Going to see the Wizard.

LainMac

Not really but close. Actually, I am seeing "THE CELIAC DIETITIAN" at Beth Israel Celiac center. I'm bringing her 3 weeks of MFP logs. I hope she has something more to say that what I've already figured out (like duh) from looking at my diet. These would be the usual suspects:

->Eat less carbs
->Eat more vegetables
->Eat ,more lean protein
->Drink more water

And drum roll please, -> Exercise More!

I have to tell her that most of the usual Celiac advice won't work for me.

Cook once for many meals -With 4 kids and two of them teen sons, there is no cooked food that one can keep safe (except maybe some of the raw vegetables)

Keep a gluten free kitchen and only cook gluten free foods - One of the teen sons and his younger brother are very athletic and high energy, we can't afford to feed them gluten free bread and pasta. I do have separate pots, pans, cutting boards, and condiments but that's what I can afford to do now. (Dream of buying a house with a separate in-law kitchen.)

It is a lot of effort to schlep out to Boston from where I am so I hope it is worth it.

LainMac

The wizard said no more oatmeal for a while. Not even GF oatmeal. (Wah!)

Get more calcium and B1

Check all ingestionable things like medicine s and lip balms for evil Gluten.

And when purchasing processed foods the label must say GF and state that their gluten freeness is tested by an official testing place.

mooglysmom

I got funny looks from a pharmacist once because I asked about the gluten content of a medication. After that, I made sure my doctor understood to double and triple check before he prescribed something!

I check to make sure my soap, shampoo, and conditioner are gluten free. Also also check make up and lip sticks and such, though I rarely wear them.

Some celiacs can tolerate oats - some can't. I am not diagnosed celiac, but have all the symptoms. I, personally, cannot tolerate oats.

Sounds like good advice. What problems were you having? We have a shared kitchen too, and a few things we've done:
Separate toasters
Husband makes his sandwiches on paper towels or plates, then cleans up the counter.
Don't use non-stick pots and pans for gluten items - there's miniscule scratches in the coating that can harbor gluten (I got badly glutend from my mother in law's pots when we were there last and I had no choice). Better yet, have separte pots and pans for gluten/gluten free cooking/baking. I like glass for baking because it cleans well.
I do not cook gluten foods. If husband wants something with gluten, he has to make it himself. Period. I won't even make my gluten eating son a sandwich on regular bread, he gets gluten free or nothing. He's 4, I can't make him cook for himself, but believe me, when he's old enough he will

pdworkman

I think you're making excuses for yourself by saying that you can't cook extra food for yourself for later or that you can't keep a (relatively) gluten free kitchen. If you take responsibility for your health, you can make it happen.

The children can be taught to leave alone food that you have labeled or indicated to them is for your use only. Yes, I have a teenage boy too, and while he is gluten free, I am completely grain free, so there are foods that I make for myself that he needs to leave for me. I have my own buns in the freezer, and even if he's finished his bread, he can't touch it. If he is going to eat my terra chips (my substitute for corn chips), then I am not going to buy him corn chips. After a few weeks he figures out it's not worth it to eat my food. You wouldn't let your children poison you, even if you thought they were "just being kids", so don't let them get away with other behaviour that endangers your health. If they want a happy, healthy mommy, they need to follow some rules.

You don't have to spend a bunch of money on gluten-free food for everyone. Things like potatoes, rice, sweet potatoes, and beans are great cheap starches that will fill those growing boys up. We only get one loaf of bread a week (for two big boys), and only have pasta one night a week. The rest of our food is made from scratch and/or naturally gluten free.

You can do it. Your health is important. Take care of yourself. Make it a priority.

LainMac

Actually the GF wizard didn't say the standard things I was expecting.

The GF wizard of boston said no more oatmeal for a while. Not even GF oatmeal. (Wah!) (My guess to get the green light on oatmeal would be that my blood tests normalize and I won't be tested again until July)

Get more calcium and B1

Check all ingestionable things like medicines and lip balms for evil Gluten.

And when purchasing processed foods the label must say GF and state that their gluten freeness is tested by an official testing place.

She was surprised and happy to hear that I make my own beans (pressure cooker), my own brown rice (asian rice cooker), and my own chicken stock. I can cook. I cook well. I am just bloody tired of all the cooking from scratch ~ I miss getting the occassional break with take out.