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Most people who embark on a gluten-free lifestyle are doing so because of health issues – and that means they have little or no choice in the matter. When people are forced to make changes in their routine, especially changes that affect what they can and can’t eat, they’re not always so quick to see the joy in the adjustments.

If you’re a little gloomy about going gluten-free, you aren’t alone. But prepare yourself to read about the scores of reasons to be excited about the gluten-free lifestyle (for you impatient types, feel free to skip to Chapter 6 of this Book for a jump-start on the “Kumbaya” side of being gluten-free).

“A” is for adapting your perspective on food

If you’ve been eating gluten for a long time – say, for most of your life – then giving up foods as you know them may seem like a tough transition at first. Besides the obvious practical challenges of learning to ferret out gluten where it may be hidden, you have to deal with emotional, physical, social, and even financial challenges.

You have to do only one thing to learn to love the gluten-free lifestyle, and that’s to adjust your perspective on food just a tinge. You really don’t have to give up anything; you just have to make some modifications. The foods that used to be your favorites can still be your favorites if you want them to be, just in a slightly different form.

Or you may want to consider what may be a new and super-healthful approach for you: eating lean meats, fresh fruits, and nonstarchy vegetables. Again, you may have to tweak your perspective a bit before the diet feels natural to you, but it is, in fact, natural, nutritious, and naturally nutritious.

Savoring gluten-free flavors

People who are new to the concept of being gluten-free sometimes comment that the diet is boring. When we ask what they’re eating, their cuisine routine usually centers on carrots and rice cakes. Who wouldn’t be bored with that? That type of a diet is appalling, not appealing.

A healthful, gluten-free diet doesn’t have to be boring or restrictive. You’re not constrained to eating 32 individual portions of fruits and vegetables each day, like a rabbit nibbling nervously on carrots. If you enjoy bland foods, snaps for you. But if you think gluten-free has to be flavor-free, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Getting out and about

You don’t have to let the gluten-free lifestyle hold you back from doing anything you want to do. Well, okay, there are some things you can’t do – like eat a pizza from the place around the corner or devour a stack of gluten-laden donuts. But as far as your activities and lifestyle are concerned, you can – and should – get out and about as you always have.

For the most part, ordering out isn’t as easy as walking into a restaurant and asking for a gluten-free menu. But eating at restaurants is definitely doable, and getting easier every day; you just need to learn to special order, tune in to contamination concerns, and ask – chances are getting better all the time that they may actually have a gluten-free menu. Traveling is a breeze when you master eating at restaurants (and get a handle on language considerations, if you’re traveling abroad). Going to social events just requires a little advance planning, and holidays may barely faze you after you get the hang of going out in gluten-free style. Chapter 6 of Book I gives you more information on being gluten-free when you’re out and about.

Raising kids to love the lifestyle

Lots of ideas are key in raising happy, healthy, gluten-free kids. Some of the highlights include giving them control of their diet from day one, always having yummy gluten-free treats on hand, reinforcing the benefits of the gluten-free lifestyle (if you need some crib notes, see Chapter 6 of Book I), and remembering that they’re learning how to feel about the lifestyle from you. Promoting an optimistic outlook can instill a positive approach in them.

By the time your kids are teens, they should be in full control of the diet. The most you can do is help them understand the diet and, just as important, the implications if they choose not to follow it. Young adults away from home at college have a huge advantage these days, as many colleges and universities now feature and highlight gluten-free menu options.

Kids are flexible and resilient. Adopting a new lifestyle is usually harder for the parents than for the child.

Setting realistic expectations

Setting reasonable expectations for what life will be like after you adopt a gluten-free lifestyle is important because you will encounter challenges and you need to prepare to handle them well. Friends, family, and loved ones may not understand. They may not accommodate your diet when you hope or expect they will. You may find social events to be overwhelming at first, or you may get confused or frustrated and feel like giving up on the diet. You can overcome these trials and emerge stronger for them.

This book is the resource you need – wade your way through it, and dog-ear the pages you want to come back to when you need some practical or emotional reminders for how to deal with difficult issues. If you have an optimistic but realistic approach, you’ll encounter fewer obstacles along the way.

Arming yourself with good information

The good news is that because the gluten-free diet is exploding in popularity, you can find lots of information about it. The bad news is that not all of that information is accurate.

Be leery of what you hear and read, and check the reliability of the source on everything. If you find conflicting information – and you will – dig deeper until you find out which source is right. Just remember to keep a skeptical eye out for the good, the bad, and the completely ludicrous.