<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Oh my! My in box is FULL to bursting with enthusiastic reponses. All positive & supportive, thank goodness. After posting my little philosophical whining "opinion piece" I was little worried that I may have offended some. But thankfully, all seem to have taken my post for what it was meant to be, a little humorous sketch on human nature rather than a judgemental SLAM on anyone's eating habits. I received many affirmative responses. I'll share only a few here. -- Valerie in Tacoma ----------- I enjoyed your post....my daughter, 18 and recently dx'd, is studying nutrition in college and just realized that you can't simply remove the gluten to be healthy.......you have to maintain a healthy diet and be vigilant to be a healthy celiac. --Kathy ----------- Hilarious! --Karen B. ----------- You Go Girl! I believe this is an important message to get out there! Those of us with autoimmune problems, malabsorption issues, etc... should strive to eat as healthy as possible. It drives me crazy that people search high and low for gf tater tots, gf mac&cheese, gf white bread (none of which have any fiber, vitamins, healthy fats, minerals....). I, myself, tend to fall back on gf crackers and Envirokidz bars for my afternoon snack and have been considering switching to a brown/wild rice mix (pre-made) or a handful of almonds or an apple instead. And I worry about insoluble fiber... like in wheat bran. I need to try to incorporate rice bran or maybe flax seeds into my diet somehow.... Anyway, thanks for the reminder to us all to BE HEALTHY not just GF! --Pam in Illinois -------------- How true, the same goes for me. Sometimes I fall off the "wagon" but when I get back on it again, life is much better. --Mary Rosser Furr ------------------- This is so true, Valerie! Our family is doing so much better than so many of the GF folks around us who eat all the GF sweets and treats. We really stick to the whole, organic foods and we're all getting healthier and stronger. Thanks for summing it up! --Deborah in OKC -------------------- You are SO RIGHT!!! The same happened to me: I would eat, and eat, and EAT, and I put on 20 lbs that I havenīt been able to shed ever since... So Iīm back to lunching with one apple and a yoghurt... Hope it works. --M Greaves --------------- I found out very early that I feel best if I avoid the GF processed foods that are made for celiacs. I eat whole foods and my junk foods are things like popcorn and occasional potato chips. I usually snack on fruits and veges. --Anne ------------------ This is soooo true. I thought once I was gf everything would be better. Instead I got worse and worse, developing more and more food allergies. I read that some people had to rotate foods and do this and that, but I thought no not me! Needless to say I ended up sicker! Am finally on the path to wellness though with whole foods, rotating foods and watching the junk. Thanks for the smile --Londa, Michigan ------------------- or to help us through this, shouldn't it be "wine, wine, wine"??? ha. --Jan ----------------- So true! After I started having to spend money on GF food, however, I felt pretty stupid with a Mountain Dew or other indiscretion in my hand. Now I use the organic cage free eggs, and buy more organic veggies, and better meats, cold pressed olive oil, and just skip the bad GF stuff unless I need to serve it for social reasons. It helps save $$ too. --Olive ----------------- Thanks for the creative story. Good for you Valerie. I am a Celiac since 1997 and am also a dietitian. I have other health problems to, but I fight the good fight every day. Gluten free is not always healthy. I am amazed at the junk food being sold in health food stores. We all need to take responsibility for our own health. --Gloria ------------- hahahahaha well sweetie, not only do you have to exercise self restrait - but your whole body to boot! an apple a day... *Please provide references to back up claims of a product being GF or not GF*