Introduce yourselves!!

[Mister Rich]

Hey all!

I've been a vegetarian for about 10 years, and have been milk/egg/cheese etc free for about 5 or 6 years.

A few years ago I started getting spots and a rash on my face that just wouldn't go away, and as time went on it only got worse and worse, to the point where I felt I didn't want to leave the house. To cut a long story short I eventually figured out that I probably have Celiac disease and Dermatitis Hepiformis. I never felt the need for an official diagnosis, just cut gluten products completely out of my diet, along with a few other things which seemed to cause problems (soy, anything fatty or very high in protein) and now I am in the best health I have ever been in!

I basically follow a high raw vegan style diet, and it seems to work well for me as it's all naturally gluten free and high in vitamins and minerals. Nowadays I eat loads of fruit and fresh leafy greens, a few nuts and seeds every now and again, simple veggie stews, and the occasional gluten free bread made from scratch either by myself or my wonderful GF. (We even grind our own flour!!!)

Living the way I do now I feel that despite the restrictions, I have found a way that works for me and I'd never go back! Of course, I often get the feeling that people who know me think I'm a bit odd, and that my health problems were due to not enough meat n cheese in the diet... But I can remember being a small kid eating whatever my non vegetarian parents served up and feeling like death most of the time. Ironic that I'm now in my mid 30's, most of my friends complain of starting to feel old and worn out, yet I feel happier, healthier and more energetic than ever! It literally feels like I'm ageing in reverse.

Anyway, I'm so glad this forum exists. Being gluten free in a world that runs on wheat is hard enough... Being vegetarian or vegan too??? We need all the support we can get!

[MaryLynn]

Hello--I'm a 40 ish gf non-meat/dairy/egg eater, also try to avoid too much soy due to thyroid trouble. Tried vegan diet after years of stomach trouble, no help from my doctor who ordered a colonoscopy instead of asking me about my diet?! Didn't want one of those, so I tried my own elimination diet and discovered it seemed to be all the wheat I'd been eating--felt instantly better after going gf. Would never go back to my old diet!!!
My hubby and 3 kids think I'm crazy (but are pretty understanding!) and are not too adventurous with their tastes, so I'm always having to fix 2 different meals. That's probably my biggest challenge, besides eating out.
So glad to see so many others like me out there!

[Katrina]

Hey everyone! My name is Katrina, I'm 23 (soon to be 24), and am from the great state of New Jersey in the US. It's such a relief to find a place like this where we gluten free vegetarians can meet up to discuss our diets! I was diagnosed with Celiac in 2005, shortly after enrolling in college, so it was kind of a tough break since the main intake of food consists of pizza and beer... both big no-nos on the gf diet, as you know. Well, at least back then! I have been toying with vegetarianism for quite a few years now and after slowly cutting out different meats, I fully (well, almost) committed this past fall. I don't eat any meat, with the exception of fish, nor do I make a habit of consuming milk or milk products.

I recently (very recently, actually) started a blog to keep a record of gluten free and vegetarian foods, restaurants, and issues, as well as to post articles and essays pertaining to agricultural and animal welfare policies, both of which are intimately intertwined with Celiac and vegetarianism. I welcome you call to come check it out when you're not scouring the message boards here for tips and tricks!

bringitbackgfv.blogspot.com

I look forward to getting to know you all here at the vegiac boards!

[Zloduska]

Originally Posted by MaryLynn

My hubby and 3 kids think I'm crazy (but are pretty understanding!) and are not too adventurous with their tastes, so I'm always having to fix 2 different meals. That's probably my biggest challenge, besides eating out.

MaryLynn, you poor thing-- if my family told me I had to cook 2 separate meals for them, I'd tell them where to shove their poisonous gluten-filled food! Why not start teaching the kids how to cook their own meals or having your husband make his own gluten stuff? Sorry, but if I were you I'd put my foot down and insist that for their own health and your own sanity, everyone eat GF meals, at least at home. If you keep insisting that children try new foods, eventually they will learn to like some of them.

[rainfly]

Hi rainfly here

Just came across the board via some research I am doing... I'm a vegan and gluten free one too .... both through choice and based in london.. cool board

[Katrina]

Originally Posted by rainfly

Hi rainfly here

Just came across the board via some research I am doing... I'm a vegan and gluten free one too .... both through choice and based in london.. cool board

Rainfly,
I'll be in London for a long weekend in the beginning of April, do you have any suggestions for gluten free/vegan restaurants or meals? Thanks!
Katrina

[JRiv]

Hi everyone! Jriv here from tourist capital of the world, Orlando, Florida. I'm 27, female and work in downtown Orlando. I've been gluten free for almost a year and a half now after getting super sick. After having all of the normal tests done and everything coming back negative, the doctor couldn't figure it out and diagnosed me with severe IBS. So i decided to go GF because I read that it's helped a lot of IBS sufferers. I'm not at all convinced that I'm not gluten intolerant, so I live like I am. For no specific reason other than the fact that I can't enjoy a good burger or sub or sandwich the real way anymore, I decided that becoming a vegetarian could be neat. So I've been a vegetarian for 3 days now and I'm really enjoying it.

I'm so glad I found this site! It's so great to find other people who struggle with the same things. I feel like I'm crazy half the time when I react badly to something most people are completely fine with.

Glad to be here!

[rainfly]

Hey Katrina

I have placed loads of suggestions in the europe restaurant suggestions part of the website

Originally Posted by Katrina

Rainfly,
I'll be in London for a long weekend in the beginning of April, do you have any suggestions for gluten free/vegan restaurants or meals? Thanks!
Katrina

[Katrina]

I actually found them right after I posted that comment, thanks!

[bkcincinnati]

I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm 54. I discovered that I am gluten intolerant just about 11 months ago. My husband went out of town for 10 days and so I tried a very restrictive diet the whole time he was gone. I ate nothing but green veggies and lean protein (I still ate meat some of the time then) the whole time, then started adding things back in. Right away it became pretty obvious that gluten was the problem.

Around 5 months ago it suddenly dawned on my why every time I switched to a vegetarian diet in the past I got so sick--because I was substituting so much bread and pasta, especially in restaurants where the vegetarian item on the menu is almost always pasta or a veggie sandwich and even the salads always come with crackers or bread. So I waited until the day after Thanksgiving and went vegetarian again and this time it is going well. I am not strictly vegan but limit my dairy because I can get a reaction from it if I overdo.

I am looking for a gluten free bakery that is local to Cincinnati. There is a place called A Forkable Feast in Oakley that looks promising. I will check it out next time I have a free Saturday and report back. I was actually planning a drive to Columbus to buy some gluten free things when I found the Cincinnati place on the internet.