Re: Let's start a campaign

[Guest guest]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I feel that I have to respond to your post. My husband was a health nut his entire adult life. At 45, he had massive chest pains due to a 90% blocked artery---the one they call the "widow maker". He ended up with a stent, and is doing well now. The cardio doc said he came as close to dropping dead as he's ever seen. I couldn't understand how this healthy, greens-eating, no-fat, runner could end up this way. The doctor said it was due in no small part to the crap he ate as a kid. That the 18 and 19 year olds killed in Viet Nam were autopsied and had clogged arteries from their "abundant" American diets. And he had my kids cholesterol tested right away. Needless to say, we are no longer frequenting McD's for fries every week. Fast food can have its place in a well-balanced diet, but we have learned the hard way that it shouldn't be eaten on a regular basis. GF buns are fine, but they are happy to wrap the burger in lettuce for you. Again, let me say I am not trying to tell you or anyone how to feed your child. But I had to look into my kids' eyes and tell them daddy was on the operating table. And it really could have been prevented! We thought we were doing pretty well keeping the kids on a balanced diet until we got the tests results. It's amazing what a few french fries can do to your cholesterol levels! I think it also helped that after hubby's surgery, we watched "Supersize Me", and that sealed it for us. My feeling is, I didn't puke my guts out for years so I could get a CD dx and eat GF McD buns...with the greasy burger and fatty fries, a different kind of poison than the gluten. I now honor my new healthy body with healthy foods...and the occasional treat. Sorry if this is preachy, but heart disease is a very real threat and it starts in childhood. Unlike CD, it is highly preventable!

Dana, Gloriously GF

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Bridget, and you're right, sometimes a burger on the fly is the only choice available. It sure would uncomplicate things if at least one company stepped up to the plate and accomodated us, and McD's already has the know-how, since its European companies offer GF buns right now! I will e-mail Danna Korn about this. I know she will offer some sage advice!

Dana, Gloriously GF

[Guest guest]

I know how hard it is to help your kid feel like they fit in--I also have an 11 year old daughter with CD. It's a little easier with a girl, I think, because, they are a bit weirder about food, or at least she and her friends seem like it compared to my son and his friends. Some of the girls order burgers on lettuce anyway, but the boys have to be alike, and they are less confident about standing out. The girls think it's fun to have quirky differences, but the boys would rather die! Very interesting. (I hope that doesn't sound sexist, but it's something I've observed in my kids.)

Dana, Gloriously GF

[Guest guest]

Okay, so why don't we all push to try to get as many as we know to contact

Mc's about our desire for them to offer gf buns like they do in

Europe? If enough people do it, they may listen.

Marcie

Oh, and if you don't want to have to scroll your cursor down for deleting

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You will automatically block everything to the end and then can delete just

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[Guest guest]

I'm for this. My teenager and one of his best friends make the trek

to McDs at least 2xs a week (sometimes more.) BOTH are gluten

intolerant/celiac. They eat tons of fries and yogurt parfaits (sans

granola) and would be in teenage boy heaven if they could have a

burger or three with that! (I'll get my son, his friend and his

friend's mom to do it, too.)

> Okay, so why don't we all push to try to get as many as we know to

contact Mc's about our desire for them to offer gf buns like

they do in Europe? If enough people do it, they may listen.

[Guest guest]

I think this is a very good thing to remember, heart disease is the #1 killer of us in the USA. But it's also important to remember that sometimes to teenagers who eat healthy most days of the week, it would mean a lot to be able to go to Mc's and eat a sandwich there "like everyone else". And it's also important to remember that Mc's is only the start. If they started offering GF bread here, the other chains would soon follow, and then even places like Subway might be viable options. Right now, for a Celiac (as you well know) eating out "on the run" is next to impossible unless you go to Mc's where you can "trust" the food. Ah, for the day when we can go anywhere an live in (less) fear of being contaminated.

So, Dana, don't apologize for "being preachy". What happened to you could, and probably will, happen to all of us in some form or another (ourselves, a spouse, a close relation) and it IS important to have a healthy, balanced diet. And to teach our children good eating habits as well (childhood obesity in this country is out of control for a reason) But it is important to also realize (and you do) that trips to Mc's may be unavoidable...and hopefully are not a daily occurance.

I hope your husband continues to do well, and that someday we can eat anywhere (junk or healthy) without fear!

