Making a Difference in the Gluten-Free Community Part Two
In the interest of promoting gluten-free awareness and making our gluten-free lives more comfortable we have decided to conduct a forum of major gluten-free personalities and bloggers to answer the question: What are five ways to make a difference in the gluten-free community? This is the second installment in that series (if you missed our first guest blogger, Chad Hines, check out this link http://www.jensglutenfreeblog.com/gluten-free-activism/how-to-make-a-difference-in-the-gluten-free-community/).
We have asked Jen Cafferty to be our second guest blogger. Jen is the Branch Manager of the Gluten Intolerance Group of Greater Chicago, founder of the Gluten Free Cooking Expo, and a reporter for the Examiner. As Founder of the Gluten Free Cooking Expo, Jen works with many people in the gfree world. From moms and kids to vendors, restaurateurs and store owners, Jen lends her expertise to anyone needing help navigating the gfree world. Through her website, www.gfreelife.com, Jen provides recipes, cooking videos and advice on living a healthy and happy gfree life. She teaches gfree cooking classes, provides consultations to stores and restaurants, produces the Gluten Free Cooking Expo, and runs numerous support groups. Her current passion is helping kids understand the basics of gfree living. She is starting gfree children’s groups in the Chicago area and has informatin on her website for gfree families and kids. Jen’s entire family is gfree, even her dog! She can be reached at jen@glutenfreeclasses.com.
Here is what she had to say:
Five Ways to Make a Difference in the Gluten Free Community
Each one of us needs to learn how to be pro-active and make a difference in our gfree world. There are many easy ways that each one of us can make a difference for others and in the process, make our own gfree life better.
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.” – Albert Schweitzer
Support Groups
Seek out a local support group in your area. Both the Gluten Intolerance Group and the Celiac Sprue Association offer groups around the country. Get involved in your local group to ensure that others in your community will receive the assistance they need, especially when newly diagnosed.
If you don’t have a group in your area, consider starting a support group. I am happy to help you start a local chapter of the Gluten Intolerance Group. We recently started four branches in the Chicago area and are hosting a leadership training session this October.
Welcome Everyone
I am dismayed at how many folks get caught up in the trap of whether someone has celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or is on a gfree diet for some other reason. No matter why you are on a gfree diet, you still need to eat gfree food. When you meet someone else on a gfree diet, no matter what their diagnosis, welcome them and learn from each other. We are all on a gfree journey!
I hope that one day in the near future we can all work together as a single community to get better products at lower prices, increase lobbying efforts, and show stores and restaurants that we are large in number and loyal customers. There is power in numbers and we all need to work together for the common good.
Get to Know Your Local Chefs and Restaurant Owners
One of the best ways to build a strong gfree community is for the members of the community to educate and support your local restaurants. We all need a safe place to eat when we don’t feel like cooking or for special occasions.
When dining out, make sure to speak with the Chef and/or Manager. Explain your dietary needs and when the staff does a good job, make sure to thank them, return to the restaurant frequently, and tell others in the gfree community about the restaurant. The Celiac Scene is a great website that updates their restaurant resources regularly. Make sure to email the Celiac Scene and let them know about your great find. Also, make sure to let those in your regional area know about the restaurant.
Be a Team Member at Your Grocery or Health Food Store
Become friendly with the Owners and Managers of the place where you purchase your gfree foods. Most likely, the person purchasing the gfree food at your store does not need to be on a gfree diet. Instead of just complaining that your store carries bad products or the products are too expensive, help your store know which products you enjoy. If you enjoy the products, most likely, others will too.
Encourage your store to host a gfree tasting and offer to help them that day. Help advertise the tasting in your community so that people actually show up and support the store. The gfree community is very loyal and once they know a store wants to help, they will become loyal customers. You can help facilitate this process and ensure you are getting your favorite products in the store.
Learn How to Cook Gfree
It is essential that you learn how to prepare nutrient-dense and delicious gfree food at home. One of the most important things you can do is be prepared for any situation and this requires you to prepare your own foods and sometimes take them with you.
By learning how to make your own food, you can help others in your community by sharing recipes, cooking techniques or even starting a gfree cooking group. A cooking group is a great way to meet new people, learn new recipes and support each other on your gfree journeys. You can even start a kids gfree cooking group. There is no better way to increase community interaction than to welcome someone into your home with delicious food and start cooking together!
I started the Gluten Free Cooking Expo as a way for others to learn about gfree cooking and nutrition. Our website www.gfreelife.com will help with your gfree cooking needs. The site features recipes, videos, articles and information pertaining to gfree life and gfree cooking. The goal is to have a site that will answer all of your gfree cooking questions and be a resource for the gfree cooking community.
7 Responsesto “Making a Difference in the Gluten-Free Community Part Two”
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Hi Jen,
I am a Mom with Celiac who was diagnosed after many, many years of stomach pain. The reason I was even diagnosed was because my 17 year old (at the time..now 21) was forever in pain and complaining. I just chalked it up to what I had (which I was told was colitis). I was persistant of course with her and was lucky enough to get the diagnosis with a Gastro doc in Naperville (biopsy).
But, my real reason for writing is to tell you how much I enjoy your site. Also, I am proud to say I am a awesome GF/CF cook and love trying out new recipes. People love coming to my home for dinner and no one EVER walks out hungry. I would love to start a cooking club in my home but, I once wrote a note on one of the local websites asking if there was any Mom who just wanted to go and try out new places for lunches and never got any bites (no pun intended).
Whenever I see a new shopper at my Whole Foods (and you can usually tell because they look so scared in the GF section). I introduce myself and try to assure them that it does get better. I always carry a card with my name, email and phone number and offer myself to them if they have any worries. Just recently here in Lisle they opened a new Health Food store called Wild Bran and I went in and helped the owner with some ordering. He knows he can call me with any questions.
Well, I have taken up enough of your time…Thanks again…DEB
Dear Deb,
Thanks for your warm comment! I love the idea of a gluten-free cooking club and agree that many people would benefit!
Does anyone out there in the wheat-free world know of some great GF Cooking Clubs? Keep us posted.
Jen
Is there a reason why the Celiac Disease Foundation (www.celiac.org) was not mentioned. I live in Los Angeles and they are the most helpful and active organization here! They also have many support groups around the country that deserve recognition!!
No reason at all. There are many wonderful organizations doing so much to help people with celiac and others on a gluten-free diet, that I’m sure Jen Cafferty was just giving an example. Thank you for bringing the Celiac Disease Foundation to the attention of our readers! –Jen
my mom suffered colitis last year and it was quite an expensive disease.;”
Colitis can be prevented by just drinking lots of fluids and concentrating on high fiber diets”*~
Hi there! Thanks for sharing that important tip. I think those who suffer also find lots of relief once they give up gluten. ~J.