| ou have recently been diagnosed with celiac | | | | On-line support groups are a great resource. Most |
| disease. You are probably feeling quite | | | | archive their discussions, sometimes going back |
| overwhelmed by all the changes that you have to | | | | years. If there is a certain type of product or a |
| make in your lifestyle--food shopping and planning | | | | brand you have questions about, searching the |
| your daily menus come to mind. Now is the best | | | | on-line discussion board will almost always provide |
| time to find a support group to help you cope | | | | the answers you need. If not, posting a new |
| with the disease. You may feel like you don't | | | | message will bring in advice from people who |
| have the time to go to a support group meeting | | | | have been exactly where you are right now. |
| or search the internet for other people with celiac | | | | In-person support groups have their own benefits. |
| disease, but the time it takes to connect with | | | | Meetings are like food-tasting parties with |
| other people on the gluten-free diet will save you | | | | members encouraged to bring food to the |
| an incredible amount of time and effort in the | | | | meetings. Discussions of places to eat |
| future. | | | | out—like a new local restaurant that makes |
| Celiac support groups, whether in person or | | | | gluten-free sandwiches or a national chain with |
| on-line, offer a sense of community. People new | | | | special gluten-free menu, opening nearby, are the |
| to the gluten-free diet always have a lot of | | | | norm. |
| questions to ask and need someone to answer | | | | No matter which type of group you join, most |
| them. The best people to answer these questions | | | | are filled with discussions—and almost |
| are those who just weeks or months earlier had | | | | always about food. Recipes are swapped, the |
| to face the same problems and decisions. | | | | gluten-free status of mainstream foods are |
| Celiac disease support groups are wonderful for | | | | confirmed, delicious gluten-free specialty foods are |
| helping those new to the diet. They are a great | | | | raved about and stories of much less delicious |
| help to the newly diagnosed in their efforts to | | | | gluten-free disasters are shared. Whether you are |
| integrate the information needed to adjust to | | | | more comfortable communicating online, or enjoy |
| gluten-free lives. By joining such a group, you are | | | | the company of people with whom you can sit |
| benefiting from the experience of people who | | | | and have coffee and gluten-free cake, the |
| have been in the gluten-free world for years, | | | | benefits of joining a celiac support group are |
| sometimes even decades. Finding truly enjoyable | | | | endless. Life is just too short not to have delicious |
| gluten-free specialty foods such as breads, | | | | food and great friends to share it with. |
| pastas, cookies, crackers, cakes, pizza, piecrusts | | | | For more information on Celiac Support Groups, |
| and other gluten-free baked goods can take a lot | | | | be sure to visit any local support group in your |
| of time in the trial and error method. But, by | | | | area or on the Internet. There are plenty out |
| asking other people with celiac about their favorite | | | | there that really focus on helping Celiac sufferers |
| products, you can focus on the products and | | | | and giving solid support to its members. You can |
| recipes that most people like, rather than being | | | | live with Celiac and still have a great life. |
| faced with an endless list. | | | | |