I have celiac disease; I learned to defend myself by dinner

• A diagnosis of celiac disease requires gluten avoidance for me to stay healthy and feel better.
• Sometimes it was difficult to sail in restaurants with your family and friends.
• Clear communication is essential, but it is also important to set limits and defend myself.

“I’m sorry, but if you go to this restaurant, I can’t join you,” I said to my aunt by phone. At the time, I knew that the restaurant that my aunt and the group with which she was planning to dine were not going to work for me. I had previously contacted the restaurant and someone of staff informed me that he could not guarantee that my food would be free from gluten. For me, it was a not difficult.

I have celiac diseasewhich is a chronic autoimmune condition which affects the small intestine, which can be damaged when it comes into contact with gluten. I was diagnosed a few weeks before I was 18 years old. Although it is not a desired birthday present, in the past eight years, I have learned to live with this problem comfortably.

The treatment of this condition is simple: avoid eating gluten for your whole life. Although it may seem drastic, it is possible. Most foods, such as vegetables and fruits, as well as proteins and healthy fat sources, naturally do not contain gluten. There are also a good number of gluten -free options among cereals and pseudocerors, such as rice, corn, buckwheat and amaranth. I just have to be proactive and know what I put in my body.

However, when you dine with other people or at the home of others, celiac disease can be psychologically difficult. Here’s how I learned to manage certain common scenarios.

When I dine, I am looking for and request information

Where I live in Italy, AIC (Italian Caliac Society) maintains a list of certified places that I know will have Gluten -free options. However, I often want to dine elsewhere or I do not decide the location. Although AIC certified sites are safer choices for people with celiac disease, I have become fairly comfortable going to unproted restaurants, provided I check them in advance.

When I did not go somewhere before, I generally call in advance to inform them that I have a celiac disease and I find out about gluten -free options. I also look at the restaurant website to explore its menu, which sometimes indicates the potential allergens Or declares that restaurant staff are trained to help customers into intolerance.

A few months ago, I was invited to a friend’s birthday party. When I called the restaurant we were attending, the staff seemed to be well informed about celiac disease, which was a good sign. During dinner, I reminded them of my condition when ordering a seafood dish. They told me that there was one element with gluten, but they told the chief to prepare the dish without him and take care of it. It made me feel treated, which is always a pleasant experience.

When I eat with someone else, I explain my food needs

When I dine with a friend, I often call to discuss the menu in advance. If other guests have food with gluten, like pasta, I plan to jump this course, ask for an alternative or offer to bring something. If I have doubts on a dish, I know to ask for clarification from the host. If they are uncertain on the ingredientsI ask them if they have checked if he contains gluten when they bought it. Based on their answer, I make my choice.

Now, my friends and family know that I have a celiac disease, so I no longer have to explain my food needs in depth. However, I should sometimes be more meticulous, specifically saying to them that clean kitchen utensils are necessary and that they should wash their hands if they have touched the food with gluten.

I’m not afraid to defend myself

During this call with my aunt, we decided to change the place and go to one of my favorite restaurants, an AIC certified place where almost all dishes have a gluten -free version (even pizza!). She assured me that it was not a problem if it made me feel more safe, so I enjoyed a delicious dinner with my cousin, my aunt and a friend.