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While it might not seem significant, a lot of my relationships with friends and family have been affected by celiac disease. For those newly diagnosed or recently on the gluten free diet, it is crucial to swifty introduce others to the new idea and explain what it is! Trust me, the majority of people you associate with want to be able to help and support you in your gluten free journey. So, how to introduce it? I'll give you some tips :)
First, try to bring it up calmly (although it doesn't necessarily have to be casual), explaining your situation. Then, move into explaining what gluten free/celiac disease actually means. It doesn't have to be an in-depth, scientific explanation, just something articulating how you don't eat gluten, and how gluten is found in wheat, barely, rye, etc. If they have questions, feel free to go deeper if they ask!
A vital thing to remember is patience is key; it can take time for people to really "get it". Even after 10+ years, I still face confusion and friction with relatives and friends about it. In my family, we always say that if you don't live it, you won't always fully understand, meaning that you're going to have to be gracious with mistakes and tolerant with questions. They care enough to ask and try!
Until next time,
Genuine GF