Last week I found out gluten is forbidden for me. Since then, I’ve been struggling to comprehend just how much my life is going to have to change. Here are just a few of the aggravating ways. And not to forget to be grateful, I’ve listed some of the positive ways below. Because it’s not all bad – or at least, it won’t be.

• I have to read the label on anything that goes near my mouth.
• I will spend hours reading, researching, cooking, and baking.
• Grocery shopping taking twice as long with all the reading and googling I have to do.
• I have to replace half of my kitchen pantry.
• I can no longer shop at the bulk food store.
• My grocery bill is going to fly through the Milky Way.
• My local health food store owner could retire on my purchases.
• I can (mostly) no longer eat out.
• I have to ask the restaurant a thousand questions if I do.
• Eating at someone’s house is just going to be easier if I bring my own food or bring a few dishes. Cross contamination of gluten is evil with a capital E – even scrubbing the cutting board after using it to slice bread might not prevent pesky gluten molecules from transferring into my meal – they can burrow into a wooden cutting board or spoon and hang out for a surprisingly long time. Did I mention I have to replace all of mine? And I haven’t figured out what to do about my toaster. Am I really going to give up toast (the gluten-free variety)? I love toast. I do, however, have sparse counter space and adding a second toaster isn’t really an option.
• If I can eat at a social gathering, I’m going to have to run over folks to bolt to the front of the serving line before the food gets cross contaminated. Granny is going to think my manners have gone to hell. And I can never go back for seconds. Or thirds.
• I’m really going to miss lazy Sunday mornings out for Dim Sum.
• I’m really going to miss grabbing a quick snack or meal if I don’t feel like cooking.
• I am going to have to feel like cooking. ALL. THE. TIME.

I know this has been a bit of a grumbly post, but there are good things here, too:

• I will eat healthier
• My family will eat healthier
• It could have been one hell of a lot worse
• I will avoid health complications later in life
• I get to shop for some new kitchen stuff!
• I will feel better
• More energy is sure to follow
• I may not have to sleep 9 hours every night
• This will give me more writing time
• And more time for cooking healthy
• And everything else joyful

I’m looking forward to it – I am. It’s just an adjustment, and, like everything, that takes a little bit of time.