As someone who is gluten free, what is the hardest thing about the lifestyle change to you?
For me, it was and continues to be dealing with gluten intolerance in a world intolerant to gluten-intolerance – read that over – did you get it?
I mean, keeping myself from being glutenated in a world full of gluten, and uneducated about gluten intolerance.
When I first found out I was gluten intolerant I was at a complete loss – I was not yet online and did not know about all the great resources and people I have now found. I felt alone and lost and unable to eat or use products that I’d been depending on all my life. At the time, the major grocery stores had not started carrying the range of gluten free products they now carry, and I had recently gone dairy free. I remember on the brink of weeping at the grocery store, many times, just trying to figure out what I could eat.
Even more than five years later, I’m still discovering food and cosmetic products that I can use safely. Every time I find something new that does not react with my skin or make my gut go crazy I celebrate a little inside with a small ticker tape parade in my head. That’s because it just feels so good to know that there are companies out there that fully understand gluten intolerance and celiac disease rather than just skimming the surface (as is the popular thing to do, even with many food products).
This is one reason I was SO excited to learn about the upcoming Toronto Gluten Free Expo on Sept 30, 2012 at the Double Tree (by Hilton) on Dixon Road. Over 100 gluten-free companies will be there – ready and waiting for all your interrogations and excitement – a chance to ask all the questions you have, try gluten-free samples and generally enjoy a gluten-free day with your family and/or loved ones while not having to worry about being glutenated. When else would you have this opportunity? You may actually feel “normal” (for the want of a better word) for one full day – a nice change from the neurotic, nervous consumer you may/may not have become on a daily basis. Wouldn’t that be a relief?
I will be there, I can guarantee you that – and if you’re going, feel free to tweet me so that we can meet up and share a completely gluten-free hug if you wish (I promise to dress and act like people that day 
)! You can pick up tickets off of the Gluten Free Expo website, or ask any questions you may have here in the comments, on the Gluten Free Expo Facebook Page or on the Gluten Free Expo Twitter Account.
Oh, if you’re unable to come to the Toronto Expo, feel free to check out the website for Canada’s Original and Largest Gluten Free Expo for dates of the Vancouver and Calgary Expos as well as more information on the Expos and the opportunity to sign up for their email newsletter.
Alternatively (or also), feel free to try to win one pair of free tickets to the Toronto Gluten Free Expo on Sept. 30/2012 courtesy of the Gluten Free Expo and Bewildered Bug by entering the rafflecopter form below. It really is quite simple and easy – and I hope to see you there!!!!