Celiac Warrior Gal

7/18/2010 Dear diary, "So yesterday I got my allowance, and decided to blow some money at the mall. I bought this cute top, that I had been totally eying since forever. It is dark blue, low cut, and has a zipper halfway down the back. The front is sort of a sweetheart design. So, I went to Music Heaven to check out some music. A really cute guy kept on staring at me. He came over and talked to me. Turns out he is going to the same high school as me. His name is Kevin, and he just moved here. He asked if I wanted to get lunch with him. I totally did! We walked to the food court, talking the entire way. He wanted pizza. We got to the pizza kiosk, and I remembered about my Celiac disease. When it was my turn to order, I asked the lady behind the counter if they had gluten free food. Just like the dude from the pizza place, she had no clue what that was. She said that they don't. Again, I was stuck with a salad. Kevin was silent when we were eating. He kept checking his pho

 Single, Celiac/Gluten Sensitive, and Looking for Love? Don't worry, this isn't a spammy blog post. However, I did read that someone made a website for gluten free singles to meet other gluten free singles. The CEOs of the website ( http://www.GlutenFreeSingles.com ), know first hand, how hard it is to meet anyone that understands our lifestyle. Both of them are gluten free, because they have to be. One has Celiac, and the other has a gluten allergy. Even if you are not looking for GF love, you will find a community of individuals who are just like us, living gluten free, because we HAVE to. The site is also home to a blog, with a wide variety of information: http://www.glutenfreesingles.com/blog/ Before my boyfriend and I got together, it was hard to find a guy who understood about my Celiac disease. Most saw me as a little too "high maintenance." Only Celiacs understand what other Celiacs go through. However, my boyfriend has been wonderfully supportive, and

(7/16/2010) Dear diary, "This morning, I was woken up by a text from Heather. She wanted to make sure I was okay with what happened at the pizza place. I told her that it sucks, but, whatever. I asked her if she wanted to hang out later. She said that she was going out with her boyfriend. They were going to Rocko's Tacos. I asked if I could come with her, and she said that she wanted me to come with her, since I'm her BFF and all, but, they don't have anything that I could eat there. I texted back, saying okay, that's cool, and then I shut off my phone. I stayed in bed, thinking about this whole Celiac deal. It is totally unfair! It's ruining my life! I feel like a total loser. How am I going to deal with high school? How am I going to meet boys? Ugh! Mom checked on me an hour ago. She asked if I was okay, and I lied and told her that I didn't sleep well last night. She said that she will let me sleep in for a little while or so, then she will make m

7/15/2010 Dear diary, "Yesterday, I went to the store with mom, and it totes sucked. Mom wanted me to get an idea of what it will be like to shop gluten free. It was hard to see all the food I used to eat, that I can't have again. Oreos, barilla pasta, oatmeal, Dijourno pizza, doritos..none of them are gluten free.  When we got to the gluten free section, mom kept mumbling about the prices. She apologized to me, and said that she wished it wasn't so expensive. I saw some interesting foods: corn pasta, rice pasta, quinoa, soy sauce, different flours, frozen bread, several frozen Indian foods , and some burritos. I told mom to grab some burritos. I found some cereal that looked good, and I grabbed some bread. Mom spent tons of money on the food. Mom has always been someone who worries about money, even though both mom and dad work. When we got into the car, I thanked mom for everything. I told her that it stinks that the gluten free section is so tiny. I am a variety

*Diary entry of the main character from my story.* 7/13/2010 Dear Diary, " This whole Celiac thing totally sucks. I was craving some whole wheat pancakes when I woke up this morning. Instead, mom makes me something, called, “Buckwheat” pancakes. It was grainy, and gross. I don’t know if I can do this. I told mom that this is totes hard, and she said that I have no choice but to be gluten free. This afternoon, my little brother came home with a doggy bag of chicken nuggets, and fries. He was out with his baseball team, for a victory lunch. Their win today got them in the finals. I don’t go to his games, except for whenever they have a big game. Mom and dad make me go. Whatever. Sasha is leaving for overnight camp tomorrow and is packing today *sad face* It’s like all of my friends have stuff going on. Like, Holly is a junior counselor this summer, and won’t be around. Connor went to baseball camp. Darcy went on vacation with her family. I’m, like, all alone. Well, I still have He

