My favorite season is autumn, and I can always tell when it's approaching. In my area, the heat lingers, so some September days are still above 80 degrees, which makes the afternoons feel like summer. That said, I do notice the signs of autumn: the days becoming shorter and the sun setting earlier. The light becomes softer and more golden than it is in July. A peaceful feeling accompanies the start of a new season. This year, however, autumn feels different because it is my first on a gluten-free diet.

Making the Most of Fall

Getting used to baking without wheat flour has been a real challenge. I've substituted gluten-free flour for some of my normal recipes. In some cases, it works very well, but other times the recipe fails. Some days everything turns out fine; other days I have to discard it. I miss some of my favorite desserts, the ones that I used to make without having to think twice.

On certain occasions, it is difficult to eat gluten-free, and I long for the foods I used to enjoy. However, I have been discovering some new ones that I now like. I make apple crisp by topping it with oats, and the whole kitchen fills with a sweet, warm smell. I roast pumpkin with various spices and then eat it straight from the pan. When a recipe turns out well, I feel pleased, and it reminds me that I can still prepare good food even if it's not the same as it used to be. I am surprised by how many foods I still enjoy, even though they are different.

Since this is my first year eating gluten-free, I know it will be a learning process. I am watching what I eat a lot more than before. Before I buy food, I check the labels to see if it has gluten. When I go out to eat, I ask questions, like which foods are safe for me or what is in the sauce. Sometimes it feels a little weird to ask these things, but I do it because I want to take care of myself. Step by step, I am getting better at this, and it is starting to feel more normal.

This fall, I have been thinking about traveling less and spending more time at home. Simply because I have some projects I want to do, both inside and outside. I need to fix or clean up things in the house before the holiday season approaches. I also have jobs to do in the yard or garden. There is a certain comfort in caring for my own space as the weather turns. I rake the leaves that gather by the door and trim back the plants that are done for the year. Inside, I wash the windows, swap my thin summer blankets for heavier ones, and clear out the closets I have ignored all year.

The work I do around the house is not exciting, but it makes me feel good when I finish. Every small job makes the house nicer and ready for the cold weather. When I finish even a small chore, I feel proud of myself. Doing these things helps me take care of my home and myself. Fall makes me slow down and notice the small jobs I usually skip or forget. This year, I want to take my time and enjoy them instead of rushing.

For me, the cooler season means spending more time reading or listening to music when I am not working. Sometimes I sit by the window with tea and look outside while the sun goes down. I also love to bake simple things, like chocolate chip cookies with almond flour or apple crisp, and the smell fills the room. These things help me notice what is happening around me and enjoy the little parts of my day.

Autumn isn't perfect, because I still miss some things about summer, and sometimes I wish the change would come faster. Adhering to a gluten-free diet has made this season more difficult than it used to be; I now have to plan more, read more, and say no more often than I'd like to. This difficulty makes the good moments stand out, because when something does succeed, such as when a new recipe works out or when an apple tastes perfect straight from the tree, I notice them more than I ever have before.

I also realize that everything is always changing, and that I, too, can change with it. I am learning how to adapt and am finding new ways to enjoy the things I have always loved. Even though the season looks a bit different this year, it is still mine, and I am still going through it, step by step, one cool morning at a time.