When I started my food blog, I didn’t just want to post recipes, I wanted to share my life and my experiences with people as well. But, I got scared. I hate the way people try to portray a perfect life over social media, so I want to start being a bit more transparent and hopefully meet other people going through the same kind of things as me. So here is me trying to do just that.
Now down to business...
Over the past couple of months, food and I have not been getting along very well, so I haven’t cooked much or developed any recipes. I was regularly having severe stomach pains after eating (as well as other allergy/intolerant responses). Once again, I was scared of eating and began to avoid it. But, this time I decided to go to the doctors and stop putting up with the pain (well about a month later anyway). After being unable to move while trying to complete an assignment at uni (that I was just a little bit behind on), I decided I had to go to the doctors. It takes a lot for me to admit I’m in pain.
After a few hours of sitting in the waiting room, I was seen by a trainee doctor. This was not ideal considering my time constraints but, I enjoyed the procrastination and I got an insight into the medical textbooks. Following a lot of talking and being prodded, we came to the conclusion that I should go gluten and dairy free for the rest of the academic year, so I could try and get through my exams pain free. However, I had to agree on the plan of going back on gluten and dairy for 2 weeks (apparently it needs to be 6 weeks though), during my gap year next year to then have all the blood and allergy tests possible (once again) to get a medical diagnosis. You can read my full story on why I don’t eat gluten in the updated ‘my story so far’ tab on above. Side note: I am hoping to do another post soon explaining why I am taking a gap year, 2/3rds of the way through my degree.
This idea originally sounded horrendous and to be honest it still does but, I’m trying to look on the bright side. Yes, I may be bed/toilet bound for a few weeks but, I will get to eat all the foods I have missed since going gluten free (mainly fresh crunchy bread). I am a bit of a daydreamer, so I came up with the brilliant Idea of going to Paris for a couple of days during the weeks. This probably won’t be very practical, but I can dream to stop putting off starting the weeks. Whatever I end up doing, I plan on blogging about it. Eating foods that I haven’t eaten in over 5 years will be an unpredictable experience. Roughly this time last year I cycled to Paris, ended up having to eat gluten full pasta because the restaurant couldn’t do anything gluten free. I had cycled over 700 miles, so I decided eating gluten would make me less ill than if I didn’t eat. When I tried the pasta, I found it gross. Yes, it was an Italian restaurant in Paris, but it wasn’t cheap and it can’t have been that badly cooked. This started to make me wonder whether I have got used to and now prefer the gluten free stuff now. I don’t know if that will be the same for all gluten full foods, but this is the only way to find out. Whether anyone ends up reading it, I think I would enjoy writing about it and it will give me something to do while I’m bed bound.
Have you had a similar experience or any advice you could give me? Any advice at all would be great! Please comment below or contact me directly by email or Instagram.
Hattie xx
