Hey I am 16 years old and my name is AnnaBelle, and I was just diagnosed right before school got out that I have celiacs disease, it is so hard for me just to feel normal, and I hate going to resturants with friends and on dates when I always have to order differently, which is uncomfortable to me. I think this is one of the hardest diseases to have for a teenager, and I dont like it, but it is also so hard to prepare meals for myself as well and for my dad who has celiacs just as well, my moms over my shoulder and is saying to tell ya'll I really misss pizza! lol, and she says if anyone has recipes to make sure ya'll fill me in with that, lol. But ya, I'm just glad everytime I get on here and see that I'm not the only one here with celiacs, I just feel as if it's ruined not only my body but my childhood as well, I hate this disease, and if you have any comments to make me feel better about having it, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a ton!
~~~AnnaBelle~~~

Hi annabelle, i'm 15 and have been diagnosed for about 8 months. i know at first it is hard to feel normal, thats why it nice to talk to other people who are dealing with the same thing exspecially other people who are your same age, but over time you wont feel so weird. and i'm sure you'll find tons of recipes of pizza that are gluten free but i do warn you that not all of them will be so good. lol well feel free to e-mail me i like talking to other people my age with this too my address is twin_kassie2@hotmail.com.
~Kassie~

HI AnnaBelle,
Yes it totally sucks that you have a disease that sets you apart! The good news - it will get better and easier esp when you feel better over time. I have two kids - they both have celiac, one also has diabetes.
For them, the first year was hard, esp when they were subjected to my baking failures - first pizza crust I made from scratch tasted like cardboard. Then I found good recipe but didn't bake the crust first - just put toppings on ....sigh...best to read the directions
My kids love the kinnickinnick pizza mix as well as their frozen ones. They also carry donuts and muffins - carrot muffins and choc chip are very good.

http://www.kinnikinnick.com/

Its been way easier now that we know which restaurants to go into, what to order etc.

Brown rice noodles are great - we made lasgana yesterday with the brown rice noodles, served it to guests and they never knew.

Maybe when you get together with friends - scope out restaurants in your area and talk to the staff ahead of time - so that you dont have to be "center of attention" when making an order. Talk to your friends about it and educate them - basically you have decided to eat healthy and focus on the foods you can have.
It helps ...... but allow yourself time - you are restricted with your eating and at an age where being cool doesnt include knowing all the forms of hidden gluten
Have food in your house that can make fun snacks when you get together - my kids love corn chips and cheese, one likes salsa with that, fresh fruit and veges, varieties of cheese, sliced meat, gluten-free cupcakes for comfort food moments , Bette Hagman has great recipe books - veryone (non celiac too) loves the gingersnaps I make using her recipe. Glutino makes gluten-free pretzels.

Hang in there, lean on mom and you will surprise yourself how smart you are at eating healthy after time has passed. You sound mature for 16 - because you already have enough introspection to recognize your feelings of loss (of "normal" eating freedom), you reached out for support and it sounds like your family is supportive, your 16 and now you have something that sets you apart

In spite of all that - you are following the diet and wanting to stick with it - you go girl!!!!!!! Your body will love you for it .

Dont know if this helps - just wanted to say "hang in there"

Hi AnnaBelle, It is hard at first I'm still learning. I havn't been diagnosed for that long and am still in the progress of healing. I also have multiple food allgeries and being a celiac looks easy compared to all the allergies I have and all the other foods I have to avoid like soy, dairy, and peanuts. Soy is in like everything.
Good luck with everything! And feel free to email me at always_lost_in_music@yahoo.com I love meeting new people especially people who have celiacs and know what I'm goin through. Its just nice to talk to people who are going through the samething and I think it helps to talk to them. Everyone on the board is really nice!

Beth

Welcome AnnaBelle! (Beautiful name, by the way )

I'll be 16 in a month. I know how ya feels. I get nervous in social events, thinking I'm going to get sick or someone's gonna throw some kind of gluten filled food at me for spite. Trust me. With time, this becomes so much easier that you sometimes forget that you actually have Celiac Disease in an anyway. It is a real challenge. The social world of teenagers revolves around, dum dum dum, food!!!

At first, I thought it ruined by life. But, It's helped me so much to eat more healthier. I can't stand all these grease-covered foods anymore. It's just another thing in life that ya gotta learn to deal with. Don't worry. Stick to the gluten-free diet and your body will heal.

If any you need anything, feel free to PM me

-Ash

I agree that you will be so much better in the long run (celians or not) with eating healthier...just think...one day you'll want to get married and you won't have to lose those "extra pounds" to fit into your favorite wedding dress...one day you just might have children and you won't have to worry about shedding those "extra pregnancy pounds"...just remember it's all how you look at things, and from the sounds of it, you already are headed in the right direction And as for pizza...oh let me tell ya, whom ever mentioned kinnickinnick pizza crusts (i buy the frozen) definitely knows there pizza!! It's actually tastier than any fast food delivery pizza out there!! And if you buy a jar of pizza sauce just sprinkle a little sugar (about the size of your pinky nail) over it before adding your favorite toppings and loading on the cheese...Mmmmm i think i'm going to have that for dinner tonight! Good Luck and we're all here for you

AnnaBelle,
Welcome, it is such a relief to find this place and have so many understanding people listening! As everyone says, you will get used to this, and having supportive parents helps a great deal. But I know and I'm sure you do tool, sometimes you just wanna scream and reach for the french fries and chicken nuggets (at least I do). Don't do it! You can be strong, and you can still enjoy so many good foods out there. Plus, your body will thank you for letting it heal.
My favorite pizza crust is from the Gluten Free Pantry (it's a french bread and pizza mix). Chebe mixes are also very good. I like their cheese bread. I make my own pizzas about every week. It's not the same as pizza hut, but it's still very good. I also like to make what I call "Pizzadillas" which are quesadillas with pizza sauce and canadian bacon inside. I make them by broiling both sides until the tortillas get crunchy. I love 'em! And they're lots quicker than pizza.
You'll find lots of good recipes and tips here. Do some searches for your fave foods, and pay attention to what the top faves are around here. Tinkyada pasta is the best according to most, kinnickinnick makes good hamburger buns and bagels, and amazon .com has good deals on grocery. Some good websites to search for recipes are epicurious.com (wheat free search) and allrecipes.com. I literally have enough printoffs to make a book from all the good recipes I've found.
