Today is a special guest post by Catalin Varela, an expat with celiac disease currently living in Italy. It’s been a number of years since I’ve been to Italy but I have fond memories of all the wonderful, gluten-free food I ate while traveling there. Many people are surprised that you can eat gluten-free so easily in Italy, but it’s true! Catalin’s tips below are a great starting place for anyone interested in traveling to and eating gluten-free in Italy.
Continue reading “Guest Post: Tips for Traveling as a Celiac in Italy”Tag: Celiac
Gluten-Free Living – An American Perspective
I was recently interviewed by Annika Dhariwal, founder of Gluten Free Jio, for her webinar series featuring gluten-free and celiac experts from across the globe. I was very honored to share my experience of growing up with celiac disease with her audience and the history behind Gluten-Free Globetrotter. We talked about celiac disease as a child, traveling the world, and differences between India and the United States. It was a very interesting conversation.
Annika is a celiac teenager from India who is currently studying at boarding school in the United Kingdom. She shares my love of traveling and doesn’t let celiac disease stop her from seeing the world. When I asked Annika the meaning of her website name “Gluten Free Jio,” I just loved her explanation.
“Gluten Free Jio means to live gluten free. Jio in Hindi means to live. The idea behind this is to spread awareness about living a gluten free life in India and share my story and experiences of living in a boarding school and traveling as a celiac.”
Annika Dhariwal, founder of Gluten Free Jio
You can read Annika’s moderator notes here and watch the video below. You can also find the interview on YouTube.
Thank you for listening!
Gluten-Free Globetrotter WEGO Health Awards 2021 Nominee
I am beyond honored to announce I have been nominated for multiple awards in the 10th Annual WEGO Health Awards including “Advocating for Another,” “Lifetime Achievement Award” and “Best Team Performance.” (I have also been nominated for Best in Show: Podcast, but I don’t have a podcast. Maybe this is a hint to start one?!) This is an especially meaningful nomination since I have been involved with WEGO Health for more than 10 years now!
Continue reading “Gluten-Free Globetrotter WEGO Health Awards 2021 Nominee”Forty Years of Living with Celiac Disease
As of today, I have officially been living with celiac disease and eating gluten-free for forty years.
YES, you read that correctly… FORTY YEARS.
“But how, you don’t look a day over 29?” I know, right?
But all joking aside, I use July 9, 1981 as my celiac anniversary because I have the medical records to prove it. When my mother sold my childhood home seven years ago, I came across my pediatric medical records which was basically as thick as a phone book. (Remember those?)
As I flipped through my medical records, two entries that stopped me in my tracks.
7/9/81: Dx celiac
7/17/81: Most likely celiac disease, responding well to gluten free diet
Celiac Awareness Month 2021: Sharing My Story (part 1)
In honor of Celiac Awareness Month, I thought I would share part of my celiac disease story. (If you follow me on Instagram, you my have read some of this already!)
