****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This is the book about living gluten free that I wish had been around when I was diagnosed 4 years ago! Although there are many great books out there for the newly diagnosed, Erica gives us a practical (and humorous) account of all she has learned about needing to be strictly gluten free due to Celiac Disease. This book is full of practical advice and includes information about how to be successful in dining outside of the home, navigating travel, surviving holidays, gluten free dating, grocery shopping and cooking, and how to find support. She is upfront and honest about all of the mistakes she has made during her gluten free life and about the emotional rollercoaster that we all ride on when we have to be gluten free for health reasons like Celiac Disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. She does not sugarcoat things, and if you want a "peaches and cream" version of living life with Celiac Disease, this is not the book for you. She tells the real story.As a Celiac Disease advocate, Erica really stresses the necessity for all of us to be advocates for our own health. She demonstrates that it is crucial to speak up to servers, restaurant managers, family members, etc. about our dietary needs and to use every encounter as an opportunity to educate and increase awareness. Like Erica, I have had to leave restaurants in tears due to unintentional "glutenings" and misunderstandings. Reading her experiences was a great reminder that none of us are alone in this. We can all put ourselves in her shoes.Although I literally just finished this book, I plan to purchase several copies to share with my non Celiac family members and friends, as I feel that through reading it that they will gain a better understanding of what it is like to live with Celiac Disease. And that, yes, I (and all Celiacs) can get sick from exposure to "just one crumb."I had to opportunity to briefly meet Erica in person at a recent large Celiac Disease conference, and she has truly as awesome in person as she is on paper. Please check out her book and help to spread the word. I promise you will not be disappointed!
