No Wheat and No Meat

by Lani K. Thompson

We've been talking to celiac vegetarians all over the world to find out what it's like to eliminate not only gluten but meat and, in some cases, dairy and eggs from their diets. Suprisingly enough, many of them said that being vegetarian made it easier to maintain their gluten free diets, too, because they were already used to looking at labels and asking wait staff what's in menu items.

Many celiac vegetarians said they looked for whole foods or foods that were as close as possible to their natural state. However, several admitted that they had more problems with vegetarian foods due to their celiac disease because so many meat substitutes use wheat starch for flavor or as binders.

"Would I have become vegetarian if I had been gluten free first?" one woman wondered. "No, I honestly don't think I could have faced the extra restriction at that stage, but having been off meat for six years when re-diagnosed I couldn't eat it again." She added that she thought the celiac diet was actually more restrictive.

Like other celiacs, celiac vegetarians find social situations like office parties, family get-togethers, or eating out in restaurants to be one of their biggest challenges. Family members can make it difficult by offering forbidden foods to children, but most celiac vegetarians thought their own families were supportive even when they didn't understand the diet. "No one will have us over for dinner or go out to eat with us, but they don't give us as hard of a time now!" one woman said.

"I think any differences in diet are sometimes seen as a threat to the way others eat," another person said. "The vegetarian diet was much easier for people to understand, especially with the awareness of the healthiness of cutting back on red meat...with celiac it's different, more difficult...Even with some relatives there's a semblance of disbelief!"

Less than half of the celiac vegetarians we talked to said they were vegetarian for spiritual, moral, or humane reasons. Most said it was for their own health -- because they felt better or were concerned about the effects of ingesting drugs and hormones fed to farm animals. Some became vegetarian because they had a problem digesting the fats in meat, only to learn later on that this can actually be a symptom of celiac disease. A few celiac vegetarians said they were motivated by environmental or social concerns.

"I've heard that it's difficult for celiacs to eat "properly" on a vegetarian diet, I said, and asked our celiac vegetarians if they agreed.

"Totally disagree!" said one woman. "The only difference it has made for me is that I tend to not eat any processed foods. Is that a bad thing? Even with a gluten free diet there are so many wonderful (foods)...I never feel deprived. In fact, I usuallly can't fit all of the things that I want to eat into one day!"

Others weren't quite so enthusiastic. "It takes some adapting, but it is possible...It's a little harder, but the results are well worth the effort...As long as you can eat beans and rice, you have the proteins found in meat...."

"What's the biggest challenge you face as a vegetarian and/or celiac?" I asked.

"Finding easy meals to make that don't take a ridiculous amount of time...."

"Communicating to people what CD is...."

"Cost is a big issue. As a one income family, it has really maxed us out with having to buy gluten free items...."

"The social aspects of eating...Being invited out...eating out...."

"I just wish shopping was easier!"

"Poor labeling!!!"

Almost everyone agreed what information they valued most -- knowing which ingredients and products are both gluten free and vegetarian. Or, as one celiac vegetarian put it, "I want to know what's going in my mouth!"