<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Celiac ABC's<9> --------------- by Suzyn Dobroski I have a two year old. He is a happy little guy who has made his mother somewhat crazy by his constant rendition of the "ABC" song. It is because of this ever present melody (which lingers while drifting to sleep...I count letters instead of sheep), that I believe the following came to fruition.--Suzyn Dobroski A is for abstinence. Why mess with the enemy? If in doubt, keep it out of your mouth! B is for Bette [Hagman]. Our great one, the GF cooking guru. She has made our culinary challenges less frustrating and more delicious. C is for companion. Make friends with another who has the disease. I guarantee it will be a bonding experience. My "celiac maniac" friend and I frequently bake for one another. The food not only satisfies our stomach, but also nurtures our souls. D is for denial. It is normal to challenge the final diagnosis with a juicy donut or take out pizza. For this reason, the buddy system is strongly recommended. E is for education. Utilize every opportunity to be a teacher of the gluten-free way. F is for flatulence. Your aromatic "expressions" will no longer keep family and friends at a distance. G is for gratitude. Give thanks each day for a "disability" that does not require drug intervention. Vigilance for what we place in our mouth is the prescription. H is for healing. Once diagnosed and the prescription for a healthy life is understood, the intestine does repair [usually-ed.]. Life expectancy is that of a person without the disease. I is for inconvenient. Learn to plan ahead for travel away from home or for those spur of the moment gatherings. Keep a survival bag in your car...crackers, fruit, or instant GF soup. J is for jolly. Try to keep a sense of humor. It's gluten-free, calorie-free, and fat free! K is for kissing. Beware of sealing your lips to one who is devouring the enemy! L is for lemons turned to lemonade. Don't throw out those baking failures. Grind up sunken bread for bread crumbs. Save those crumbly cookies for pie crust! M is for malabsorption. That little slice of pizza, that one bottle of beer, or a pill taken daily may not cause immediate, catastrophic symptoms. However, be forewarned: There is a cumulative effect. The absorption of vitamins WILL be inhibited and cause damage, however minor, from the get go. N is for nutrition. We can't deny the fact that this diet is a very healthy one and the envy of others who don't have the "excuse" to eat more "clean" foods. O is for optimism. Become aware of all that you CAN eat. Diversify your eating! Try out new ethnic cuisines like Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, or Indian. P is for practice. Baking with our special flours is an art, much like any other culinary skill. Be patient and persevere! Q is for question. When confronted with a food item you are unsure about, stand up and be heard. Q is also for quiet. Please make your concerns heard in a mannerly fashion. R is for reimbursement. Some companies are now including this medically necessary diet as one of the eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses from pre-tax dollars. Interested? Ask your employer. S is for support. The celiac community is thriving today because of local, national, and international support groups. Get involved! [Amen and Hallelujah!-ed.] T is for transition. Be gentle with yourself as you make the necessary dietary changes. Realize mistakes will be made. U is for understanding. Give GF cookbooks to family members as gifts. They may invite you to dinner more often! V is for victim. Make every bad experience dealing with this medically necessary diet an opportunity to be proactive. For instance, get to know the manager at the grocery store you frequent. When a favorite item is suddenly gone from the shelves, let them know you miss it and want it back even if it means placing an individual order. W is for whimsical. Products and their ingredients change frequently. Be aware of this when ingesting products from even the most recent GF consumer product guides. X is for xanthan gum. Don't run out. Your neighbor is not likely to have it in their cupboard! Y is for you. Weeks often go by and I realize I haven't taken time to bake bread or cookies for myself. Make the way you must eat a priority. Z is for zany. Don't believe anyone who tells you, "You'll grow out of it!"