About
Gluten Free New Orleans

On August 1, 2016, I was diagnosed with celiac disease. I was happy to have a diagnosis after years of unexplained TMJ, bouts of crippling exhaustion, extreme joint pain, and what I thought was depression or a failing thyroid. Oh, and did I mention the stomach aches? 

Yes, I indeed had my answer: celiac disease. The only treatment is to live life totally free from gluten, found in wheat, barely and rye. And damnit, there's a learning curve. Soy sauce? Gluten. Modified food starch? Maybe gluten. (Update: not gluten. But now you see what I mean!!) The glue on envelopes? Actually, that one is an urban legend, but it shows the fear and unknown that autoimmune disease sufferers live with every day. 

In 2017, I wept to my husband that there was nowhere I could eat in New Orleans and that there was no one that understood me. After a chance meeting with Allison Sondak and the realization that I was not, in fact, alone, I launched the Gluten Free New Orleans Facebook group to connect with (statistically speaking) the 1% of New Orleanians who also had celiac disease. And whoa, it blew up. As of writing this, 18 months later, we have over 650 members, and there are new posts every day. 

I built this website in July 2019 as I hope for the future. I hope that there will be a day where I no longer have to explain to anyone what celiac disease is. I hope for a day where I don't have to sneak protein bars into concert venues because there's nothing there I can eat. I hope for a day where we can have honest, grace-filled and informed conversations with all members of the service industry. When that day comes, I may get to retire Gluten Free New Orleans. Until that day, we are here for you, advocating, educating and consoling. Thank you for being a part of our krewe. I love you from the bottom of my heart.