Bridget

From: gaulttkach@... Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 10:54 AMTo: SillyYaks Subject: Re: Re: Let's start a campaign

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I feel that I have to respond to your post. My husband was a health nut his entire adult life. At 45, he had massive chest pains due to a 90% blocked artery---the one they call the "widow maker". He ended up with a stent, and is doing well now. The cardio doc said he came as close to dropping dead as he's ever seen. I couldn't understand how this healthy, greens-eating, no-fat, runner could end up this way. The doctor said it was due in no small part to the crap he ate as a kid. That the 18 and 19 year olds killed in Viet Nam were autopsied and had clogged arteries from their "abundant" American diets. And he had my kids cholesterol tested right away. Needless to say, we are no longer frequenting McD's for fries every week. Fast food can have its place in a well-balanced diet, but we have learned the hard way that it shouldn't be eaten on a regular basis. GF buns are fine, but they are happy to wrap the burger in lettuce for you. Again, let me say I am not trying to tell you or anyone how to feed your child. But I had to look into my kids' eyes and tell them daddy was on the operating table. And it really could have been prevented! We thought we were doing pretty well keeping the kids on a balanced diet until we got the tests results. It's amazing what a few french fries can do to your cholesterol levels! I think it also helped that after hubby's surgery, we watched "Supersize Me", and that sealed it for us. My feeling is, I didn't puke my guts out for years so I could get a CD dx and eat GF McD buns...with the greasy burger and fatty fries, a different kind of poison than the gluten. I now honor my new healthy body with healthy foods...and the occasional treat. Sorry if this is preachy, but heart disease is a very real threat and it starts in childhood. Unlike CD, it is highly preventable!

Dana, Gloriously GF

[Guest guest]

I guess it does sound bad when put the way I had. But for my

situation and my son, it is as Bridget said, this is the one place he

can go and meet with his friends and not be in fear of contamination

and, maybe for the first time all day, just feel " normal. " (Which is

why he doesn't order a bunless burger when there, he just wants to

feel like everyone else once in a while and act like food isn't the

big deal it's become.) Also, he is a very healthy eater overall so I

don't let a couple orders of fries a week stress either of us. He

prefers all kinds of fresh fruit and cheese to chips and dip or candy

(we still have most of our Halloween candy sitting in a basket on the

counter.) Raw vegis (with a bit of dressing) don't stand a chance in

this house.

Strangely, McDs is one of the only places that is teenager friendly

that hasn't glutened him. Just Sunday he had a massive reaction after

eating at Denny's when all he dared order was a coke float. Poor kid

is becoming afraid to eat anything.

I do hope your husband is doing well.

> From: gaulttkach@a... [mailto:gaulttkach@a...]

> Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 10:54 AM

> To: SillyYaks

> Subject: Re: Re: Let's start a campaign

>

>

> Please don't take this the wrong way, but...

[Guest guest]

Excellent Advice Dana. We also watched " Supersize Me " and it was quite an

eye opener. We have always eaten very healthy even before finding out we

were Celiac and I have high cholesterol.

We spent a week traveling in Oct. and again in Nov. We had condo's at our

vacation spots so we could cook our own food but while on the road, or out

sightseeing, we got very tired of 's salads and baked potatoes. We

usually eat just salads at Mc's also, but it would be nice, on

occasion, to have a real hamburger. If Mc's can provide them in other

countries, why not in America? I realize GF buns may not be in such high

demand here in the U.S. but it would be nice to have another option. A few

times a year, a McD's hamburger would be great.

Cari

>From: gaulttkach@...

>Reply-To: SillyYaks

>To: SillyYaks

>Subject: Re: Re: Let's start a campaign

>Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 10:53:33 EST

>

>Please don't take this the wrong way, but I feel that I have to respond to

>your post. My husband was a health nut his entire adult life. At 45, he

>had

>massive chest pains due to a 90% blocked artery---the one they call the

> " widow

>maker " . He ended up with a stent, and is doing well now. The cardio doc

>said

>he came as close to dropping dead as he's ever seen. I couldn't understand

>how this healthy, greens-eating, no-fat, runner could end up this way. The

>doctor said it was due in no small part to the crap he ate as a kid. That

>the 18

>and 19 year olds killed in Viet Nam were autopsied and had clogged arteries

>from their " abundant " American diets. And he had my kids cholesterol

>tested

>right away. Needless to say, we are no longer frequenting McD's for fries

>every

>week. Fast food can have its place in a well-balanced diet, but we have

>learned the hard way that it shouldn't be eaten on a regular basis. GF

>buns are

>fine, but they are happy to wrap the burger in lettuce for you. Again, let

>me

>say I am not trying to tell you or anyone how to feed your child. But I

>had to

>look into my kids' eyes and tell them daddy was on the operating table.

