TRUST NO ONE. I mean this quite literally. When it comes to your food, you need to question whoever made your food extensively.

Examples:

Do you use a dedicated gluten free fryer for your fries?

Are you aware of cross contamination?

Are any gluten products cooked on the same grill or pan as whatever item you ordered?

Do you use the same tortilla warmer for your flour tortillas?

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Research brands and look to see what other products they sell. If they sell gluten containing products, call them and ask if they have a dedicated gluten free facility for their gluten free products or if the gluten free products are made on shared equipment with gluten products. Even if they don't have gluten containing product call and ask. Companies are not obligated by law to write "processed in a facility with gluten."

Always bring shelf stable snacks wherever you go. You never want to be in a situation where your starving because wherever you are has no safe options for you. Some great snack ideas that can be in a backpack or purse would be The Celiac Code Granola Bars, beef sticks and fruit bars.

If your're going to a party or event, offer to bring a side dish that you know you can eat and enjoy. This way you don't feel left out but also don't risk getting sick. If you are unsure with a family member or friend is knowledgeable about gluten contamination, be honest and tell them you cannot risk getting sick and will not eat the dish they have prepared.

Research brands and what other products they sell. If every product they sell is gluten free but only certain ones are certified gluten free call and ask why. To be Certified Gluten Free by the GFCO for example, the product must have less than 10ppm of gluten and have been tested. To only label a product "Gluten free" it legally has to have less than 20ppm of gluten. Companies will not certify certain products if they know there is a risk of cross contamination that is over 10ppm of gluten. If you eat a lot of products that have a higher level of 20ppm it may cause a reaction for you.

If you're at a party or event with known gluten free food, try to be the first to serve yourself. This way you don't have to worry about utensils being mixed around or gluten somehow getting in the gluten free food.

Now this may be a little TMI, but no one gave me the heads up about this when I was diagnosed. Just like some of us are super sensitive to cross contamination of our food, it can be the same for kissing your significant other or partner. I have experienced many sick nights from kissing my husband and not questioning what he has eaten that day or if he has had any beer. While I haven't had to throw up from this, I have had bad diarrhea and awful stomach pain from this. Try to get your significant other to eat gluten free before kissing that day or make sure to have them thoroughly clean their mouth. You'll thank me later.

Check and make sure any medications you take are gluten free. You would be shocked at how many times I have gotten medication only to Google that it's not gluten free. Sometimes the pharmacy can check and see if the manufacturer has any allergen notes but usually they are not very helpful and cannot give an answer which is so frustrating to me.

Check your toothpaste and mouth wash. These are another product that goes in your mouth daily and can cause issues for you. I have personally tested Toms brand toothpaste with my Nima after feeling sick after I switched toothpaste's and it came back positive for gluten even though it says gluten free. Currently I use Jason Brand Fluoride Free Peppermint Toothpaste and it is certified gluten free. I also have tested it with my Nima and it tested gluten free.

Come to peace with your diagnosis, which I know is harder than it sounds. I still go through many difficult days where I wish I could just be normal, and rightly so. But at the end of the day, as of right now there is no cure for celiac disease so we must make the best of things. Find a new favorite snack or meal to enjoy and look forward to. Try and think positively, things could be worse in every situation.