**I am currently writing a fictional book, about a 14 year old girl, "Lennox Williams", who is diagnosed with Celiac Disease. She is entering high school, and along with dealing with her diagnosis, she is also experiencing growing pains. While she is in high school, she implements plans to make her school more Celiac aware. She develops a program with the school cooks. She also helps her community more Celiac friendly. I have decided to make various diary entries that are written the summer before she starts high school.** 7/12/2010 Dear Diary, " So, I went to see Dr. Martin yesterday. I hate the smell in the doctors office, it smells like low grade hospital. I got the results back from my blood test, and he said that I have something called, Celiac Disease. I seriously think the name is made up. How can I have something that I can't even pronounce? He said that gluten destroyed squiggly things on my small intestine, and I can't take in nutrients, or something li

 I have always loved Betty Crocker. I remember looking for recipes in my grandmother's Betty Crocker cookbook, and baking with her. The recipes were easy, and delicious. When I was diagnosed with Celiac disease, I did not think I would ever be able to have delicious baked goodies again. It was not until last year, when I found out that Betty Crocker had a line of baking mixes, that were gluten free. My boyfriend and I picked up a box of the Bisquick pancake mix, and we made pancakes the next day. We made the pancakes, and sat down to eat. We were both surprised by how delicious it was. My boyfriend told me that the Bisquick gluten free pancake mix was better than regular pancake mix. Having pancakes or waffles has become our Sunday morning tradition. We both love this pancake mix We have also tried the Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookie mix. The cookies are delicious and simple to make. Even with having Celiac disease, I don't have to miss out on delicious baked goods,

With the popularity of my previous blog about Panera Bread, I decided to continue this series, writing about cafes and restaurants that I wish were gluten free. Before my diagnosis, one of my favorite spots to write at was Starbucks. The atmosphere, the smell of coffee. Sipping a hot coffee, or tea. Eating a pastry, as I brainstorm ideas. These were things that really got me inspired to write. As a blogger/online writer, it is important for me to be in an environment that inspires me. With having Celiac disease, surely I can still sip a hot coffee or tea, and take in the atmosphere. However, they do not have any fresh gluten free goodies, or sandwiches. Some Starbucks locations do offer Lucy's chocolate chip cookies, or  KIND bars. Sadly, none of those are satisfying, and you can't keep purchasing those items if you are going to spend a good portion of the day at Starbucks. What I have noticed with some bakeries/cafes, is that they offer gluten free items that are seal

 As someone who works from home, it is important for me to get out of the house once in a while. It would be awesome if I had a place to go, that has free Wifi, gluten free food, and hot tea. Before I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, a place I used to frequent was Panera Bread. I loved their sandwiches, their bread bowl soup, and their drinks. I spent a great deal of time in Panera Bread, typing articles and doing research. Now that I have Celiac disease, I can no longer go there. They do not have the ability to accommodate those of us with Celiac disease, or food allergies. Surely, you can get a cup of coffee, if you're Celiac, right? Wrong. Two years ago, after my diagnosis, I went into Panera Bread for some coffee. I actually got 'glutened' from their coffee. I think Panera Bread would have more business, if they accommodated us. They could do what a lot of other restaurants do: order the gluten free goods, packaged. Or, they could have a separate area to cook/ba

If you have been following my blog posts, you know how vocal I am about raising Celiac Awareness. I get annoyed, and angry, whenever the media mocks us. Society does NOT take our disease seriously. Because of this, I decided to take things a bit further in raising awareness about Celiac disease, and teach society that it is a disease that needs to be taken seriously. Last week, I decided to purchase a Celiac disease medical ID bracelet. I looked on Ebay, and found one for less than $17. When I go out, people are going to notice the bracelet, and ask questions. I WANT people to ask questions, because people need to know about this disease. We have had a lot of bad press, and I'm not going to hide my disease from people. I want to raise awareness in my community, so that it can become a Celiac friendly community. When I go to restaurants, I want to be taken seriously, and not be given the eye roll. All Celiacs should be taken seriously. We are not following some fad diet. G

