I don't hate many things, except ....

Because going out to eat is like a game of Russian Roulette. Because I even have to double check all chap sticks, make ups, shampoos in addition to each and every single piece of food. Because it's not just a fad diet. Because it makes my husband miserably sick.

I. HATE. GLUTEN.

Don't know about gluten? Well, I am jealous. I wish I never heard of the 'g' word. Here's my lisa-pedia version of what gluten is. It is the sticky stuff (a protein composite) that is found in wheat, barley & rye that helps hold food together. Wikipedia has a little more in depth description. Whether you are avoiding gluten because you've jumped on the fad diet bandwago, whether you are the supportive family member of a celiac, whether you are doing it to control your celiac disease, or whether you are doing it to help ADD, ADHD, Autism and other 'disorders' - we are all in the same boat.

We have to read the ingredient list for each and every thing that enters our mouthes or our homes. We have to bother the wait staff for a gluten free menu. We have to cringe when they assure us that, "everything can be made gluten free." We have to request ingredient lists from generous friends & family members who graciously host us for a meal. We have to deal with physical reactions that are painful to the body as well as to the noses and ears within the general vicinity. We have to deal with getting 'scoped' from both ends annually.

No seriously. Think about it. Think of what you ate for breakfast. Pancakes? Nope. French toast? Nope. Waffles? Nope. Cereal? Not unless it was Chex. Think of what you ate for lunch. A sandwich? Gluten free bread leaves a lot to be desired and it's much easier/gag-preventative to skip the bread all together. Want a snack? Pretzels, nope. Chips, better check the seasoning. Cookie, oh heck no. Cake, not unless it's gluten free. Fruit - yes. Veggies - yes. What's for dinner? Breadstick with your spaghetti? Nope. Oh wait, you wanted spaghetti noodles with your spaghetti? Not unless they are rice or corn based noodles. Nothing in your house? Want to grab a burger? Not unless it's bun-less. How about thinking outside the bun & going for a taco? Not with a flour tortilla. French fries? As long as they aren't fried in the same frier chicken patties, or other breaded things are fried in and not fried in msg, so nope! Order a pizza? Glass Nickel is the only delivery in our area for gluten free pizza, bummer it's also the most expensive. Jimmy Johns unwich is pretty good, and they are pretty good at preventing cross contamination. Again, $35 for subs for the fam is kinda pushing the budget and could buy a lot of groceries.

Wait, what's cross contamination you ask? Well, not only do you have to worry about your actual food not having gluten in it, but you can't use a spatula, fork, knife, anything that has come into contact with gluten. That's not that big of a deal right? Think about things like jelly jars, butter dishes, peanut butter containers ... not so cut and dry.

I strongly dislike using the word hate. I really love words and using them. Hate is the not a particular accurate word to describe my feelings towards gluten. It isn't nearly strong enough nor descriptive enough. I am not even the one with celiac disease, either. Can't imagine what someone with a gluten sensitivity, intolerance or allergy thinks of gluten.

To learn what eating GF is all about this is a pretty good resource. Whether I like it or not, I have been forced into becoming a gf expert of some sorts. It has spurred my family into being much more careful about what is in the food we consume and products we use. So what are your thoughts on gluten? Are you as big of a gluten fan as I am?