Free Guide To New York and The Gluten-Free Guide To Italy we can all relax and enjoy the gondola ride. Maria is going to share with us today some extremely helpful tips about how to fearlessly eat gluten-free in Italy.

Ciao!

LA BELLA ITALIA- IL PARADISO SENZA GLUTINE

You wouldn't think for a minute that Italy, the land of pasta, is a gluten-free paradise, would you? 

But it is . . .

As a professor of Italian, a musician, and an Italian-American, I have traveled all over Italy; I have even been lucky enough to occasionally spend long periods of time (six months to a year) in my favorite Italian city, Rome.  The country, the people, the art, the history, and the culture are fantastic.  The food in Italy is a delight, a feast for the senses.

Ah, L'Italia:  il paese della pasta (the land of pasta) . . . Most people imagine it to be a daunting destination for gluten-free tourists.  Some even travel through Italy "surviving" on snack bars that they brought with them and eating only salad and meat in restaurants.  And yet, since my daughter Sara and I have gone gluten-free (she has celiac and I have gluten neuropathy), I have learned that Italy is a gluten-free paradise!

Anyone on a gluten-free diet can get gluten-free croissants (known as cornetti senza glutine) in the local hotels and bakeries for breakfast, gluten-free pizza for a mid-morning snack, gluten-free lasagna with fresh-made gluten-free bread for lunch, gelato with a gluten-free cone in the afternoon, and, if you still have room for dinner, three or four courses of anything you want gluten-free for dinner.  (Save room for the gluten-free tiramisu for dessert!)  My biggest problem in Italy is deciding what to eat first and trying not to gain 30 pounds from eating all the delizioso cibo italiano (delicious Italian food)!

Italy is gluten-free heaven (although some Italians beg to differ since you can't get a gluten-free hamburger bun at McDonald's) in large part because everyone in Italy knows about celiac disease.  When you ask restaurant staff about gluten-free food (il cibo senza glutine), they automatically respond with the question "Do you have celiac disease?"

All Italians are tested for celiac disease at an early age.  The many who test positive receive great services:  a monthly stipend from the government for gluten-free food plus extra vacation time to shop for and prepare gluten-free food!  Also, the companies that sell gluten-free products have all worked to promote awareness and understanding of celiac disease.  It is a law that gluten-free food must be made available in schools, hospitals, and public places and that all pharmacy products and food labels must indicate the presence of gluten if present.  In Italy, you can even study for a Master's degree in "Celiac Disease:  From Diagnosis to Management."

When I ask restaurant owners, managers, and chefs if they can provide a gluten-free meal, sometimes they say "no" but much more often they respond positively with comments such as,

- "Come no?" (effectively, "Why not?  Why do you even ask?"),

- "Lei vuole gli gnocchi o le tagliatelle senza glutine?  Tutti e due sono stati fatti in casa stamattina" ("Would you like gnocchi or tagliatelle?  They're both gluten-free and homemade this morning."),

- "Anch'io sono celiaca e allora preparo tutto qui senza glutine" ("I am also a celiac and so I prepare everything here gluten-free").

This is music to my ears!!

So, what can you do if you are a gluten-free traveler to Italy?  First, it is a good idea to call first to make reservations and request a gluten-free meal.  You can say something like:

Vorrei prenotare per stasera per ___ persone alle _______ (time) .  Sono celiaco. Potete preparare per me del cibo senza glutine?

I would like to make reservations for tonight for ____ people at _____ o'clock.  I am a celiac.  Can you prepare a gluten-free meal for me?

If you call a few days ahead, restaurants will often acquire or make gluten-free pasta and bread for you if they don't already have it on hand.  Secondly, when you are in the restaurant, remind the staff that you require a gluten-free meal.  You can also ask to talk to the chef (Posso parlare con il cuoco per favore?).  Thirdly. keep the cuisine of the region in mind.  In northern Italy, Italians eat risotto (a creamy rice) much more often than pasta.  (Just make sure to ask if the broth the rice is cooked in is gluten-free)  In Venice, they eat polenta (a creamy cornbread of sorts) much more often than pasta; this polenta is almost universally gluten-free. 

