
The Gluten-Free Housewives of New Jersey
The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Quite possibly the most drama-filled reality television show there is. Sometimes you may ask yourself, Why am I even watching this train wreck? Well, because it’s awesome.
There’s the villain (Teresa). The bombshell (Melissa Gorga). The mother figure (Caroline). The lady that’s good at cooking (Kathy). And of course, the one that everyone loves (Jacqueline).
I found that if you look at any different group of people, things, or even food category, you can associate one distinct thing with each of the above housewife categories. So, since I enjoy spending my Sunday’s watching re-runs of Bravo TV, I felt nothing more suitable than to relate the gluten-free diet to the cast of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Brace yourself. Here we go.
The villain, Teresa –
This ingredient is one you can’t trust. You love it sometimes, and hate it other times. It has comforted you in the past, and hasn’t made you sick, but there are so many things about it that you can’t be sure of. This ingredient is soy sauce.
What brand is safe? Which restaurant’s soy sauce has wheat in it? Is that dish marinated in soy sauce? You love it when you can have it, yet it ruins meal options and ideas when you can’t.
The bombshell, Melissa –
What can’t we say about Melissa? She has it all. She was an underdog and was able to capture our attention and make us believe in her. She is an all-around entertainer. The Melissa-esque gluten-free product would be hard cider. Why?…because you didn’t really trust it at first.
You didn’t know if this beverage would measure up. I’m so used to beer (aka Teresa), so will hard cider even compare? After you heard both good and bad things, the only way to judge this ingredient was to find out for yourself. After doing so, you loved it.
The mother figure, Caroline –
The ingredient that is the most mother-like is one that holds everything together. Even in times when you aren’t really be sure how that’s possible it is able to accomplish that. It helps you to get things exactly right.
This ingredient is xanthan gum. You can trust that it will help translate your once favorite gluten-filled recipe to gluten-free perfection. Although you may not understand its magical gluten-free binding powers, you believe in them.
The cook, Kathy –
At first you’re like, Who is this chick? Then, after seeing what she can do in the kitchen you recognize the greatness. She knows what she’s doing and all you need to do is let her be heard.
The gluten-free comparative to Kathy is a new gluten-free company or product. When they first popped up you doubted them. What are their credentials? Do they know what they are doing? Is their kitchen cross-contamination free? Does their food even taste good? But, after you give them a chance and find out a little bit more about their background, you can recognize the greatness they have to offer.
The mediator, Jacqueline –
Jacqueline. How can you not like her? She is true to herself, and wants nothing more than to see everyone succeed. She hasn’t changed the type of person she is throughout any of the Real Housewives seasons, and has been consistent throughout the show.
The gluten-free version of Jacqueline would be all the naturally gluten-free foods out there. You didn’t have to change them once you went gluten-free. You were able to continue eating them just like you had always been. This includes foods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, etc. These foods might not always bring the most excitement, but you know you can always count on them.
What’s your favorite gluten-free cast member?
Do you have a favorite gluten-free food/cast member? Which food or product would you relate to each housewife category?
Laura Hanley, known as G-Free Laura, has been gluten-free since 2009 and reviews products,restaurants, and writes aboutgluten-free experiences on her blog, www.gfreelaura.com.Laura’s passion for spreading g-free love has led her to become a Guest Blogger for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, writing bi-weekly reviews on the Gluten-Free Hot Products Blog. Visit Laura onFacebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin, and Google +