There is not one right answer for this question, but it’s one that many people wrestle with and need help with. We have all had run ins with inconsiderate co-workers, family members – or both! Therefore, we’ve all heard ridiculous comments like “you can eat one cookie for goodness sake” or “one piece of cake won’t kill you”. More than once I’ve heard the comment “gluten intolerance is something you’ll grow out of eventually, like an allergy”. There is no evidence that this is true, but there is a huge amount of evidence that it is most certainly not true.
We all have different personalities and that’s great most of the time. However, when it comes to explaining your new lifestyle (it’s more than a diet, sorry) to others, you have to be very clear about your needs. If you’re the type of person that lets others sway you at times, you might need to tweak your behavior just a bit.
People that have a hard time standing up for themselves will have a harder time on this diet than those who have more forceful personalities. In Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s book, G Free Diet, the author lists several ridiculous techniques that suggest how one might navigate in social situations. If you want to pretend you dropped a cookie by mistake instead of telling someone you can’t eat it, that’s your business. But if you do things like that you will be doing a disservice to yourself and the rest of us in the process. Hasselbeck’s “plate swap trick”, where she waits until no one is looking and switches plates with her husband at an event – is outrageously juvenile.
Many people are weird about food but most of us don’t realize this until we have a food intolerance. That’s when we find out how much our not eating something bothers some of the people in our lives. You might hurt your mother in laws feelings – or worse your own Grandmother’s – by not eating food that they painstakingly prepared for everyone to enjoy. That is perfectly fine. The first time this happens it will be hard for them and you, but each time it will get easier. Eventually either they will understand, or you’ll understand that they have a learning disability you didn’t know they had. Either way, make a stand about your needs and don’t ever back peddle.
If people think you’re flexible regarding your diet, they will do their best to make sure and bend you as much as possible. Don’t act shocked if a friend says “you’re not really going to do this gluten-free thing during the holidays are you?” Trust me – it happens. As shocking as such a question is, and as ridiculous as someone is trying to make you out to be, remember that they are the ridiculous one and stand your ground.
It’s up to us to decide what behavior we will accept from others. If we let people treat us disrespectfully, they will do so until we advise them it’s not acceptable. This translates to our gluten-free lifestyle as well. If someone around you tries to make you feel bad about being diligent about your diet, which you might remind them is necessary for your health, it might be time to rethink your relationship with them.
Have a question about the gluten-free diet which we haven’t covered yet? You can now submit your questions here! (Note: All medical questions should be directed to your physician)
