Eat.
This is the first year I have gone to the local fair on a gluten free diet, and needless to say (I apologize for the necessary following cliche) I was not a happy camper. I was convinced there was going to be nothing I could eat. I was going to be tagging along with my friends while they snacked on the most beautiful of fried inventions.
Goodbye fried oreos. Goodbye fried cheesecake. Goodbye fried goodness.
To be quite honest and shallow, it was slightly heartbreaking. Food is not my life, but it does add an element of pizzazz. The first two trips to the fair I did not eat a thing, but my friends began to point out foods wondering why I could not eat a baked potato, french fries, an ear of corn...etc.
Um..excellent question, so began to think of excuses. Well they could be cross contaminated. I do not know what is in the bacon bits. What if they used wheat on the corn?
Elizabeth, you are killing me.
Well after denial comes acceptance. I did not want to spend the rest of the 17 day fair not eating anything, so I began to ask.
Baked potatoes (except for the bacon bits), Check. Ear of corn, Check. Cotton Candy, Check. French Fries, Check. Kettlecorn, Check. Maple Sugar candy, Check. Ice cream, Check. And the list goes on.
There was a surprisingly diverse variety of naturally gluten free foods. By the end of the fair (prepare for necessary cliche) I was one happy camper. At first, I simply did not want to bother and ask, but I was really missing out. Sure, there were many things I could not eat, but so much that I could.
In the end, approaching someone and asking about preparation and ingredients was much easier than I anticipated.
The best part? I left the fair complaining of a full stomach.
I had not seen this post, Elizabeth, and it is very encouraging. I honestly didn't even go this year because of the same thoughts you had.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you found this encouraging. =) Just remember, you control gluten, gluten does not control you.
ReplyDelete