Janine

Hello, celiac community. My name is Janine, and I was diagnosed with celiac disease over 30 years ago.

When I was only two years old, I was taken to the hospital as I was very thin and had problems getting the nutrition from the food. After several doctor appointments and a Darm Biopsy, I was diagnosed with celiac disease.

At the time, the autoimmune disease was not well known, and no other family member had problems with gluten. Since the diagnosis, I have been on a strict diet, eating no gluten, and I am feeling very good and healthy.

In the beginning, it was hard for my parents to tell a little child not to eat other food or eat cakes at a birthday party. I had my own prepared meals and sweets with me. Moreover, the restaurants where you could eat gluten-free were very limited, as well as products at groceries. The ‘Reformhaus’ was one of the options.

Nowadays, it is easier to find safe gluten-free restaurants. I love to travel the world and have already visited up to 50 countries. Translators, GF blogs, and restaurants that provide gluten-free information online help me find delicious and safe places to eat.