Comments on: Happy… Thanks… Giving!

By: Tandra Goodwin

Tandra Goodwin — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:08:16 +0000

Jennifer, I watched you on Dr. Drew last week. I immediately started eliminating gluten and feel like a new person. You see I’m 61 years old and have never been diagnosed with celiac disease, until now, you’ve changed my life. Although Dr. Drew seemed extremely harsh to you during the interview, you were persistent and stayed with the message of letting people know there is a solution. Thank you for turning adversity into a blessings.

By: Charleen Garmon

Charleen Garmon — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 15:03:51 +0000

What a great way to start my day! Thank you so much! My husband who is a disabled veteran from the Gulf War has Celiac and suffered for 20 years before he was finally told by a doctor…”Maybe you have Celiac”, but had NO plan for him, just told him to eat fruit. Well….4 years later and thousands of miles away, he is doing wonderful (but he eats more than just fruit). When he left Hawaii he was in a wheel chair and dying from malnutrition. Now, he tells everyone he feels as good as he did when he was in high school.
One of our biggest struggles is explaining to his family what we can and can’t eat so they “get it”. They just don’t get it sometimes, it can be very frustrating. Going to restaurants is a whole other issue. We have only found 3 “chain” restaurants that we feel pretty safe with, but prefer to find all gluten free restaurants when possible. But they are so expensive…$20 for a small pizza!!
I have learned to cook through all of this and even though I don’t have Celiac have learned to eat healthier and have benefited from turning our house gluten free. I look forward to trying your recipes. Thank you again!!

By: Sue R.

Sue R. — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:22:31 +0000

Hi Jennifer, if I may call you by your first name. I watch the show Blue Bloods every week! Your smart alec charater cracks me up.
I saw you this morning on “The View”. I was very enlighting. I know someone that is close to me that has been recently diagnoised with an immune disease. I’ll pass your information on to her and let her know about your website. I’m a strong believer on saying what’s on your mind. Sometimes the truth hurts but a lie will never heal! Take care.

By: Sue Robbins

Sue Robbins — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:04:40 +0000

i would like to know where I can get recipes. My hus band is newly diagnosed and I would love to thrill him with some really good meals !!!

Thanks…sue

By: Brooke

Brooke — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:21:13 +0000

I loved this story and was able to share some of it with my friends tonight at our Holiday Party/Gluten-Free Cookie exchange with the Gluten Intolerance Group of Colorado. Inevitably the conversation steered toward awkward social situations when you have a dietary issue. I encouraged everyone to read this story. You pointed out how it IS possible to balance sharing and educating others without making a huge scene or being rude!
oh, and I know which book you are talking about

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 03:09:14 +0000

Hi Jennifer, i just want to let you know that your an Angel for doing all that you do, I also was very sick, with alot of bone pain and muscle pain & weakness, which made it very difficult to walk or even get out of bed and alot fatigue, i felt useless to my daughter, and husband, I also dropped down to 101 lbs, at 48 years old , dx 3 yrs ago with Celiac, 10 years on synthroid for Hypothyroid, and now almost 2 years with Hashimoto’s and Thyroid nodules. went Dr. to Dr. but didn’t buy what they were telling me, i wasn’t a hypochondriac, anorexia, or depressed, maybe only because these so called doctors couldn’t get a clue, and there only help was to offer me pain meds, and others, which was frustrating, and i hated taking, Then later lead to 5 ulcers along with my dx of Celiac, I am the 7th out of 8 kids and I am the only Celiac, my sisters and brother, all have health issues, but none of them want to be tested, which is a shame. after what they saw me going though and how miserable i was you think they would want to. I love you’re blog and stories and about the familiar crazy man, and your right people think this is a diet and everybody want to jump on the band wagon, even though they don’t do it for the right reasons, because they don’t know about cross-contamination, you don’t make something gluten-free by peeling the skin off of fried chicken or taking croutons off a salad, like i have been told to do by a so many people, even one who was a celiac, and i told them that’s just wrong. HELLO !! It is not a gluten free fad diet. Celiac’s are not eating gluten free, because we want to and it’s the latest fad diet, it’s an auto-immune, so just because your giving us gluten free, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gluten free unless it’s without cross-contamination, then it’s 100 % gluten free.. I always like to speak up when people ask me why I bring my own food and not eat what every body else is eating and I will tell the story 10x or 100 times, and doing that i find out that somebody they know, their friend, their neighbor or one of their relative has Celiac, communication is the key, and not being afraid to speak up.. i have no problem with that, even though my 17 year old daughter tells me ” Mom know body wants to hear your story about your celiac disease over and over ” . Yes they do ! as you can guess, my daughter doesn’t have celiac disease, yet.. Thank you Jennifer, love your recipes, that are also soy and dairy free. STAY WELL
THERESA

