Find going gluten free a challenge? You’re not alone. It’s hard. And if you are going gluten free for health reasons it is exponentially harder (side note : does anyone ACTUALLY go gluten free because they want to?)

But WHY is it so hard? There are a few reasons.

Firstly : food is not just food. Food is so much more. And you don’t know how much it truly means until you have to give it up. Food is linked to memories. Food is how we celebrate. Food is cultural. Going gluten free is NEVER no big deal. You’re losing more than grains. Mourning this loss is normal, and healthy. Allow yourself the gift of feeling what you need to feel.

Secondly : there’s science behind why it’s so hard. When you give up gluten because you have to, odds are that your gut is not happy. Your mental health is linked to your gut health. If your gut isn’t healthy, your mind won’t be either. And it takes a lot of mental strength to be able to push through. Mental strength that is not at its peak.

Figuring out the diet changes, reading labels, learning the right questions to ask when you’re eating out… this is a huge lifestyle switch! This would be a gigantic challenge to tackle if your body was feeling great and your mind was feeling up to the task. When neither mind nor body are working at full strength, it’s no wonder that this is such a struggle.

But there is good news! As your gut heals, your mind heals. As your mind heals, the fog dissipates, and you feel more up to the task. Every day will become a little easier..

What can you do when those easy days in the future feel so far away? Understand that the ‘hard’ you are experiencing now is going to save you further ‘hard’ in the future.

And most importantly, have compassion for yourself while you’re learning! No one does this perfect, but you’re doing the best you can. And you will see the rewards as you keep going.

Know that your body wants to heal, and you just have to help it.

Happy healing friends. Please know you’re not in it alone.

P.S. I know when I started a gluten free diet, it felt like my whole world was turned upside down… ‘But what do I eat?’ It’s easy for me now but it was so hard back then. This is where I can help.

Let me take one thing off your plate so you can focus on healing and feeling your best. Enjoy weekly meal plans (with easy realistic meals you can actually enjoy). Click here. I’m honoured to join you on your healing journey. You’ve got this!