Gluten-Free Expo

Get ready! The third annual DC Gluten-Free Expo is scheduled! The Celiac Disease Program and Children's National Medical Center is hosting the expo on June 2, 2013.  Tickets are already on sale.

Hurricane Preparedness

We're all battened down here in DC, waiting with a mix of skepticism and anxiety to see what Sandy will rein upon us.  We have water in abundance.  We've brought in the Halloween decorations, lest a jack o'lantern become a missile.  We've even tackled the mountain of laundry so that we'll have some clean clothes if the power is out for any extended period of time.  We have diapers and formula.  We have flashlights and batteries.  And we have a kerosene heater sitting in the basement.  We learned some lessons from the derecho! These were the easy things.   The tough part was the food.

I think we generally have the gluten-free thing down in our house.  Like every other family with two working parents, we've got a solid rotation of meals that can be thrown together.  But we definitely eat "fresh."  (And, to a lesser extent, local and organic).  Which means that if the fridge goes down, I'm kind of at a loss.

I've stocked up on gluten-filled snacks and nonperishables for the husband and kids.  But what am I going to eat?

I started with fruit.  Fruit is easy.  And I've got some chips.  Some almonds.  Some Mary's Gone Crackers.  That was about it.  Not terribly sustaining.   So I went to MOM's and had a peek around.  I've been generally unsuccessful at finding canned goods that are labelled gluten-free.  Sadly, I didn't find much more here.  I got a couple of cans of soup that will work in an emergency (kind of the point, huh?).  Then I got some new crackers.  I was kind of striking out.  So I got some KIND bars -- which I love and frankly rely on for meal substitutes in every-day "emergencies."   And I got some Flamous chips.  They're made of chickpea flour, which is relatively healthy.  That's pretty much it.

I gave up on finding some magic, non-perishable sustenance.  Living gluten-free is great for forcing you to eat relatively healthy, fresh foods.  Not so great for Armageddon   I've got a lot of snacks.  And wine.  I have a ton of wine.  I think I'll be ok.
 

National Museum of the American Indian

As any worn out, hot, thirsty tourist who braves a DC summer can tell you, there aren't a lot of places to eat on the Mall.  The Smithsonian circuit just hasn't traditionally been terribly eat-er friendly.  Sure, you can grab an over-priced, dry sandwhich at one of the ubiquitous cafes...unless you can't.  And after absorbing all that culture and history, the last thing anyone wants to do is subsist on a random yogurt and some sad fruit.  The answer to a traveling celiac's prayers: the National Museum of the American Indian and its delightful eatery, mitsitim. 

While the National Museum of the American Indian created a bit of controversy when it opened, one thing has never been in dispute: the food is fantastic.  The cafe is a part of the cultural experience.  It is cafeteria style eating with five unique food stations representing the broad regions encompassing the American Indian tribes.  Thus, the Northern Woodlands menu will represent cooking techniques and ingredients traditional to tribes in that region and very different from, for instance, the Great Plains menu. 

Besides being interesting and, in my experience, delicious, the food at mitsitim has another major point in its favor.  The appropriate options are clearly labelled gluten-free! Delight! And the gluten-free options are not at all limited to the bland and the boring.  Rather, a happy celiac can dig into a mouthwatering tamale or snack on some quinoa. Check it out.  You'll be happy you did.  (The Museum itself is pretty incredible too.)

Beyond Gluten-Free

Having celiac is nothing if not completely life-altering.  Your history has an immediate schism: pre-GF and GF.  Memories are altered with the overlay of new information (oh, my ability to eat anything and actually lose weight is not a good thing?)  Moreover, every new experience is colored with the shade of celiac.  Immediately, grocery shopping is medicinal.  There are explanations for inexplicable ailments.  You aren't the crazy, hysterical hypochondriac.

I have found that, contrary to popular current opinion, managing the disease involves a holistic approach.  Yes, you must eat gluten-free.  You also, though, may have to change your make-up. You may need to treat the inevitable symptoms that come from having lived with untreated celiac for a long period of time.  You also need to be aware that not everything in your life relates back to the disease.  It is possible that you really just have a stomach ache.  Or that the extreme exhaustion you are feeling is from your toddler being up all night instead of inadvertent glutening.

In that regard, it is useful to have an arsenal of resources to supplement your physician in treating the total life experience of having celiac. Eastern medicine--specifically, acupuncture and massage therapy--can be particularly helpful in relieving stress, counteracting headaches and just basic life management.  There are infinite levels of ability, costs and venue available in DC.  Unlike some things in life, however, cost does not necessarily correlate to ability.  You can get a terrible massage at a fancy spa.  You can pay a ton for acupuncture that is perfunctory and impersonal.  Alternatively, you could check out my favorites.

For massage: Eye Street Massage.  They aren't fancy.  In fact, as you hike up the four flights of stairs in the dingy building, I can almost guarantee you'll be skeptical.  But I've found that they are universally very good.  I particularly like Dee and Pam.

For acupuncture: Pekoe Acupuncture. Whenever I get glutened, I get a migraine.  It's a clear, direct correlative event.  It sucks.  Nicole Mires has helped me through some of my worst.  To be honest, I don't go with any regularity (which I understand is how you get the most benefit).  Nonetheless, I have found it to be really effective in managing pain.