Today we’d like to introduce you to Margaret Clegg.
Hi Margaret, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2001. At the time, I knew nothing about this autoimmune disease. I only later learned that both my dad and my grandmother lived with Celiac Disease… In fact, my dad wasn’t following a gluten-free diet when I was first diagnosed.
At first, it was hard living with Celiac Disease. I was a college student and had little support from my significant other at the time. Thankfully, there was a local support group that helped educate and support me.
That, in turn, caused me to want to support others living with Celiac Disease. First, my dad, but I found other ways to help. For a short time, I organized a gluten-free food fair that drew people from across Michigan and beyond. In our last year, we even offered Celiac Disease screening through Sparrow Hospital.
I also helped with a gluten-free camp for kids. For a long time, I organized the volunteers, planned the menu, and sought gluten-free food donations. For one week, myself and other volunteers prepared 3 meals a day, from scratch for 30+ kids. The camp has since moved to Camp Copneconic, where they have sufficient staff to safely prepare meals.
In 2012, I started a blog about gluten-free living. What once started as a hobby has now grown and helped me be an advocate for so many people. I’ve been interviewed by local news stations and newspapers and even been on informational panels organized by hospitals. I’ve helped with studies on the safety of gluten-free food and am honored to be friends with highly influential people in the Celiac Disease community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing a blog and social media presence is not as easy as one may think. Especially as the gluten-free diet grows, there are more and more people in this niche space people can follow. It can be easy to compare oneself to the success of others and wonder if you’re making a difference.
But I have some amazing followers who are just as supportive of me as I am of them. I really do take pride in the kind community of followers I have. They are quick to help each other with suggestions, just as much as I am. As much as I share about new gluten-free foods, bakeries, or restaurants, my followers share with me what they find too. It’s a good give-and-take.
We’ve been impressed with MI Gluten Free Gal, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started the blog MI Gluten Free Gal in 2012. It started as a hobby, but now I have over 20,000 followers on social media. I share about Celiac Disease research, gluten-free recipes, and restaurant reviews. I’ve become a trusted resource for those following a gluten-free diet, and I don’t take that trust lightly.
My most sought-after content is gluten-free restaurant reviews and information about gluten-free bakeries. I love being able to share about small businesses who take the gluten-free diet seriously. While my focus will always be on the needs of those who have to eat gluten-free, I’ve really grown into trying to support and show off the great things about Michigan as well.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
The biggest risk I took was leaving my long-term job to work on my blog full-time. That was back in 2015. and it wasn’t as easy as a transition as I thought it would be. I’ve still worked small part-time jobs in the meantime, whether it be substitute teaching or social media management for a small company.
My husband is very supportive of what I do, and taking the risk is easier, knowing that we have his income to support us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://miglutenfreegal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miglutenfreegal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miglutenfreegal
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/miglutenfreegal/
Image Credits
Cider Mill graphic
