I have been hearing wonderful, amazing things about Sophia's Bakery & Cafe, located in Brantford, Ontario.
Distance has been an issue and I haven't made it out to the bakery yet... instead I have been drooling over all of the yummy looking goodies on the website.
And dreaming of visiting the cafe for lunch.
A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be sent a loaf of bread. My
friend Sofia brought it to me. (Thanks Sofia! Big coincidence on the
name there haha)
Wow, can't remember the last time I had an authentic fresh baked loaf of bread.
What a treat! It was soft and squishy and reminded me of a whole wheat loaf of bread. It was also dairy-free and tasted great! I can't wait to try out some of the baked goods at Sophia's Bakery & Cafe!
This question has popped up a few times on forums and groups that I belong to - is it necessary to have a medical bracelet indicating that a one is following a gluten-free diet for Celiac Disease?
In my personal (not professional) opinion:
No, I don't think it is necessary for most people with Celiac Disease to have a medical bracelet.
Let me explain my reasoning...
1. I am old enough to speak up for myself in social situations.
Self explanatory. I can see where a bracelet may be necessary for younger children who are put in others' care, such as daycare, school, camp and other situations. It is a constant reminder to those looking after the child that there is a serious need for gluten-free food and hopefully measures will be taken to ensure safe food.
2. Listing gluten as an allergy may impede administration of life saving drugs in an emergency.
The last thing I would want is doctors and nurses wasting precious seconds/minutes trying to figure out what gluten is and better yet, whether it is contained in a drug. (How much gluten would be in that tiny pill anyway...? Definitely not saying I recommend taking pills that have gluten as a filler... just pointing out that in an emergency situation, if I had a choice between taking a pill that may or may not have small traces of gluten and turning down the medication that may save my life... I'm taking that pill. One dose of trace amounts is unlikely to do permanent damage and I think I am better off having tried something than nothing at all. Having said that... see #3)
3. Emergency medication is usually given intravenously, so they would bypass the digestive system anyway.
Yup... if I'm unconscious, doctors would be unlikely to try shoving a pill down my throat or having me chew something. Medications taken orally take time to be broken down and absorbed. Therefore, injecting directly into the bloodstream is a much more effective and likely scenario if anything were to land me in the hospital.
4. I figure by the time the hospital is ready to feed me after an emergency stay in the hospital, I will have friends and family there to notify hospital staff that I need gluten-free food.
In fact, I've heard that most hospitals can't really accommodate gluten-free diets anyway. So it's best you make sure you have friends and family who will be there to feed you after, if need be ;)
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I think medical bracelets are fantastic for those with serious allergies, where if the person experienced an allergic reaction in a public area, it would alert those around to what may have happened. Also, drug allergies are important to note on the bracelets so that the offending drugs are not given to the patient in a hospital. Medical conditions that require medication (diabetes - insulin, heart conditions - nitroglycerin, etc) would definitely benefit from having a medical bracelet to indicate medication may be required.
What are your thoughts?
Do you have a medical bracelet for Celiac Disease?
Did you know that if you have Celiac Disease you are a burden to your friends and family?
No, not really.
But according to these fine examples of modern society, that's exactly what your friends think of you.
Conversation from above video: Host 1: You're having a dinner party okay... and you're inviting a dozen people. And people have food restrictions. Host 2: All it takes is one. Host 1: I know. [Snotty face.] ...they're vegan, they're gluten-free, they're whatever, they don't like dairy ... la la la! Host 2: [Naming off weight loss diets.] Stay home and eat your pre-prepared meal! [Laughing]
Translation: If you require a gluten-free diet, don't you dare come to my dinner party because I don't want to make the effort to understand that this is a medically necessary diet for Celiac Disease.
I certainly hope the above comments are only the thoughts of two uneducated ladies and that our friends and family will be better informed.
I think part of the issue lies in the fact that gluten-free
seems to be the new trend... and people are trying it out for all the
wrong reasons (such as to lose weight). People have been given the wrong impression of what it really means to be gluten-free.
Don't EVER compare eating gluten-free (or having an allergy) to someone who willfully chooses to follow a certain diet. It is not the same thing.
And before all the vegans or vegetarians get on my case about this... please keep in mind that I have been vegetarian for 13 years (that's 7 years before this whole Celiac journey). I have dealt with the awkward glares when I refused a meat dish. And I understand the glares. I made a choice to be vegetarian.
Being gluten-free -- as a result of a disease -- is a whole different ball game. Intestinal damage will occur if I do not follow my diet. I didn't choose to be this way. I am not trying to make your life difficult. Trust me... as much as I want to eat your delicious homemade lasagna, gooey garlic bread and apple pie, it's probably best that you don't make a big fuss when I turn down your food. I can be feisty and I'm not afraid to speak my mind.
I can't help but think sarcastically to myself...
I'm sorry that my disease inconvenienced your life for an hour. It's something I live with every day and will continue to live with for the rest of my life. Do me a favour - deal with it and have some compassion.
Please note: I don't seriously think of Celiac Disease as a burden on my life. It is part of who I am. In the beginning of going gluten-free, of course I was bitter. But I realized that this disease is not going anywhere and I had to accept it.
In all honesty, it reminds me of a few occasions when I was planning a dinner outing with a couple of friends. They suggested locations that weren't particularly accommodating to gluten-free diets. We are lucky in Ontario (warning - shameless plug!) to have access to hundreds of restaurants offering gluten-free menu options. I believe we should take full advantage of this fact and show our support to these establishments by giving them our business in exchange for their efforts. I kindly suggested one of the restaurants on Gluten-Free Ontario and the issue was resolved.
I don't expect the world to bend over backwards for me... all I'm asking for is a little understanding. It's not fun (and totally unnecessary) to go to a restaurant to watch everyone else eat when there's a much more accommodating option down the street ;)
What are your thoughts on dinner party hosts who think of you as a burden?
Are your friends supportive of your gluten-free diet?