Some great restaurants in Italy that offer delicious cibo senza glutine are:

ROMA (Rome)

Arancia Blu (restaurant); Via dei Latini 55-65; tel. 06/4454105.  Offers vegetarian cuisine and gluten-free pasta; reservations required.  Does not accept credit cards and is not open for lunch.

Boccondivino (restaurant); Piazza in Camp Marzio 6; tel. 0668308626.  Offers gluten-free pasta.  Reservations are required; English spoken.

La Terrazza (restaurant): Via Ludovisi 49 (at the Hotel Eden); Metro--Barberini.  Menu includes gluten-free pasta. Reservations required; English spoken.

** Vecchia Roma (Roman/Italian trattoria): Piazza di Campitelli 18; tel. 066864604; Metro--Colosseo; www.ristorantevecchiaroma.com.  The owner is a celiac; the restaurant offers everything you can imagine gluten-free, including bread and dessert. Reservations are recommended; English spoken; closed Wednesdays.

VENEZIA (Venice)

Corte Sconta (restaurant): Calle del Pstrin, Castello 3886; tel. 041/5227024; Vaporetto stop--Arsenale. Menu includes gluten-free pasta.  Reservations required; English spoken; closed Sundays, Mondays during the months of January, February, July, and August.   

Il Molino (restaurant):  At the Hilton--Guidecca 810; tel. 041-2723311; fax 041-2723308.  Advance notice is required for gluten-free meals.  Open 7 AM - 11 PM.  Direct line to food/business office is 041 2723316; email fb.venice@hilton.com

Osteria da Fiore (osteria):  Calle del Scaleter, San Polo; tel. 041721308; Vaporetto stop--San Silvestro/San Stae; www.dafiore.net.  Very open to gluten-free.

FIRENZE (Florence)

l'Toscano (restaurant):  Via Guelfa 70R; tel. 055215475.  Menu includes gluten-free pasta.  Reservations required; English spoken; open Wednesday-Monday, 12:30-3 PM, 7-11 PM.

Osteria Numero Uno (osteria):  Via del Moro 22R; tel. 055284897.  Menu includes gluten-free pasta.  Reservations recommended; English spoken.

Vecchia Firenze (Florentine/Tuscan restaurant):  Borgo degli Albizi 18; tel. 0552340361.  Menu includes gluten-free pasta; Dinner 5-15 euros; closed Mondays.

SICILY (TAORMINA)

Hotel Villa Paradiso (Hotel):  Via Roma 2; tel. 094223922; www.hotelvillaparadiso.com .  Offers gluten-free breakfast.  On the top floor is the restaurant Al Settimo Cielo del Paradiso, which can also cater to any dietary needs. 

Ristorante La Griglia (restaurant):  Corso Umberto 1, 54; tel. 094223980.  Menu includes gluten-free pasta; English spoken; reservations recommended.

BOLOGNA

Pizzeria Ristorante Pepperoni (pizzeria/restaurant):  Via Barbiano 3; tel. 3932465748; www.pepperoni.it . Offers a special gluten-free menu with gluten-free beer, pizza, and desserts.  Open every day.

Ristorante al Pappagallo (Bolognese restaurant):  Piazza Della Mercanzia 3C; tel. 051-232807; www.alpappagallo.it .  Restaurant serves many celiac clients but does not offer gluten-free pasta; English spoken; 10-20 euros price range.

E Pulera (restaurant):  Via Isabella Vainiches; tel. 09098111158; www.bernardigroup.it .  Menu includes gluten-free pasta; English spoken; reservations required in summer.

Filippino (restaurant):  Piazza Mazzinin; tel. 0909811002; www.bernardigroup.it .  Menu includes gluten-free pasta; English spoken.  Reservations required in summer.

