You Are Not​ Alone!

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Living with Food Restrictions. This blog is geared to individuals with dietary restrictions due to intolerances or allergies.

I have decided to write this blog because I have non-celiac gluten sensitivity and I am also lactose intolerant. According to Healthline, individuals that are sensitive to gluten experience symptoms right after eating gluten, which I definitely was. Some of the symptoms, I experienced, which tend to be the most common of symptoms are mental fatigue (also known as “brain fog”), physical fatigue, bloating, abdominal pain, and headaches.

The Mayo Clinic claims that lactose intolerance happens when your small intestine is unable to produce enough of a specific enzyme, called lactase which is able to digest the sugar found in milk. Every time I had dairy, my stomach would react in the most unpleasant way, and I would find myself visiting the bathroom shortly after.  

At first I thought it would be impossible to give up dairy and foods with gluten, but I soon realized there are so many alternatives for my favourite recipes and snacks. Another concern I had was how people would react towards my dietary changes because we live in a society where people are not always the most supportive or accommodating. 

Yet, I want to share with you a positive story about how my grandmother reacted to my diet changes, and provide you with a great recipe for gluten-free and dairy-free pasta.

My grandmother, who we refer to as “Nonna,” was born and raised in Italy. When I told my Nonna about my diet changes the first thing she said to me was, “Il Mio Tesoro, (she calls me her treasure—I know isn’t she the sweetest?), what am I going to cook for you?” Something to note about my Nonna is that cooking is her pride and joy.

So, by going gluten and dairy-free I put my dear Nonna to the test. I mean, I am talking about a 78-year-old woman who spends hours making home-made loaves of bread, pizza, or her signature homemade raviolis stuffed with cheese. This was not going to be an easy task, but one thing I admire about my Nonna is her determination.

The following day, my Nonna decided to go on a mission. The woman, who never in her entire life purchased a box of store-made pasta, decided to venture out to Fortinos in search of gluten-free pasta. 

The pasta my Nonna purchased, which is now my all time favourite is called, Felicetti; it is pasta made out of rice and corn.

My Nonna reminds me that food can be considered a medium to connect people with each other. When it comes to the Italian culture, as well as other cultures, food is what brings families together to spend time with one another despite how busy people’s schedules are, or how far apart they live from each other. When families socialize and share a meal this can remind them of how important and special the bond of family is.  My Nonna did not want me to feel excluded from our family get-togethers which always revolve around food. 

I love pasta and a great gluten and dairy-free recipe is pasta with broccoli from one of my favourite blogs called, Elana’s pantry, www.elanaspantry.com. The ingredients and specific instructions for the recipe can be found here: https://elanaspantry.com/pasta-with-broccoli/.

I think Elana’s recipes are fantastic because they are targeted towards individuals that have food allergies, are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, paleo, vegan, or vegetarian.  

Stay tuned for more scrumptious recipes, personal stories, and restaurant recommendations in my next upcoming post!

References List:

Amsterdam, Elana. “Pasta with Broccoli .” Elana’s Pantry , elanaspantry.com.

“Lactose Intolerance.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 Apr. 2018,  www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lactose-intolerance/symptoms-causes/syc-20374232.

Poceta , Joanna. “Symptoms of Celiac Disease, Wheat Allergy, and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: Which Is It?” Healthline , 21 Apr. 2017, www.healthline.com/health/allergies/gluten-allergy-symptoms.