When I was a junior in high school, I got really sick. Prior to this, I was in fantastic shape and had just finished my first ride with the Pan-Mass Challenge. I went from working out every single day to unable to do anything, at all, even go to school. I eventually found out I had mono and was sick for months. I kept going back to the doctor because my body wouldn’t heal, and they kept telling me it was just a post-viral syndrome. When I finally convinced my doctor to test me for lupus, the blood test came back positive. After three years, dozens of visits with specialists, a couple ambulance rides, and plenty of missed school, I was finally diagnosed with celiac disease.

People who don’t take it seriously or equate it to a “diet” that I choose.

What is the most common misconception about being gluten-free?/ What would you like people to know about celiac disease?

The most common misconception about being gluten-free is that it’s a choice. Gluten-free diets have been on the rise in recent years, which is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it creates more options and companies capitalize on the market for gluten-free options. On the other, it makes people take it less seriously in restaurants, etc - for every person with celiac disease there are several who are gluten-free by choice, and restaurants start to take it less seriously.

I’ve always loved to write, and have always thought about starting a blog, but never thought I had much to write about. After meeting my boyfriend, I became particularly inspired to start a blog - as a sort of side hustle, but also a place to educate others and share my story. We had talked about it for a while, but never did anything with it. On a trip to San Diego, my boyfriend and I came up with the name, came home, bought the domain, and the rest is history!

Hopefully, a podcast in the near future! I have tons of future plans for OBGF, which include everything from educating restaurants, to a podcast… to bigger businesses down the line. Can’t share too much! ;)

Breaking into spaces where people hang out - for example, the podcast space. It’s huge right now, and its the one platform where you don’t require your audience’s complete attention. I plan on releasing other educational products in the near future, to make a difference in the restaurant business and the problems there are with how celiac disease is perceived.

Health in general! If you scroll through my Instagram page, you see a whole lot of junk food, but that’s not an accurate perception of my life. While I love finding the best gluten-free restaurants, my day to day diet is wayyy more plant-based and balanced than nachos and fried foods (lol!). I love spin, cycling, yoga, music… travel, podcasts, reading, writing - I have lots of passions!

Thank you Mastering Progress for interviewing me - looking forward to lots of great content:)

Forms of Contact:

Check out my blog: onebiteglutenfree.com, and instagram: onebiteglutenfree

With specific inquiries or questions, annie@onebitegf.com