Il Trittone (restaurant):  Via Mendolita; tel. 0909811595; www.bernardigroup.it .  Menu includes gluten-free pasta; English spoken; reservations required in summer.

BELLAGIO (AROUND LAGO DI COMO)

Here is one of my favorite picks, set in one of the most beautiful and romantic towns in Italy around Lake Como in Lombardia:

Hotel Du Lac (hotel):  Piazza Mazzini 32; tel. 031950320; www.bellagiohoteldulac.com .  Hotel includes 2 restaurants that offer gluten-free breakfast and dinner!

So go to Italy, leave your snack bars at home, and revel in your new-found gluten-free paradise!

Buon viaggio e buon appetito!  Ci vediamo a Roma!

Ciao, Maria

P.S.  While you're planning your trip, sit down and enjoy an espresso and some gluten-free biscotti or ricotta cheesecake!

******

Grazie, Maria!

And if you, our lovely readers, have any tips of your own about dining gluten-free in Italy, please let us know in the comments below!

Thank You!

Raspberry sorbet from Grom

This last weekend was very busy. Saturday I met Shauna, aka Gluten-Free Girl, at Strawberry Fields in Central Park. It was fun to meet her and see what seemed like a cast of characters from her blog in person.

Whether you're a fan of hers or not, we all owe Gluten-Free Girl a big "Thank You" for all of the awareness of celiac disease she has created.  She somehow magically got herself on the Food Network in a short "commercial" about eating gluten-free. Who knows how many millions of people that reached when played over and over again for weeks?  Now with her new book there is a virtual book tour by mostly A-list bloggers that will reach thousands of people!  I have emailed some well known bloggers with big audiences in the past explaining celiac disease, eating gluten-free, and how some of their readers are no doubt undiagnosed. I was hoping that since their blogs are centered around food they would be interested in writing about celiac disease and/or gluten-free foods. Unfortunately, they weren't able to write about it, at least at that time. So, here comes along Shauna with her book and some big bloggers are now finally talking about celiac disease and eating gluten-free. Wow!

If you've been struggling with your attitude about eating gluten-free or any other diet restrictions, Shauna's book may help you out with changing your perception from a negative one to a positive one.

Again, thank you, Shauna! [the Beatles song "Thank You Girl" plays in the background]

After the Strawberry Fields meeting we mozied on over to Grom, which has been praised by the NY Times, many food bloggers, and Shauna after eating at one on her honeymoon in Italy. The management stated in an email that all flavors are gluten-free with the exception of nougat, crema di grom and tiramisu. 

The faces above show the tastiness of Grom gelato. I chatted it up with a mom (far left) in line and one of her daughters can't have any artificial food colorings. This was definitely a special treat. Grom may very well be the best gelato in the world due to their high standards for quality seasonal ingredients.

Vanilla and pistachio gelato.

Sunday we met up with Shauna and The Chef at the Colin Leslie Walk For Celiac Disease Awareness in Rye, NY.  Let me tell you, Rye is one of the cutest towns ever!  Imagine going to high school in what looks like a castle. Must be nice. It was nice to see all of the familiar faces from the gf vendor fair scene, and to meet all of the new people that came up to our table. And a big "thank you" goes out to sixteen year old Colin for putting the walk together. Last year he raised over $60,000. I'm excited to find out how much money was raised this year.

Oh, and Soul Dog was serving food at the walk and I was disappointed (due to my corn allergy) to find out that all of their gluten-free baked goods contain corn in some form , but if their black bean soup was an indicator of how good the rest of their food is, then it's definitely worth a visit if you are ever in Poughkeepsie.

*******

One last HUGE "Thank You" goes to Heidi Collins for her efforts to have celiac disease discussed every day this week on CNN!!!

Wining, Dining & Schmoozing

Here's some gluten-free/dairy-free, but thank heaven not alcohol-free, penne a la vodka that I made this weekend and will definitely be making again.  I've become smitten with Smitten Kitchen lately and found the recipe there. Follow Deb's directions except substitute the pasta for your gf pasta of choice and the cream for coconut milk. I know it sounds weird, but don't worry, it is delicious!

