Guest Post:

If you have been diagnosed with some form of gluten sensitivity, you will have to adapt to a gluten free diet. Some people, when faced with this change, become upset and even incredulous. How can you possibly replace a key ingredient in so many standard foods, from birthday cakes, biscuits and muffins to spaghetti and ravioli?

It might elicit some cognitive dissonance to see it this way, but adapting to a gluten-free diet will be bring greater joy and energy to your life in two distinct ways: greater creativity and variety. I appreciate why many people may be skeptical about such a claim, but stick with me here. This isn’t your usual rationalization for enduring gluten allergy symptoms and adapting to a gluten-free diet.

Humans thrive on creativity and variety. So many people don’t realize this anymore because they get stuck in some kind of comfortable daily rut. But just go draw a random picture or write something silly and creative (even if you feel you can’t write). Even people who don’t consider themselves creative will find some subtle, quiet joy at the very act of creation.

Furthermore, variety is the spice of life, right? What this means is that variety keeps the exuberance of living fresh and vital. When you experience the same thing over and over, time runs together. Hours turn into days and days turn into years and soon enough you’re wondering where it all went. With variety, we experience a renewed perspective and interest in our daily lives.

How does this apply to adapting to a gluten-free diet? As you refine your palette and dietary habits to adapt to your gluten intolerance, you will find yourself exploring more creative and diverse culinary avenues than you have in years.

And what you will discover is that eventually you will not miss foods containing gluten. Instead, you will relish the greater diversity of foods you’re enjoying and savor the increased creativity of putting together your meals.