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Erica's message caused me to reflect on being GF and
what GF means to the average person.  Recently, in a
writing workshop I attended, a participant gave a big
sigh, announced that he was off to find food at the
local cafeteria, and lamented the fact that there
probably wouldn't be anything he could eat.  My ears
perked up, because it sounded a lot like me.  I did
not even venture to the cafeteria because I already
knew that it was pointless.

When he returned, he was giving an explanation of
gluten to some people who had gone with him.  He
mentioned that he ate spelt, and so I told him that
spelt is not GF. (he was also eating a package of Sun
Chips!).  He assured me that he was aware that spelt
had gluten, but his naturopath said it has a low
gluten content, and it was okay.

I am sure than many of you know that a GF diet (or a
pseudo-gluten-free diet) is a often recommended by
naturopaths as a remedy to various illnesses or
complaints.  I feel that this makes our lives
difficult.  I can't tell you how many people have told
me that spelt is GF and have argued the point with me.
 I showed up at a dinner party and discovered that the
hosts were about to serve me spelt pasta because the
guy in the shop insisted that it was GF.  I imagined
that someone, like the guy in the workshop, told him
that it was.

About a year ago or more in the Globe and Mail, one of
its vanity columnists complained about so-called
dietary restrictions, even making fun of people who
eat GF.  She said that people on a gluten-free diet
are "self-absorbed" and suggested quite clearly that
eating GF is a trendy thing to do.

I haven't seen the movie in question, but I am slowly
getting the feeling that people are hearing GF or
gluten-free and are thinking "health food" and "fad".
A colleage even asked me if everyone should be
following a GF diet.  It doesn't do us any good if
people equate gluten with fat or cholesterol, or worse
with fad.

It would be interesting to hear what other people have
to say about this.

Sorry for the rambling message.

Brian



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