Happy World Thyroid Day.

I used to get annoyed at dietary demands … vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, no sugar, low carb, paleo, no lactose, no egg, no dairy; a seemingly endless list. I didn’t have a problem so much with life-threatening allergies such as no peanuts – where eating them can be fatal. My issue was more the folk who seemed to have preferences disguised as medical requirements.

Taking students to Japan always provided teaching and learning moments. Do you really mean you can’t eat that? Are you allergic, or are you burdening your generous host with an endless list of foods you just don’t particularly like?

“I can’t eat that!” Are you just not keen to try the sticky smelly Japanese natto (fermented beans), or will you break out in a rash? I can’t, or I can’t be bothered to even try a different food? Coaxing students to give new foods a try – it’s not “weird” or “not normal” – it’s just something different. Fortunately, some students found a new favourite food, just because they tried something different.

Mind you, we still can’t get Tom’s Mum to eat Italian food, although she has discovered the joys of a Chinese dish or two. “None of that foreign muck!!” So sad – there are so many delicious dishes in various cuisines.

Growing up on a farm, you ate what was prepared for you, and any preferences (I’m not overly keen on tomato) just meant maybe you had less, but you were rarely provided with an alternative. But I guess we do have food preferences, habits, and diet choices.

I’m reluctant to purchase grapes, lemons, or oranges; these were things you grew and ate, in season. Shelling buckets of peas and bagging them for freezing. Making jams when fruit was abundant. But buying these products as a city-living adult? It just doesn’t seem right. I am only just comfortable with store-bought eggs.

Coming from a wheat-producing farming family, gluten-free just goes against the grain. I’ve resisted going gluten-free. Maybe today on World Thyroid Day it’s time to give it a bit of a go. With Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, it’s not necessarily essential to be gluten-free. However, “Dr Google” would suggest gluten-free may be a good choice.

As we are getting a little older, things are starting to wear out. Deidre is keeping us updated with her carpal tunnel recovery experience. Other friends have been through operations over the years as we navigate the “50s.”

In a conversation with Tom just the other day, we surmised that there’s only probably 1% of his body parts that haven’t been repaired/are problematic/are broken/need help. And then we were trying to work out which ones they would be. His right big toe, perhaps (the left was broken in India), or left elbow.

Things are wearing out and breaking down. Maybe it’s time to review the diet choices, have a go at gluten awareness at least. Try and stick to that low-cholesterol diet that Doctor (my proper one, not Dr Google) wants me to. Eat more fruit and veggies. Get back into the routine of daily exercise. But perhaps before I do, just one more quick glass of wine …