I'm also intrigued by Steamy Kitchen, which actually has a gluten-free recipe category! A friend sent me a link to Jadyn's How To Turn Cheap "Choice" Steaks Into Gucci "Prime" Steaks recipe that explains the science behind how salt tenderizes meat. I had to try it and it's true! It really works!

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October Events

Hear Dr. Green at the Suffolk County Celiac Group meeting in Long Island October 2nd. Seating is limited to 150 people.

The NYC Insitute Of Culinary Education (ICE) will be offering a gluten-free gourmet cooking class October 12th from 6pm-10pm.

Gluten Free Girl will be in NYC for events surrounding her new book the weekend of October 12th. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

See you Sunday October 14th at the Colin Leslie Walk For Celiac Disease in Rye, NY.

If you live in Atlanta be sure to register for the NFCA's Cooking Spree to be held on Friday, October 19th.

Big spenders are invited to the Celiac Disease Center At Columbia University's 6th annual gala Wednesday, October 24th from 6:30-9:30pm at the NYC Metropolitan Club.  Tickets are $350. Contact Cynthia Beckman for more information.

The Betty Crocker Of Gluten-Free

Here at CeliacChicks we've always tried to keep the vibe upbeat. Yet, recent news calls for sober reflection.

I had just finished a good cry while watching the movie Message In A Bottle. This movie tries to capture the complicated emotions of grief and the journey to a place where you can honor the past while at the same time respect and cherish the present.

Then I read the message that awaited me. The message that was appropriately delivered against the backdrop of a grey lazy day sky.

Bette Hagman had died.

My thoughts and feelings were primed to ponder the impact of this sad news. I had wondered where Bette was from time to time. She looked so friendly yet frail in her photo that graced the back of her book published many years ago.

I'm sure she was so much more than a cookbook author. So many admire just this one facet of her life yet she was no doubt three-dimensional. Mother, daughter, wife, friend and I'm sure many more valuable roles.

To those of us who know Bette through her books she will live on as we've always known her - as the helpful voice narrating her recipes. From now on when we use them may we be more contemplatively respectful of her work and the many gifts that she has shared and will keep on sharing with so many people.

Thank you, Bette. I wish I could have met you.

*******

Book Of Yum is hosting a special event to honor Bette. 

Send any personal notes to Bette's family via email to Bette's daughter Karol in care of the Gluten Intolerance Group.

Fun Freebies

BOOKS
If you haven't checked out Maria Roglieri's The Gluten-Free Guide To New York book yet, here's your chance for a free read.  The first two people that email her will recieve a free copy. (admin@gfguideny.com) You can learn more about the book at www.gfguideny.com.

SKIN CARE
We get asked all the time by fellow celiac chicks which cosmetics are gluten-free.  Turns out, Arbonne International cosmetics has over 40 products that are gluten-free. After being diagnosed with celiac disease Shauna Long became a consultant for Arbonne when she found out about all of their gluten-free products. The first 5 people to email Shauna and mention they found out about her on CeliacChicks will receive a $20 gift certificate for any gluten-free products of their choice.

By the way- Smurf loves Arbonne products!

FOOD
I have an Authentic Foods mix sample that I can't use because it contains corn starch. Any takers? I'll mail it to the first person to post a comment claiming they want it. It's the Bette's Gourmet Four Flour Blend. The ingredients are: corn starch, tapioca flour, garfava flour (garbanzo flour, fava flour), sorghum flour.

*written by Kelly

Don't Forget To Renew Your Passport

Let's Eat Out!
Your Passport To Living Gluten And Allergy Free
by Kim Koeller and Robert La France

Koeller and La France must have the minds of engineers the way this book is laid out. With the feel of a school textbook complete with detailed charts and bullet points, they equip even the most unaware eater to the hazards and possibilities of dining out. It's no surprise that this book was a 2006 Benjamin Franklin Award finalist for Best Health Book and Best First Book Non-Fiction.

