Getting onstage in front of over 100 people at a celiac group conference last September gave me the jitters. Why am I up here? What do I have to say that these experts don’t already know? I had to remind myself: I was there to share my story—how celiac disease has influenced me and why I started the teen advisory board at Gluten.org. When I spoke about working with my school district to improve food labeling across 42 cafeterias, I received an unexpected standing ovation.  It took a long time for me to grow into a vocal advocate for food safety.

When I was diagnosed with celiac at age 5, it felt scary. While it was a relief to not have daily stomachaches anymore, I was worried I would never be a “normal” kid again. Birthday parties were the hardest. I couldn’t eat the cake, so my parents would send me along with my own treat. While my gluten-free cupcake probably tasted just as good as the cake being served, I felt left out and embarrassed...