Tim’s an editor, I’m a little intimidated to have him read this! Please don’t get your red pen out Tim! 🙂
Tim has a crazy busy life in New York, but I’m beyond happy that he took the time out to share his story with us!
Check it out below!!
1) Your story…tell us a little bit about yourself!
“I live in Brooklyn, NY with my wife and loads of house plants. I work as an editor at CNN and also do voice overs as a side gig…oh and I compose music for film sometimes (I’m really busy all the time). I was diagnosed with Celiac 10 years ago after four years of stomach problems and clueless doctors but now I’m doing so well I decided to start a YouTube channel for newly diagnosed Celiac patients. I didn’t have anything like this when I got started. My GI doctor downplayed the seriousness of the disease and just told me to Google gluten free and I’d be fine, failing to mention good resources like the Celiac Center at Columbia University or the NY Celiac Disease Meetup group that might have helped me out. Without a community of experts on the disease it took me a lot longer than it should have to start feeling better. I was making all these rookie mistakes because I didn’t know any better. So I wanted to provide new patients with a place to go to get on the right track to feeling better. The channel is called There is Life After Gluten because, after all these years of living with the disease, that’s what I want people to take away from my experience: you can live a relatively normal life with this disease. It does not have to lower your quality of life.”
2) Why do you eat gluten free food?
“Because it tastes really delicious…and also I would get really sick if I didn’t and I don’t like being sick.”
3) What is your favorite gluten free snack? Where can we find it?
“Hard to choose but one thing I’m always going back to is GoMacro bars, specifically the banana and almond butter variety. Try it! It’s everywhere!”
4) What’s your favorite gluten free recipe?
“My wife, who is vegan, and I love Lauren Toyota’s vegan recipes and are always going back to her Crispy Sweet and Sour Tofu recipe. Here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI8gmbIXTb8 We use Bob’s Red Mill AP flour instead of rice flour.”
5) What’s one thing you wish you knew when first went gluten free?
“That I couldn’t get away with things like eating french fries that were fried in a common fryer, and that I couldn’t get away with just rinsing a slice of turkey breast that had had gravy on it. I was doing some stupid stuff in the beginning and convincing myself it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.”
6) If you could only eat one gluten free meal for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
“I would have to resurrect a restaurant that closed in New York City, but the gluten free pizza at this place called Pala. The crust was amazing. I still dream about it.”
7) What advice would you give someone who is about to go gluten free?
“Get tested before you go gluten free. It’s better to know for sure that what you have is Celiac Disease and once you go gluten free the test will not be accurate. Also, watch my YouTube videos!”
8) What’s your favorite thing about being gluten free?
“The gluten free community. I’ve made friends with some of the coolest gluten free people over the years. The NYC Celiac disease meetup group has been especially helpful to me. Commiseration can be so therapeutic.”
9) What is one thing you dislike about being gluten free and what do youdo to mitigate it?
“Feeling left out of social situations. Things like when they bring food at work and there’s nothing I can eat. I will say though, that this gets better with time. People used to look at me like I had three heads when I said the words “gluten free.” Now, it’s not uncommon for a gluten free option to be provided without me having to ask. But meanwhile, I bring my own food all the time anyway.”
10) How can other people find you?
“My YouTube channel is called There is Life After Gluten and I am on Instagram @thereislifeaftergluten and Facebook as well at There is Life After Gluten.”
Thank you
Tim, thank you for taking the time to share your story with us! The good news about your favorite pizza place shutting down… you get to have an excuse to search for a new one!
I love that Tim values the importance of community! Go ahead, connect with him! Maybe share your favorite pizza with him, I hear he’s on the lookout for a new #1!
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