Book Review: The G-Free Diet

Every once in awhile my husband's dad sends me a gf find in the mail. I love getting mail, and it's always happy to get more gf info. He's a great gf scout!

A few weeks ago a small package arrived. I ripped into it and discovered this.

Cool!

Elisabeth Hasselbeck's one of the only celebrities I know of who has Celiac disease. Her story is fascinating (albeit very familiar in parts), and if you haven't read it, you can find the basics here.

Essentially she was sick for years, and then went on the television show Survivor, where she suddenly felt better. This was weird, since she was eating only a few spoonfuls of rice a day. Imagine that!

When she got home from her reality TV adventure, she was soon officially diagnosed with Celiac.

The book is a great read as an introduction to gluten free living, including some recipes. After living gluten free for eighteen months now, I knew most of the information already, but I also learned a few things, including the fact that wine can have gluten residue from the barrels it is stored in. Did anyone else know this? I don't drink much wine (probably a glass or two a month, tops), but I did like it as a wedding go-to beverage I didn't have to worry about. No longer, I guess. Boo.

I deeply appreciate Elisabeth sharing her story with the world and raising awareness of Celiac disease and gluten intolerance. This is definitely a book I'd give to friends or family who wanted to know more about the disease, gluten intolerance in general, and what it means to live a gluten free life.

My favorite part was the following, about when she visits other people's homes:

"I will emphasize that the host is under no obligation to prepare a gluten free meal for me. I say this for my host, but also for me! Being honest is not always a guarantee of a relaxing, G-free evening--not by a long shot. Bringing up your diet can create two big issues.

"The first: who wants to be a high-maintenance guest? ... the last thing you want is for your host to regret inviting you.

"The second, more serious pitfall...is the possibility that your host will go out of her way to make you some extra special food that you still can't eat. There are so many hidden ingredients in foods, and so much the general population still doesn't know about cross-contamination..." (p. 114).

Amen. Preach it, sister!

It felt so good to hear her repeat in writing some of my own experiences (sneaking a gf granola bar into a party, feeling just generally weird at a wedding dinner, eating lots of food before going out to a restaurant just in case I couldn't eat anything).

The G-Free Diet: worth a read? Definitely, if you're new to gf living. If you're an old pro, it's perhaps worth a skim. It would also make a great gift for the non-gf folks in your life who are interested in knowing a bit more about why you do what you do.