Just remember, it will get easier. And in no way are you alone! Good luck to you

Hey Annabelle
I know how you feel. When i first went to restaurants with my friends and had to order differently it was so embarassing and i hated doing it, but after a while you get used to it. A few things I have found that i love are Brown Rice tortillas from Foods For Life, I use them for sandwhiches, Pamelas cookies, also you said you're missing pizza, Amy's makes a great gluten-free pizza that i love. Hope it helps.

Good Luck with everything!

I know how you feel too, I'm 16 and recently diagnosed. I think the hardest part will probably be adjusting to it, and after that process is over it'll be easier to cope with. I've found that brown rice pasta is very tasty, and I like to have that with a tomato sauce or in soups, and you can make it into all sorts of dishes. Also, Indian food is very good, especially if you're a vegetarian/vegan (like me), it's got a lot of rice and beans and lots of spices like curry and ginger. It's been a whole new experience for me, especially since I really enjoy cooking, I've learned a whole new way of cooking that's probably a lot healthier and still tasty.

Good luck learning to adjust!

I use the chebe bread mix to make pizza crust - great for hors d'oeuvres, too.

Hey 2kidsforme!
I'm Anne Marie and I'm almost your daughter's age, 13. I was just diagnosed with diabetes and celiac.....any words of advice?
Thanks!
Anne Marie
ps> my e-mail is ktscleary@sc.rr.com

i'm 16, if anyone wants to e-mail me my e-mail is celiacmolly08@mac.com and i have been diagnosed for almost 15 years so i know a lot of the diet and how to deal with almost all social situations. i'm always at my e-mail, i have slwed down the celiac.coming cause i have a lot of homework this year, but i will check my e-mail and respond within a day or two, oh and don't send me PMs froom here i NEVER check them!

~molly

hey, yeah i no wot u mean wit feeling uncomfortable ordering different things and having to make sure everything is gluten-free. im 16 and i was only diagnosd bout3 months ago. but i suppose im a bit luckier than u cauz i have Hells Pizza a pizza shop that has gluten-free bases, so i can still have pizza. u could always try to make ur own pizza it would be interesting.lol
i cook most of my dinners and i find myself making the same things and using alot of rice.lol.
aniway, i say if people have a problem with us asking whatz in a meal or they find it weird , then they arnt worth it or they need to learn manners, or if itz the waiter/ss then just go to a different resturant.
if ya wanna talk just gimmie a mail.

It will get easier with time, I promise. I was diagnosed when I was 13 I thought my world was going to end! I have now been on a gluten free diet for 18 years and can tell you in my sleep what I can eat and what I can't.
When I was diagnosed it was considered extremely rare and there was only the energy brand bread available and it was horrible. Times sure have changed since then. You will feel so much better in time as your stomach heals.


-Laurie

AnnaBelle, it gets much easier!! Im 17 and I totally know what ya mean about going on dates. Just let your date know that you have celiac disease and that you must avoid gluten. Ohh and I suggest when you go out on a date, you pick where you are going to eat, you dont want him picking a restaurant where you can't eat anything!! And explain to your friends how serious the disease is, explain to them that if you dont stick to your diet that you will get sick or sometimes develop other diseases if the diet is not being followed. If you want to talk to IM me at Coach x Cutie or email me at Maggs11189@yahoo.com

Just one suggestion: I don't know if I'd call it "Celiac disease." Yes, I know it's counter-intuitive to the whole point of raising awareness, and I know I'll probably get a flood of replies on how if they really like you they won't care, but that's not the point. I just think the word "disease" scares people a little. I prefer to explain it as being like a food allergy, just because people know about food allergies and the way you need to deal with them is very similar to how you deal with celiac disease. If they know what Celiac actually is, they'll see right through your simplified explanation: a few people (just friends, not dates) have known someone who has celiac disease and talking about an allergy to wheat, rye, etc. will them to say "Oh, allergic to gluten? My [insert relative or friend here] has that. What's it called again?" Even explaining the dietary restrictions as a food allergy, I've been asked if it's contagious through kissing--throw out the word disease and you might scare them, even if they're well-intentioned. For external purposes, it's basically like a food allergy--why use words that have the connotation of being contagious or too serious. Also, even if it seems uncomfortable ordering differently, they want to help you out and it doesn't have to be a big deal.

HI all of you...i am 13 years old(going on 14) and i have celiac..i have had it since i was almost 2 i have learned...that if i eat gluten...i get really sick...so i just learned not to...and being a girl with this eating disorder isnt the best feeling in the world...well any of you guyz have questions e-mail me @ hunterhalverson@hotmail.com i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to answer u'r questions...i REALLY want to go to 1 of those walk/runs...but they are way far away from me...if i could get a group started...even to just meet like once a year...it would be SO MUCH FUN! i really know only like three other people who have what i have...so i REALLY want to meet more people...

Hope i can help!,
Hunter

I make pizza with Kinnikinnick pizza crusts. I use gluten-free Kraft pizza sauce and then my favorite toppings. They are really good!

I'm 14 almost 15 with celiac, and i say its just as bad socially as not cuz whenever you wanna go out to eat its way hard but i've learned that at wendys, you can get any burger with no bun, just ask them to wear clean gloves and also the chili, frosties, mostof the salads, and lots of otyher stuff is ok. The only real big problem with oriental food is soy sauce, terryaki is no good. Is there ANYONE on this site from UTah? besides me?

~LIZZIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this site~

hi i have celiac and my dad has it like me too we find it really hard to make it with going out to eat and stuff it really bothers me it stinks! i wish it was a bad person and i was a cop and it did bad things and got sent to death row lol

QUOTE(~~~AnnaBelle~~~ @ Aug 21 2006, 12:12 PM)

Hey I am 16 years old and my name is AnnaBelle, and I was just diagnosed right before school got out that I have celiacs disease, it is so hard for me just to feel normal, and I hate going to resturants with friends and on dates when I always have to order differently, which is uncomfortable to me. I think this is one of the hardest diseases to have for a teenager, and I dont like it, but it is also so hard to prepare meals for myself as well and for my dad who has celiacs just as well, my moms over my shoulder and is saying to tell ya'll I really misss pizza! lol, and she says if anyone has recipes to make sure ya'll fill me in with that, lol. But ya, I'm just glad everytime I get on here and see that I'm not the only one here with celiacs, I just feel as if it's ruined not only my body but my childhood as well, I hate this disease, and if you have any comments to make me feel better about having it, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a ton!
~~~AnnaBelle~~~

