Interview with The Celiac from Italy-Part 4 Celiac in the U.S. compared to Italy-is there a difference? Having lived in both the U.S. & Italy what do you find to be the biggest difference/s between the two countries? "The biggest difference is the fad diet culture I mentioned earlier. I really have yet to meet an Italian who eats gluten-free by choice. It is predominantly seen as a medical treatment and therefore regarded with the level of severity necessary. It makes it so

As we near the end of January I find myself counting down the days until we have spring like weather again. This time of year, is so...

Interview with The Celiac in Italy-Part 3 How difficult is it to find food in Italy gluten-free? Is it easy for you to find gluten-free options at the grocery store? What is gluten-free called in Italy? "Yes, it’s pretty easy. Most grocery stores have a shelf specifically for all the gluten-free products so it’s very easy to find. You can also find some basic gluten-free products in most pharmacies because it’s considered a medical necessity for celiacs to have access to sa

Images of Italy Interview with The Celiac in Italy-Part 2 What is it like to have Celiac in Italy? How knowledgeable is the food industry in Italy in regard to Celiac/needing to eat gluten-free? "Italy is arguably the best country for celiacs. Restaurants are typically very knowledgeable about celiac disease and will communicate whether or not they can accommodate a medically necessary gluten-free diet. The key here is that the gluten-free diet never really became “trendy”

Beth Vital, Assistant Brewer at B.C. Brewery & Noreen Wheeler, Gluten Free Life & Travels at B.C. Brewery Shortly after Christmas, I was able to go to Hunt Valley, Maryland, and visit B.C. Brewery. They have a great location! Their business is located about 30 minutes north of Inner Harbor. The Light Rail is just across the street, and can bring you from B.C. Brewery to Inner Harbor and many stops in between. There are also several hotels nearby if you go for a weekend ge

We have all heard the “buzzwords” about taking care of ourselves and our mental health. People say we should “practice self-care, set...

A Little Bit About Me I thought this would be a good time to tell you a little about myself. As I have had some new followers. I am married and have two children. I'm terrible at selfies, I just don't think about taking a picture of just myself. I have two dogs who are a very large part of my family. I enjoy traveling and having fun. Getting Diagnosed I was diagnosed with celiac in 2013. My four-year-old daughter, who had stomach issues from the time she started baby cereal,

Gortnalughoge, County Donegal, Ireland There is No Time Like the Present As this year comes to a close, I’ve found myself reflecting not just on the usual highs and lows but on how quickly life can change. If the past few years have taught me anything, especially living through COVID, it’s that there truly is no time like the present. Don’t wait to see the people you love. Don’t wait to explore new places. Don’t wait for the “perfect time” to go after what you’ve been dreamin

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs. It reminds me of being a little kid in our old 16 passenger van driving with my parents, siblings and cousins to Pennsylvania. We used to all sing songs together to make the long trip go more quickly. Many of us will be traveling this holiday season. This year, "There's no place like home for the holidays," will be me. Well for the most part, I can't stay in one place too long. The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but

The holidays are supposed to be a time for family, friends, laughter, and making memories. But when you have celiac disease, this can bring extra stress. From worrying about gluten-free food and cross-contact to dealing with family members who don't understand celiac disease, what should be a joyful time can quickly become overwhelming. Maybe you have family members who don't believe celiac disease is real. Maybe you have relatives who are trying to help but don't fully under

Banquet Table Picture it you are at a professional conference, everyone is in a large banquet hall. There are eight people to a table. At each place there is a salad, water, and what looks like an iced tea. You sit down amongst your colleagues to eat. If you have Celiac anything you eat or drink will either nourish you or…will make you feel like you have a terrible stomach bug. I don’t think anyone can understand this until they live it. As you know it’s terribly stress

Christmas sugar cookies My daughter was diagnosed right before Thanksgiving when she was just 4 years old. I was diagnosed a few months before her. I remember being totally overwhelmed! A big part of the holiday is baking. Every year for as long as I could remember I made various Christmas cookies and treats. How was I going to do this gluten-free? I did not know anyone else that had Celiac or had to eat gluten-free. I have baked with my girls since they were little. My Nan

A person walking up steps "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." -Lao Tzu When I began blogging this May, I started on a new journey. Sometimes we think we know where our journey will lead but we have unexpected surprises. This has been a new challenge for me and something I really enjoy. I began blogging because I want to help others with Celiac, or dietary restrictions, that require them to eat gluten-free. As we all know following a strict gluten-free

Thanksgiving Dinner Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. There is no stress about finding the perfect gift and making sure the holiday meets high, sometimes unattainable expectations. This is how I often feel about Christmas. However, a gluten-free Thanksgiving can feel overwhelming when you are newly diagnosed. A few facts about me, I’m not a huge fan of cooking. I enjoy baking but I also enjoy shortcuts! When you must eat gluten-free you almost have to be able

Carving a turkey 1. Host-If you host Thanksgiving you have full control over what is cooked and how it's prepared. You can either cook the whole meal or have others bring food and keep your gluten-free food separate. This allows you to have control of everything that you make and ensure it is safe for you and/or family members. However, it can be overwhelming especially if you don't like to cook. 2. Bring your own food -If you are concerned that your host will n