The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

by Jules E. Dowler Shepard

If you've just been diagnosed with celiac disease, you're not as many as 1 in 133 Americans have this autoimmune disorder characterized by an inability to digest gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains. For ten years, Jules Shepard's gastrointestinal symptoms went misdiagnosed. Finally diagnosed, she experienced a rollercoaster of emotions and illness the year following, as she discovered what she could and could not eat through trial and error. Now, in The First Year" Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free , Shepard explains everything you need to learn and do upon your or a family member's diagnosis.

How celiac disease affects your entire body

Eating gluten-free (and avoiding hidden glutens)

Keeping your kitchen safe from cross-contamination

Can I drink alcohol?

Celiac and fertility

Finding support groups

Parenting a child with celiac disease

Dining out, traveling, and entertaining

This unique guide prioritizes all the most important information on diet and lifestyle changes for you. Day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, learn how to safely alter your diet, manage your symptoms, and adjust to living gluten-free. Complete with easy and delicious recipes for gluten-free baking, The First Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free is your essential guide to a healthy life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Food, Reference, Medicine, Diets

282 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2008

Reviews

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got diagnosed with celiac about a month ago, and have found this book very helpful--and as a result of my diagnosis, we had to get our kids tested, so I'll be referring to the kid sections because one of them has it, too. I do think it would be nice to have an updated edition, and I think I'll rely on the library for using this for now, but it was a great read to get me grounded in the basics of how celiac works, how to plan meals and avoid cross-contamination, and how not to give up eating out, etc. Now I just have to work on my restaurant speech!

[Sara Balanis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you or your child have recently been diagnosed with celiac disease, this book is a must read. Get it now. CD turns your life upside down. It is scary and frustrating to imagine your life without wheat (which is ABUNDANT in American foods!!). I was sad and angry about my diagnosis. Jules is like a big sister or cheerful aunt who gives you a hug and says to you, "It's okay... I'll help you figure this out and we will make your life better, together." She writes with knowledge and compassion. The many stories of CD sufferers will encourage you to keep your chin up and fight for your own good health. I have already used the flour blend she included in this book; it worked so well I bought BOTH her cookbooks!

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this when I was first diagnosed and it helped me more than the doctors or nutritionist.

[Victoria Borrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched and organized. I picked this book up after being diagnosed as suffering from Celiac disease. It gave positive suggestions and real world advice. I highly recommend it for someone who has just been diagnosed. I do wish it had a "How to use this Book" as I didn't realize I was supposed to read a section a day. I also wish I could find a similar book written by a Canadian as much of the references to food brands and restaurants don't transfer over.

[Jill]

This book was a good source for people diagnosed with Celiac disease. It wasn’t a good read for people just wanting to find out about the disease because of the slant of the writing assuming you had the affliction. Also, I wondered at the sharing of information divided into months of the first year. If a person really was diagnosed with it, they would have read the whole book as fast as they could and not divided it into monthly installments.

[Sammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful after just being diagnosed. Does a great job explaining the basics. She has a great understanding of what it’s like during the first year of diagnosis and it was super cool to understand that other people had the same reaction I did. The recipes and parenting advice I found less helpful to me, but still interesting. The information is a bit outdated, but overall a cool read.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Common-sense info useful for dealing with Celiac disease every day for the rest of your life. Includes recipes. I recommend reading it faster than the year-long process in which it's structured, as you'll need to know a lot of this info right away to get healthy.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information for those first diagnosed to help you understand the disease and help you feel like you're not alone. As well as tips for navigating the various challenges of gluten-free and recipes!

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me so much with my first year with this disease. Thanks to Jules, I now know what Celiac is and how to handle a range of situations where I may not otherwise be comfortable. This will definitely be a book I refer back to for cooking tips and travel resources and more.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information and words of encouragement. Grateful that so much has changed in the ten years since this was first published to make life with CD easier to navigate.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease. It’s an easy read and walks you through all that you need to know to process everything that is coming your way.

[Abbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of helpful information on a new and frequently overwhelming topic! I felt like the author understood all of my common thoughts and questions. Thank you!

[MacKenzie Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little outdated, but worth it in that it just helps you feel less alone.

[Bé Silvestre · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay guide around CD. Too much toxic positivy for my taste though.

[Christina Cappleman]

Some good basic info and possible recipes. Does discuss celiac with children a little (suggestions for parties etc)

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent starting point but definitely needs updates

[erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

could’ve used more info and less subjective advice

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were many, many helpful things I found in this book. I found the author well-spoken and she included a wealth of information for the newly diagnosed. I didn't love the way the book was set up (to read in bits over the first year of diagnosis, I just can't read a book over a whole year like that...) I think this would be better for an adult with a new diagnosis than as in my case, trying to get information to help my newly-diagnosed child.

To me, the gems in this book were the descriptions of baking/flour substitutions, and the recipes. (I have yet to try the recipes but am looking forward to it.) She has me believing that we can have tasty, pleasing gluten-free food substitutes for just about everything.

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be kind of meh. It had some very cool information, recipes, and lists of what to look out for, but there was a lot of info in here about how to cope. I guess I just skipped straight into the happy stage, I already feel like I have control of my life again. If you are looking for coping strategies and guidance, then this is the book for you. If you are looking for information, use the internet.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

GREAT resource. I wouldn't recommend it unless you or someone close to you has Celiacs, of course.... :) But it was a huge help to me, and something I'll go back to for info time and time again. Also, the author's "Nearly Normal All Purpose Flour Mix"--- AWESOME!!!!!!

[Liaken · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to the gluten-free lifestyle. Covers important issues like family gatherings, dating, and other social situations that often have food as a focus.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great manual, great ideas

[T.M. Carper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and easy to read info on step-by-step what to do after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Includes stories from other people with Celiac Disease which are interesting.

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this for the second time.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative and helpful start for those facing a new diagnosis. Helpful and hopeful ideas. . . interested to try the recipes.

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author takes a very strict stance on what celiac peeps can do.

[Kandy Dicken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great starter book with a new diagnosis!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful.

[teresa pogue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a good read but not one I want to keep as a reference.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book to read to help learn about Celiac Disease and how to start out, because it is not easy. Gives the reader reasonable approaches and goals that you can reach.