My Gluten-free diet is NOT a trend
A documentary by Paula L. Jones
Thank you for dropping by to visit this webpage!
As you can see from the title above, I'm creating a documentary about what it's like to live with celiac disease and the importance of sticking to a gluten-free diet.
As you can see from the title above, I'm creating a documentary about what it's like to live with celiac disease and the importance of sticking to a gluten-free diet.
Why make a documentary about celiac?
I thought about creating the documentary after watching a famous stand-up comedian make fun of people who order gluten-free food at restaurants. I laughed, because his jokes were funny. But at the same time, they validated my feelings of shame centered around social events and food.
Like many people with celiac, I often feel like a burden when I turn down food that kind hosts have taken great pains to prepare or when I must explain why I can't eat what everyone else is enjoying at an event. Such conversations tend to attract unwanted attention and it makes me wonder what onlookers think. I often fear people assume I'm just trying to get attention.
Then, there's the issue of sourcing safe food. Even foods that are labeled "gluten-free" can cause painful reactions to some people with celiac. As this is the case, many people with celiac dread grocery shopping because it means driving from store to store to find safe gluten-free food, which is typically more expensive than "regular" food.
A celiac diagnosis is life changing. It means that for the rest of your existence on this planet, you must be disciplined about what you consume. You'll also need to develop a thick skin because some people will heckle your dietary restrictions, gaslight your diagnosis, and make false assumptions about your health.
It's a lot to deal with, but millions of people do so successfully every day. And I think that as more people learn what celiac is, the easier it will become for people and communities to accept those who have the illness.
Like many people with celiac, I often feel like a burden when I turn down food that kind hosts have taken great pains to prepare or when I must explain why I can't eat what everyone else is enjoying at an event. Such conversations tend to attract unwanted attention and it makes me wonder what onlookers think. I often fear people assume I'm just trying to get attention.
Then, there's the issue of sourcing safe food. Even foods that are labeled "gluten-free" can cause painful reactions to some people with celiac. As this is the case, many people with celiac dread grocery shopping because it means driving from store to store to find safe gluten-free food, which is typically more expensive than "regular" food.
A celiac diagnosis is life changing. It means that for the rest of your existence on this planet, you must be disciplined about what you consume. You'll also need to develop a thick skin because some people will heckle your dietary restrictions, gaslight your diagnosis, and make false assumptions about your health.
It's a lot to deal with, but millions of people do so successfully every day. And I think that as more people learn what celiac is, the easier it will become for people and communities to accept those who have the illness.
Coming Soon!
I hope to share the full documentary with audiences via YouTube in late October of 2024!