Breaking bread: Celiac disease and the gluten-free diet

The Gluten-Free Diet (GFD), the treatment for Celiac Disease (CD), is being widely prescribed by physicians in Canada. Despite the proven effectiveness of the GFD to heal the small intestine, many of those with CD are not following the restrictive dietary treatment. In this study, qualitative data were collected during 20 semi-structured interviews with people who have CD about daily life on a GFD, which provide an “on the ground” examination of the actual practice and experience of the diet. From an anthropological perspective, many of the problems inherent in the GFD stem from the social uses of food. Results and discussion focus on how participants (1) learn the GFD, (2) avoid gluten contamination and (3) manage the GFD in social situations within and outside the home. For many, the GFD is complicated and difficult to maintain, socially isolating, and involves an increased amount of effort, especially for GFD food-providers (most often female). This thesis contributes to the understanding of social uses of food, as they relate to the GFD, providing helpful insight for those with CD and their families, nutritionists, physicians and psychologists, in their efforts to successfully treat CD.