For people with celiac disease, it's not a food trend at all. It's a medically required diet that is the only treatment for a disease that often takes years to diagnose. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that is triggered in people with the disease by the presence of gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Even the smallest amount of gluten, such as the residue of a bun taken off of a hamburger, will produce a reaction that will make a person with celiac ill for days, sometimes even weeks. Although there are many specialty companies that make gluten-free foods, for the most part, people with celiac disease spend a lot of time cooking. And, since celiac disease runs in families, many people with celiac spend a lot of time cooking a lot of food, for a lot of people. There are also no delivery pizza nights, quick stops at a fast food restaurant or even much in the way of frozen or convenience foods. Even going out for the day requires planning, pre-cooking and packing all of the food that the family is going to need. For people with celiac disease, eating at a restaurant can be incredibly difficult. Sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth. Between worrying about how to thoroughly, yet quickly explain detailed food restrictions, cross-contamination issues and the inevitable run-ins with restaurant staff who may be disinterested, lazy, rude, or may not believe that their restrictions are as severe as they are, some people with celiac disease eat out only rarely, and many choose not to eat out at all. Unfortunately, it's not just the people with celiac disease who are eating out less. Their friends and family are also eating out less. Many of the specialty gluten-free food companies are producing delicious gluten-free foods. For people with celiac, eating at home affords an almost unlimited amount of food choices, many of which non-celiacs enjoy just as much as the real thing.
For people with celiac disease, it's not a food trend at all. It's a medically required diet that is the only treatment for a disease that often takes years to diagnose. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that is triggered in people with the disease by the presence of gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Even the smallest amount of gluten, such as the residue of a bun taken off of a hamburger, will produce a reaction that will make a person with celiac ill for days, sometimes even weeks. Although there are many specialty companies that make gluten-free foods, for the most part, people with celiac disease spend a lot of time cooking. And, since celiac disease runs in families, many people with celiac spend a lot of time cooking a lot of food, for a lot of people. There are also no delivery pizza nights, quick stops at a fast food restaurant or even much in the way of frozen or convenience foods. Even going out for the day requires planning, pre-cooking and packing all of the food that the family is going to need. For people with celiac disease, eating at a restaurant can be incredibly difficult. Sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth. Between worrying about how to thoroughly, yet quickly explain detailed food restrictions, cross-contamination issues and the inevitable run-ins with restaurant staff who may be disinterested, lazy, rude, or may not believe that their restrictions are as severe as they are, some people with celiac disease eat out only rarely, and many choose not to eat out at all. Unfortunately, it's not just the people with celiac disease who are eating out less. Their friends and family are also eating out less. Many of the specialty gluten-free food companies are producing delicious gluten-free foods. For people with celiac, eating at home affords an almost unlimited amount of food choices, many of which non-celiacs enjoy just as much as the real thing.