Kim and I have often expressed how we appreciate certain foods more, now that they're not readily available. We've pondered the psychological impact of going gluten-free and all of the different emotional experiences gluten-free acquaintances have shared with us. Some people are angry, some people focus more on the positive, others are moved to tears when they eat a tasty gluten-free pizza for the first time after a long wait.
Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project may have shed some light onto our musings. One of her recent entries entitled, A Daily Luxury is No Luxury reflects on whether deprivation of indulgences brings greater satisfaction when they are later reintroduced. I definitely think that this is the case when I find a new recipe or new product as a substitution for an old glutenous food that is now forbidden. The search is like a treasure hunt and when I find something so good, so real, so like I remember it being, it leads to pure tastebud ecstasy. My overall appreciation for the experience is much greater, I've noticed, than those who have the luxury of being able to eat anything.
I am due to receive my copy of the current bestseller, The Paradox of Choice, which examines our society as a whole and the over abundance of choice, which can lead to major dissatisfaction in life. I'm expecting it to be a very interesting read. Perhaps there is a way to perceive our diet limitations as a passageway to appreciating more?
