A Simply Simple Year: April 2012

This whole "Simply Simple Year" is not turning out so simple. In addition to the color-coded calendar I have to keep just to be sure I don't miss a meeting, a class, an assignment, or a deadline, I recently found out I have Celiac Disease! Talk about throwing a wrench in the mix. No longer can I just "wing it" with food and grab any snack as I race to my next commitment. Now meals must be thought out, planned, and questioned...every time. Food just isn't simple anymore. Or so I thought.

I was at an event with a friend/colleague and she commented, "you're handling this whole Celiac thing really well". Really? Me? I remember breaking down in my kitchen the other night because I came home at 9:30pm not having eaten all day because I couldn't get my hands on something gluten-free while zipping to and from meetings and class. Not to mention I was just plain tired and exhausted. But ok, I'll take your compliment. Then it got me thinking...besides that night, this whole gluten-free thing really hasn't been that hard. After all, she gave me that compliment for a reason, right!? I realized that having to eat gluten-free really makes my life a whole lot simpler, not complicated, and that night in the kitchen really had nothing to do with food, but a culmination of sleep deprivation and stress. But I digress.

When I was traveling through Europe, one of my favorite things about the culture there was that food was simple. The menu was always short and you never got to "have it your way" - you got what you got. Living a gluten-free life is sort of the same idea. When I eat out, my choices are limited. I can pick from the few gluten-free options on the menu if the restaurant has them and if not, I go with a salad. Simple as that. I could get down on life for never again getting to explore the menu or I could change that attitude and be thankful that my decision has been made for me and instead of spending time behind a menu, I get 5 extra minutes to enjoy the company of whomever is sitting across the table from me (or 5 minutes to my thoughts as the other person makes their decision - win, win situation). And at the grocery store I no longer have to wonder down aisle after aisle trying to decide what to purchase, often leaving the decision to my stomach and not my head (never a good idea). Instead, I know the items I can eat and go straight for those. Because my life is currently moving at warp speed, I'm actually very thankful for the simplicity of eating gluten-free. When classes end, work slows down, I don't have a thesis to write, and photography work becomes more steady, I'll spend more time in the kitchen getting creative with food. I'll attempt less simplistic recipes and be adventurous at the grocery store. But for now, I'm enjoying my daily menu: fruit and yogurt, salad, gluten-free granola bars, and quinoa dinners. What could have complicated my life has actually simplified it. And...I'm not sick anymore. Added bonus.

At the risk of sounding too "Pollyanna", I want to ask if there is something in your life that looks really complicated, but actually is a blessing in disguise? Give it the credit it deserves.

As for me, I'm going to continue pretending I'm back in Europe and enjoying simple food decisions.

Photos of my simple gluten-free eats!

My favorite simple salad: arugula, tomatoes, sea salt,

and olive oil paired with organic, free range chicken