This book is especially good for those who are afraid or overwhelmed with the challenge of eating out on the gluten-free diet and even more daunting, with mutiple food allergies. Koeller herself knows how this can be difficult. She was diagnosed with allergies and intolerances to dairy, fish, seafood, pork, chemicals and preservatives along with celiac disease. "Knowledge is power" is the saying that comes to mind while perusing the pages of this guide. And that's exactly what the authors wanted to do; empower people with special diets to successfully navigate eating out anywhere.

Fifty-percent of the book includes detailed primers to the basics of international cuisines and what may or may not be an option for you. Included are questions to ask the waitstaff while dining at different types of restaurants. Specific cuisines covered are American Steak and Seafood, Chinese, French, Indian, Italian, Mexican and Thai. I found the introduction to the various cuisines particularly interesting. Essentially, you can educate yourself regarding a particular type of cuisine prior to dining out, and then take along one of the pocket sized "passports" that are sold separately for easy reference. The extra passport I'll be packing with me on my next international adventure will be the Multi-Lingual Phrase Passport, which has 1,200 phrases in four languages for any food situation you may need to communicate. This part of the series just won Best Books 2006 National Award in the Language Guides category from USABookNews.com.

Let's Eat Out! really lives up to its name by teaching you to communicate your needs and showing you what foods are traditionally safe. With a passport like this, the travel bug is sure to bite you soon!

Triumph Over Gluten

Triumph Dining
The Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide
How And Where To Eat Gluten-Free
2006-2007

Ross Cohen and his fiance, Kay, put together what could be the closest thing to Zagat, but gluten-free. If you're not into combing the internet for restaurant ideas and you travel a lot, this will be a very useful guide for you. With the help of fellow celiacs like you and me, they've collected an extensive listing of restaurants. The listings are categorized by state and there is a seperate section for gluten-free chain restaurant menus.

There are four different symbols used in the book. Here's how they work:
-A star means that a gluten-free menu is available.
-A star within a circle means that there is an extensive gluten-free menu available.
-A little open book is a chain restaurant with a gluten-free menu or list which is included in another section of the book.
-A check mark means there is no gluten-free menu available, but management has been helpful to celiacs in the past.
Wherever possible, there are additional notes about the restaurant that offer more details on what to expect.

And then there are listings without a symbol at all, where it's up to you to call ahead for more information and/or bring along your Triumph Dining Cards to help navigate the menu. Ross and Kay also illustrate, by means of several cool techniques, all the ways we need to prepare for a night out of dining, from preventive measures before you even leave your house to respectable methods of conducting ourselves at the restaurant.

The only suggestion I would have for the next edition is that each state's section also be broken down by city.  Not a big deal, but it would make navigation a little easier.

Did You Just Call Me A Dummy?

Living Gluten Free For Dummies
Danna Korn
Founder of R.O.C.K (Raising Our Celiac Kids)
Forward by Alessio Fasano, M.D.

This is a good basic primer for someone who is new to the celiac scene and feels overwhelmed, or for those stubborn friends and relatives who just don't "get it" and might be impressed by the well known Dummies name in publishing. You could say it's easy to, er, digest (pun intended).

This book stands out in the detailed chapters on Raising Happy, Healthy, Gluten-Free Kids, Living and Loving The Gluten-Free Lifestyle and especially in Beating The Blues: Overcoming Emotional Obstacles. Danna's optimism and enthusiasm is very contagious. Definitely recommend this book to the next grouchy or whiney gluten-free dieter you meet!

The recipe section will appeal mostly to those who aren't very well acquainted with their kitchen. This is nice, since eating gluten-free usually means you will end up cooking more for yourself, even if you don't want to. I tried a few recipes and my favorite gluten-glutton absolutely raved about the Baked Mahi Mahi w/ Pineapple. It was really good; something you could confidently serve to dinner guests.