 Today, my boyfriend and I were running some errands, and we both started getting hungry. We wanted to pick something up on the way home, but, because of my Celiac Disease, we did not know where to go. My boyfriend told me that a grinder shoppe, called, Nardelli's, now had gluten free bread, so people, such as myself, can eat there. So we went into the deli, and, I was looking at the menu. Not only do they have the gluten free bread, they have gluten free soup, AND, gluten free cookies! I did not get the soup, because, it is way too hot today to enjoy soup. I got a turkey and cheese sandwich. I looked over to the cash register, and I saw the cookies. They had Snicker-doodle, and Chocolate Fudge cookies. My boyfriend had been telling me that he saw the cookies the last time he was in a Nardelli's. I added one of the cookies (the snicker-doodle) to the order, and we left. I could not wait any longer to try the cookie, so, I opened the package, and tried a piece. Can I tell y

 When I was diagnosed Celiac, I did not think I would be able to have pasta again. As I did more research, I realized that there are various pastas that are gluten free. I started experimenting with different kinds of pasta, including brown rice pasta, and corn pasta. The first pasta I tried cooking, was corn pasta. No matter what I did, I could not cook it al dente. It came out gummy, and tasted horribly. I have been trying, for the past few years to perfect corn pasta, since I enjoy the challenge, but, I still cannot master this! Then I decided to pick up brown rice pasta. I was not sure what to expect from this experiment, after what happened with the epic fail that is corn pasta. Despite my concern, I cooked it up anyway. The first time I cooked it, it did not come out right. It came out slightly gummy, and sticky, just like the corn pasta. I cooked it like I used to cook regular pasta, before I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I looked at the back of the package, and re

Hey readers! As I was looking at the latest news in all things Celiac/Gluten Sensitivity/Gluten Free, I came across an article from the Wall Street Journal. It turns out that the Hostess brand, that is responsible for Twinkies, is in the process of brainstorming gluten free products. This news comes out mere days before Twinkies return to the shelves of stores nationwide. Hostess has been in a lot of hot water, due to the amount of debt the company owes, about 1.3 billion dollars, to be exact. The company filed for two chapter 11 bankruptcies, which ended in liquidation, and Hostess products were removed from the shelves.  With the new owners, their debt has been wiped clean, and the company is free from union contracts. My Opinion: As a youngster, before I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, Hostess and myself, were best friends. Basically, I was a fairly obese child, LOL! Anyways, I have a lot of mixed feelings about Hostess possibly going gluten free. The wording I found in

Celiacs, and those suffering from gluten sensitivity: Have you been wondering where to go on vacation in the US, but were afraid of eating at restaurants, risking cross-contamination? Look no further than New York City. New York City has museums, concerts, naked cowboy in Times Square, Broadway, and, Gluten Free Tours . This morning, I received a Tweet from Lynn Mendelsohn, a woman living with gluten sensitivity. She gives gluten-free tours. She will give you information about New York City, gluten-free brands to check out, hotels to stay at, and coaching to help you live gluten-free. You can find more information on her website: http://www.glutenfreenyc.net/index.html (photo courtesy of: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3tucZQkCgE/TiTHH_c6QqI/AAAAAAAAlr8/yVL70SZhVW8/s1600/NY_TimesSquareNight.jpg

 For the past week or two, I been seeing Chex's brand new Vanilla flavored cereal. I'm not much of a cold cereal lover. I usually eat hot rice cereal, buckwheat hot cereal, or quinoa hot cereal. However, I have been curious as to how the Vanilla Chex stacks up against some of the other flavors. My favorite Chex flavered cereal is the chocolate flavor. I had to stop buying it because it is so addicting, LOL! Anyways, Vanilla Chex has been on the shelves of supermarkets across the country. I picked some up this morning, since I was eager to try it. When I got home, I ate a couple of Vanilla Chex. It is pretty good. If you have a sweet tooth, you will love this cereal. The vanilla tastes like french vanilla. In a bowl with low-fat milk, it will be more like a dessert than a breakfast. Try the Vanilla Chex. It tastes good, and it handy to have when you are in a hurry, and do not have time to cook. It is gluten free, and is sponsored by the Celiac Disease Foundation. (pho