Hi Annabelle,
Welcome to the board! Like others have said it does get much better. The food has come a long way in the two years since I found out I had celiac. I am not sure where you are but if you can get your hands on some Tikyada pasta (I probably didn't spell it right though), some glutino pretzels, grainless baker products if you are in the Northeast part of the US, those taste a lot like food you ate in your pre-celiac days.
We can help you out with any questions just give a shout.

I'm 16 and was diagnosed when I was 2 years old so I don't even remember what wheat foods taste like. My advice:
1. DO NOT say you have Celiac disease unless you're talking to a doctor or a very close friend who's not going to shun you because you say the word "disease". Say that you're allergic to wheat.
2. Kinnikinnik 's white sandwhich bread looks very similar to regular bread and it tastes GREAT. Most of my friends get really confused when they see me eating it because they're like, "I thought you were allergic to bread" lol
3. Don't worry - the gluten free food world has gotten 100 times better. When I was really little, everything was DISGUSTING, but now there's a lot of very tasty foods.

Good luck!

Hey AnnaBelle...I'm Alyssa. Im 15 (permit in July, yay!) I was (self)Diagnosed 5 months ago...It is really difficult at school, b/c ppl dont understand...I know how you feel. People are really dumb sometimes. They assume Im allergic to everything, but I just say, "NO!, THERES JUST GLUTEN IN EVERYTHING!" but my mom has celiac disease, and so does my aunt. What was really weird, I met this great guy and I was about to tell him about the celiacs, and right before I could, he said, "have you ever heard of celiac disease?? b/c my mom and I have it." I just thought that was ironic...My mom has this awesome pizza recipe...but she can't find it right now...so I will post it later. stick w/ it...I dont know if this helps, but You are unique...I like to think of myself as being different, so that helps me a lot...if you want to email me, it's aly_taylor13@yahoo.com

AlyssA~meghAn

wierd question but o well... why is ur user name starved artist... just curios..