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My Story - by Shirley Hartung
Having a child
with multiple allergies, as a mom, I learned very
quickly the emotional stress, not to mention the cost
in terms of time and money that goes with not being
able to eat a so called "normal" diet.
As a result of having to cope with such a diet on
a daily basis, I came to have an understanding and
empathy for others in a similar dilemma. As a result
of this, I decided to take on
"diet dilemmas" as a challenge, and to do
what I could to help others with similar problems.
The result being hours of research and
experimentation in the kitchen, culminating in a
series of cookbooks specifically geared for specialty
diets.
I encourage other moms who are frustrated and
don’t have the time, energy or desire to do the
leg-work required in keeping up with the latest
products and information which can make life better
by offering a wider variety, being made aware of
unsafe choices because of a hidden offending
ingredient, etc.
I often think of the saying "if you get a
lemon make lemonade", (unless your allergic to
lemons or sugar!), and illustrate this attitude in my
work, giving people not only help but a message of
hope.
Having written "Cookies Naturally", a
book dedicated to those with food allergies, I
decided I wanted to include other diet dilemmas in my
next book – Celiac Disease being one of these. I
knew that this would be very challenging, yet I felt
strongly about including it as an important part of
the book because of the experience that my friend
Linda had been through before being properly
diagnosed. Not only was her body physically assaulted
by the disease, but emotionally she was devastated.
When nothing was working in terms of making her feel
better, people started telling her that it was all in
her head and she started to believe it. No wonder she
reported feeling "very alone".
Meanwhile, she was dying from malnutrition, losing
5 pounds a week, going from a Size 10 to a Size 6,
and at 46 years of age, when she was finally properly
diagnosed as having Celiac’s Disease, she
weighed a mere 70 pounds. Strict adherence to a
gluten-free diet was prescribed and although
Linda’s health began to improve, she also
discovered that she was dairy intolerant so had to
avoid milk based products as well. In addition, nuts,
bananas, grapefruit, alcohol, MSG, tea and coffee
have to be avoided because of migraines which they
triggered. Linda, now healthy once again weighs 120
pounds (the most she has ever weighed) and can look
forward to continued good health as long as she stays
on a gluten-free diet for life.
This alone is no small feat as absolutely NO
gluten in any form is allowed. Gluten is found in all
grains we commonly use and know best – wheat,
rye, oats and barley as well as their derivatives.
Gluten is also often found in unsuspecting places
such as medicines, etc.
I decided that I would do my best to help Linda
and others like her by including 38 recipes that can
be made gluten-free, as well as substitutes for a
variety of ingredients such as milk, corn etc, as
often Celiac’s have allergies to deal with in
addition to their gluten intolerance.
In writing No Grain No Pain, a book dedicated exclusively to those requiring a gluten-free diet, I chose to let those with celiac disease tell the way it really is. In giving them a voice, I hope not only will the public become more educated to the realities of the disease, but that this book will give hope especially to those who are newly diagnosed.
In the past, celiac disease has not been well understood.Yet, as of 2003, there are more than 6000 members who belong to the Canadian Celiac Association, with almost 100 new members joining monthly. Still, there are many people who have never heard of this disease.
It is my prayer that No Grain No Pain, will be a tool that will
a helpful source of information for medical practitioners,as well as for friends and family of those with celiac disease.
Shirley Hartung
shirley@edible-options.com
Shirley Hartung is the author of "No Grain No Pain", "Cookies Naturally", "Muffins From The Heart", and "A Gluten Free Companion to Cookies Naturally".
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