By: Linda E

Linda E — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:40:01 +0000

Just found your blog, Jennifer, and I can really relate to your stories. My daughter was diagnosed almost two years ago when she was 11 and social situations are certainly the hardest. Heck, sitting at a lunch table with a bunch of middle schoolers is a challenge every day. She just came in to the room the other night while I was watching the episode of Blue Bloods where you went undercover. She heard me gasp when you got stabbed with the needle and I had to explain that a favorite character was in danger. (I knew, however, that Danny would save you!) Anyway, I can’t wait to tell her that you also have Celiac Disease. It does help her to know that she is not alone!

By: Theresa

Theresa — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:27:39 +0000

Hi Jennifer, i just want to let you know that your an angel for doing all that you do, I also was very sick, with alot of bone pain and muscle pain & weakness, which made it very difficult to walk or even get out of bed and fatigue, i felt useless to my daughter, and husband, I also dropped down to 101 lbs, at 48 years old , dx 3 yrs ago with Celiac, 10 years on synthroid for Hypothyroid, and now almost 2 years with Hashimoto’s and Thyroid nodules. went Dr. to Dr. but didn’t buy what they were telling me, i wasn’t a hypochondriac, anorexia, or depressed, maybe only because these so called doctors couldn’t get a clue, and there only help was to offer me pain meds, and others, which was frustrating, and i hated taking, Then later lead to 5 ulcers along with my dx of Celiac, I am the 7th out of 8 kids and I am the only Celiac, my sisters and brother, all have health issues, but none of them want to be tested, with is a shame. after what they saw me going though and how miserable i was you think that would want to. I love you’re blog and stories about familiar crazy man, and your right people think this is a diet and everybody wants to jump on the band wagon, all for the wrong reasons. HELLO !! it’s not a fad, but if it’s to get the word and out and educate people, like your blog, Celiac’s are not eating gluten free, because we want to and it’s the latest fad diet, it’s an auto-immune, so just because your giving us gluten free, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gluten free unless it’s without cross-contamination, then it’s 100 % gluten free..someone once told me that i can if i can eat the fried chicken if i peeled of the skin, i had to set them straight, no clue what so ever. I always like to speak up when people ask me why I bring my own food and not eat what every body else is eating and I will tell the story 10x or 100 times, and doing that i find out that somebody they know, their friend, their neighbor or one of their relative has Celiac, communication is the key, and not being afraid to speak up.. i have no problem with that, even though my 17 year old daughter tells me ” Mom know body wants to hear your story about your celiac disease over and over ” . Yes they do ! as you can guess, my daughter doesn’t have celiac disease, yet.. Thank you Jennifer, love your recipes, that are also soy and dairy free. STAY WELL
THERESA

By: Kimmy

Kimmy — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:43:04 +0000

Glad you were able to help that family out! I’m drooling over that care package.

My mom has celiac disease and social situations are discouraging for her as well. My tests came up negative, but I chose to go gluten free because I often had stomach problems and other symptoms – and I feel much better! When we explain why we aren’t eating or have different food, people sometimes seem understanding and interested, but most of the time, they just nod and seem like they want to move on and talk about something else. It’s frustrating, but we’ll keep trying to find ways to discuss it like you did at the charity event.

My mom and I even offer people some of our favorite goodies to show them that gluten free is not taste free, but they look at us like we’re handing them something radioactive. I don’t get it! Doctors and society as a whole need to get behind celiac disease and gluten-sensitivity as serious problems and not just another diet trend.

As you said, ever onward. We’ll keep on truckin’!

Happy Thanksgiving, and good luck with your bakery and everything else! My mom and I appreciate all that you’re doing to educate the public. And if we’re ever in NYC again, we’ll have to check out the bakery! I think there are a couple near us in the Philly area but we haven’t had a chance to visit them yet.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:44:45 +0000

I have to say, I loved this story. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!