I was diagnosed with Celiac disease eight years ago.  In those eight years I have found the landscape for the gluten-intolerant has transformed into a much more user friendly place.  This is evident in not only the volume of gluten-free food products available today, but also in the variety and quality of products on the market.  I think it's fair to say that gluten-free is officially entering mainstream.  Most mainstream grocery stores either now have or are in the process of sectioning out 'natural food' sections, which usually include gluten-free items.  The old days of on line ordering are not gone, but they no longer have to be our primary resource for purchasing gluten-free food products.

Now that's exciting stuff, but even more exciting are the changes I've experienced in restaurants over the past few months as I travel locally and across the country.  In the past, eating out has been one of the most difficult challenges a gluten - intolerant individual must face. Not only do many restaurants now have gluten-free menus or menu items, but food sensitivity knowledge is finally reaching the server!   The blank stare you get when you ask if they think there might be anything on the menu that is gluten-free is apparently on the way out.  I'm even been thrilled when they now answer my question, "Ooo, that's going to be a tough one here, probably not."

As fabulous as all this is, it pales in comparison to my evening out a few weeks ago.  My usual program when facing an evening out, is to first try to find a restaurant in the area that I have some shot of getting a gluten-free meal or at least part of one.  This particular evening my husband and I planned to meet a couple of friends at a jazz club.  The venue is a dinner performance and because we were running late, I didn't have time to eat before the show.  So, my back up plan was to go for a salad and enjoy the show anyway.  When the server arrived at our table, I leaned over and gave my typical speech, "Excuse me, but I have serious allergies to gluten, would you please ask the chef if there is anything on your menu that might be gluten-free?" I'm now waiting for the blank stare, or at best a plain green salad.  The server smiles and says, "Oh, no problem , we have several entrees and items on our menu that are marked gluten-free." Say what?  Upon opening the menu, I found that there were several entrees, salads, appetizers and even dessert clearly marked gluten-free.  Wow!  We have arrived.  I'm sure everyone except my husband thought I was very strangely and easily amused as I gleefully made my dinner selections and consumed my meal with great enjoyment.

We all know that living gluten-free is not easy, but it is getting easier every year as we emerge from the obscure niche market of the past into mainstream.  The writing is on the wall and evident in changes for the positive every day as awareness for Celiac disease and gluten-intolerance become more common place.   It is a good time to be gluten-free.

-Glutenfreeda