It's becoming increasingly common to hear people talk about special diets, whether it's a gluten-free or lactose-free diet due to allergies or simply a desire to maintain a healthier lifestyle. The paleo diet, for example, is currently very popular, and it's not uncommon to find vegan or vegetarian friends and colleagues.
If you've ever tried to stick to a different diet, you know it's not easy. The influence of others, the media, and constant temptations make it difficult, but not impossible. We offer five tips to help you maintain any special diet without suffering every time you go out to dinner or pass by your favorite bakery.
1- The reason why: If there are foods that make you feel unwell, or if you have constant fatigue or an illness that worsens with a conventional diet, remember that the taste or texture of those foods you shouldn't eat is nothing compared to the discomfort they cause. For me, who has followed a strict gluten-free diet for years, eating anything with gluten means three days of feeling unwell. Although it's true that sometimes I feel like throwing it all away for a slice of good bread, before doing so I think about whether it's worth it in the short or long term, and the answer is no.
2- If temptation gets the better of you, don't abandon your entire diet: We're not perfect, and even someone who's strictly following a special diet might occasionally indulge in something they shouldn't. I remember one Christmas, just a few months after starting a gluten-free diet, when I couldn't resist a roscón (a traditional Spanish Christmas cake). I paid the price, but instead of forgetting the months I'd followed the diet correctly and going back to eating gluten, I reverted to my special diet without looking back.
3- Learn to cook: When you're on a special diet, eating out or relying on frozen food is nearly impossible, so learning to cook is essential, and much healthier. There are countless cookbooks for all kinds of diets. Find something you like, put on your apron, and get cooking! At first, the results might not be perfect, but little by little, you'll not only develop a taste for cooking, but your dishes will also become increasingly delicious and sophisticated. If you don't believe me, just look at the photo: this birthday cake is 100% gluten-free. It does contain sugar, yes, but much less than you'd think.
4. Surround yourself with like-minded people: Your friends might not share your interest in a healthy lifestyle, but you surely know someone—a coworker or someone from the gym—who also has dietary restrictions. They might not become your best friends, but these friendships can make a special diet much more bearable, even if the diets are completely different. Understanding and not being ridiculed for your diet can give you the strength you need on a tough day.
5- Know the ingredients: For most people with special diets, eating out is possible. You just need to know which foods you can and can't eat and take the initiative to ask the waiter about how a dish is prepared. In the case of a gluten-free diet, for example, sauces are often thickened with flour, many sausages contain gluten, and most soy sauces are fermented with wheat, so it's always necessary to ask. Simple dishes, like baked fish with sauteed vegetables, are usually gluten-free. Don't despair; there are also restaurants that clearly mark their gluten-free dishes or can modify a preparation.