There were only three suggestions that I found particularly odd in the whole book. One was the suggestion to substitute croutons with BBQ potato chips. The other was a recipe for a breakfast smoothie that included ice cream as an ingredient. And, of course, I have to disagree with the warning to be leery of most internet sites. : - |

Overall, there is a lot of detailed information ranging from testing options and introductions to the various alternative gluten-free flours, to sound advice for adjusting to the lifestyle and keeping your chin up while doing it.

Summer Reading Summary

In the summer, as a young chickadee, I used to love checking out a huge stack of books from the local library. In the summer of 3rd grade, I holed up in my room surrounded by what most eight year olds at the time considered fine literature, and read an average of one Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book a day, sometimes two! (This explains my diverse vocabulary, including the word "jalopy". Remember Chet and his jalopy?) Now I joke with my mom, "Where the hell were you, and what were you thinking when you allowed me to do that?" Yeah, I know what the answer is. "You were quiet and outta my hair, kid." Funny, as an adult I wish I still had that luxury of time, having no sense of responsibility, and feeling like the summer lasted forever. I could lose myself daily within the pages of another world.

Well, enough reminiscing. This summer, I had a huge pile of newly released anti-gluten lit to catch up on and I'm now just finishing them up! I thought you might appreciate a couple of reviews which I'll be posting over the next several days.

Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic
Peter H.R. Green, M.D.
Director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University
Co-author Rory Jones

Our beloved Dr. Green, whom we've affectionately nicknamed the Paul McCartney of celiac doctors, (I know I know, he's Australian, not British) finally gave us a book written by a medical professional that a layperson can understand. Thank you! This is a great addition to your library as a handy medical reference for any quandary you may have while living gluten-free.

Here are some points I found especially interesting:

-Nearly 1 in every 100 people have celiac disease (The stat used to be 1 out of 133).

-97% of those people remain undiagnosed.

-Celiac disease is the most common hereditary autoimmune condition in the United States today.

-The majority of these people are asymptomatic or see doctors for reasons other than diarrhea.

-It is as common as hereditarily high cholesterol.

-Digestion actually begins before food even enters your mouth. When you see, think about, or smell food the vagus nerve transmits a chemical message from your brain to release gastric acid in the stomach.

-And my favorite quote, "There is currently no research on how often someone with celiac disease passes gas." Hmm...any volunteer test subjects?

Stay tuned for my next book review.

Does Absence Make The Heart Grow Fonder For Your Bagel?

Kim and I have often expressed how we appreciate certain foods more, now that they're not readily available. We've pondered the psychological impact of going gluten-free and all of the different emotional experiences gluten-free acquaintances have shared with us. Some people are angry, some people focus more on the positive, others are moved to tears when they eat a tasty gluten-free pizza for the first time after a long wait.

Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project may have shed some light onto our musings. One of her recent entries entitled, A Daily Luxury is No Luxury reflects on whether deprivation of indulgences brings greater satisfaction when they are later reintroduced. I definitely think that this is the case when I find a new recipe or new product as a substitution for an old glutenous food that is now forbidden. The search is like a treasure hunt and when I find something so good, so real, so like I remember it being, it leads to pure tastebud ecstasy. My overall appreciation for the experience is much greater, I've noticed, than those who have the luxury of being able to eat anything.

I am due to receive my copy of the current bestseller, The Paradox of Choice, which examines our society as a whole and the over abundance of choice, which can lead to major dissatisfaction in life. I'm expecting it to be a very interesting read. Perhaps there is a way to perceive our diet limitations as a passageway to appreciating more?

Cracker Jax

The buzz in Celiac World right now is about the newly released Gluten Free Bible by Jax Peters Lowell. We haven't received our copy in the mail yet but wanted to let you know that they're hot of the press. The self described "eccentric" Jax so kindly informed us that CeliacChicks is listed as a resource in this exhaustive guide to everything that caters to those living gluten-free! Please post your reviews below as comment. No doubt readers will find a gf prize inside every book!