Three years into being gluten and dairy-free and still there are slips; reminders that I cannot play around or be cavalier without a price to pay.
Back when this was all new and I lamented the things I'd miss, I'd have said that the gluten would be the hardest to give up, (true), and the most missed, (not true). Turns out it's dairy, and specifically cheese, that is my lost love.
I push the envelope now and again, because in theory I can consume some cheese, micro amounts really, without consequence. But then I get cocky, (or a little tipsy), and I have too much. Which is uncomfortable, but manageable.
It's gluten that will kill my gut and make the following 72 hours fairly uncomfortable. Maybe it was the combination of being too indulgent with cheese, or what M believes, (hidden gluten), but the better part of this week has been spent with a stomach thing.
Sunday we were invited for drinks with friends, (an impromptu invitation), which turned into being invited to stay for dinner. This is where I get into trouble with food: when we're invited to a friends' home last minute.
Normally I'd make sure I'd eaten enough before so that it wouldn't be awkward. But we ran out of the house last minute and I arrived hungry, my first mistake. Then there was the cheese, which I thought I was restrained with, and my kid said with this look, 'oh no, you ate A LOT'. So there was that.
I knew the meat was off limits, almost all brown sauces and marinades that are from a bottle have either wheat or gluten products of some sort.
But I watched the fish as it was prepared. Or I thought I had. M swears there was some sort of soy-ish teriyaki on the fish, maybe the wine goggles I was wearing obscured my vision.
It makes sense considering I'm the only person out of five who has been sick. And the point of my very long and assuredly boring story here is the reminder that I need to put myself first; even when, (especially when), it's uncomfortable.
And there's a very gentle, yet obvious, note to myself that I need to take good care. That despite my youthful thinking and feelings, my body needs to treated a bit more tenderly.
Yes cheese tastes really really good, but this feeling? This week of being basically out of commission? Not so much.