>And

>it really could have been prevented! We thought we were doing pretty well

>keeping the kids on a balanced diet until we got the tests results. It's

>amazing

>what a few french fries can do to your cholesterol levels! I think it also

>helped that after hubby's surgery, we watched " Supersize Me " , and that

>sealed

>it for us. My feeling is, I didn't puke my guts out for years so I could

>get a

>CD dx and eat GF McD buns...with the greasy burger and fatty fries, a

>different kind of poison than the gluten. I now honor my new healthy

>body with

>healthy foods...and the occasional treat. Sorry if this is preachy, but

>heart

>disease is a very real threat and it starts in childhood. Unlike CD, it is

>highly preventable!

>Dana, Gloriously GF

[Guest guest]

Be careful at 's. They changed their marinade on their chicken

used in their salads. They are no longer gluten free.

we got very

tired of 's salads and baked potatoes.

>From: gaulttkach@...

>Reply-To: SillyYaks

>To: SillyYaks

>Subject: Re: Re: Let's start a campaign

>Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 10:53:33 EST

>

>Please don't take this the wrong way, but I feel that I have to

respond to

>your post. My husband was a health nut his entire adult life. At

45, he

>had

>massive chest pains due to a 90% blocked artery---the one they call

the

>"widow

>maker". He ended up with a stent, and is doing well now. The

cardio doc

>said

>he came as close to dropping dead as he's ever seen. I couldn't

understand

>how this healthy, greens-eating, no-fat, runner could end up this

way. The

>doctor said it was due in no small part to the crap he ate as a

kid. That

>the 18

>and 19 year olds killed in Viet Nam were autopsied and had clogged

arteries

>from their "abundant" American diets. And he had my kids

cholesterol

>tested

>right away. Needless to say, we are no longer frequenting McD's

for fries

>every

>week. Fast food can have its place in a well-balanced diet, but we

have

>learned the hard way that it shouldn't be eaten on a regular

basis. GF

>buns are

>fine, but they are happy to wrap the burger in lettuce for you.

Again, let

>me

>say I am not trying to tell you or anyone how to feed your child.

But I

>had to

>look into my kids' eyes and tell them daddy was on the operating

table.

>And

>it really could have been prevented! We thought we were doing

pretty well

>keeping the kids on a balanced diet until we got the tests

results. It's

>amazing

>what a few french fries can do to your cholesterol levels! I think

it also

>helped that after hubby's surgery, we watched "Supersize Me", and

that

>sealed

>it for us. My feeling is, I didn't puke my guts out for years so I

could

>get a

>CD dx and eat GF McD buns...with the greasy burger and fatty fries,

a

>different kind of poison than the gluten. I now honor my new

healthy

>body with

>healthy foods...and the occasional treat. Sorry if this is

preachy, but

>heart

>disease is a very real threat and it starts in childhood. Unlike

CD, it is

>highly preventable!

>Dana, Gloriously GF

[Guest guest]

My feeling is, I didn't puke my guts out for years so I could get a

CD dx and eat GF McD buns...with the greasy burger and fatty fries, a

different kind of poison than the gluten.

Dana, Gloriously GF

Dana, I know what you mean. The food is certainly not a healthy

choice! The funny thing for us is that my kids NEVER ate a Mc's

burger before in their lives until AFTER we went gf! They always had

the nuggets. They won't eat the buns on a burger anyhow, so I don't

really care if we can get the gf buns or not. We just order the Happy

Meal burger without the bun, and they eat the meat plain and the

fries. My kids are still little and they mainly just like the fries

and toy! We only go to McD's about 1-2 times a month, so I am not too

worried about Cholesterol, since we eat very healthy at home the rest

of the time. We all deserve a treat every once in a while and if a few

dollars worth of fries seem like a treat to the kids, then so be it.

God bless,

nn

[Guest guest]

You made me laugh! I've noticed the same thing in my kids, too. Yes,

boys are unusual creatures. Lol!

> I know how hard it is to help your kid feel like they fit in--I

also have an

> 11 year old daughter with CD. It's a little easier with a girl, I

think,

> because, they are a bit weirder about food, or at least she and her

friends seem

> like it compared to my son and his friends. Some of the girls

order burgers

> on lettuce anyway, but the boys have to be alike, and they are less

confident

> about standing out. The girls think it's fun to have quirky

differences, but

> the boys would rather die! Very interesting. (I hope that doesn't

sound

> sexist, but it's something I've observed in my kids.)

> Dana, Gloriously GF