The nearest Margaritaville to where I live, is inside Mohegan Sun Casino. I have been to this restaurant several times in my life. Margaritaville is one restaurant that is Celiac-friendly. They have a separate gluten free menu for us, with several options, including margaritas, volcano nachos, and even a brownie dessert. Today, my boyfriend and I went to Margaritaville for lunch. When I asked for the gluten free menu, I did NOT get the eye roll, which was a relief. We were seated, and, after looking at my menu for 30 seconds, I already knew what I wanted: Cheeseburger in Paradise, with french fries. The cheeseburger in paradise comes with a gluten free hamburger bun. When it was time to order, I told the waitress that I have Celiac Disease, and need to be gluten free. She understood, and took my order. When the food arrived, I was excited. It's rare for a Celiac to have burgers and fries at a restaurant. The burger was outstanding. The fries were amazing. The only bad note

 While there have been great strides with diagnosing Celiac Disease, doctors need to be a little bit more sympathetic when diagnosing a patient with Celiac Disease. I have read stories about the day a Celiac was diagnosed. The doctor would call you, telling you the test results are in. "You have Celiac Sprue Disease," the doctor says. They tell you that you are not able to eat wheat, gluten, rye, barley, and oats. They may give you a link to a website to check information about the disease, then they hang up. The day I was diagnosed, it was a late September afternoon, in 2011. The RN called and told me that I tested "very positive" for Celiac Disease. I swear, my heart jumped in my throat and I thought I had choked on it. I asked her what this meant, and she told me to check out www.badgut.com. Then she said that I need to begin eating gluten free food, immediately. Again, I asked her what that meant. She said the website would have all the information I needed

...you cannot tell whether you have been 'glutened' or you are having a Colitis flare up. This is the fun I am facing today. I was plenty careful yesterday, when I was over my boyfriend's mother's house. I had plenty of safe dishes. The only one I think is in question, may be some pudding I had. Of course the crappy feeling I have, could be due to a Colitis flare-up. I just do not know. This is the fun Celiacs, with Ulcerative Colitis face on a regular basis. If you have both, you know what I am talking about. I have invented the term "UCCeliacs," to describe Celiacs who also suffer from Ulcerative Colitis. When I have a flare up, I get intense cramping and pain in my lower tummy. I also have an upset stomach, and lovely trips to the bathroom. These are also among the many symptoms I face when I am 'glutened.' Having both Celiac and Colitis, puts you at a huge disadvantage. I have signed up for numerous Celiac Disease studies, and have been re

Hello, my readers! Today is July 4th in the states, and I will be out with loved ones, enjoying the day, and their company. I will be back tomorrow, with more Celiac posts. To my friends in America, have a happy, safe, and gluten free fourth of July. To my friends across the ponds, I wish you a wonderful day/night, and thank you for reading my posts. The more people who know about Celiac Disease, the better. This disease not only affects Americans, it affects every country in the world. Peace and love to you all! Your Celiac Warrior, Shauna S.

This year, the University of Chicago's Celiac Disease Center, will be hosting the 15th annual International Celiac Disease Symposium. This symposium is the largest Celiac Disease related conference in the world. Researchers, students, physicians, patients, families, friends, etc, will be in attendance. The conference will focus on research that has been gathered about Celiac Disease, and related disorders. The University of Chicago's Celiac Disease Center has been working relentlessly on something groundbreaking. They will be revealing their research at this conference. This research may hold the key to preventing, and curing Celiac Disease. Scientists will be discussing recent advances in the treatment of Celiac Disease, and related disorders. There will also be a separate area for patients, dietitians, and clinicians to learn more about Celiac Disease. I will not be in attendance, but, I will be following the latest news on this conference. If, in fact, they have foun