When Annie Toro Lopez was diagnosed with celiac disease, she could have let it stop her. Instead, she turned her lifelong love of food and writing into a new path — creating cookbooks that empower people with celiac to feed themselves and their families confidently.

Annie has always identified as a writer. From teaching reading and writing in Aurora, Colorado, to publishing articles and grants, writing was always part of her identity. But it wasn’t until she began sharing her personal stories on Substack, through her project Chronicling the Human Condition, that Annie began to write with her most authentic voice.

In came her diagnosis. In the middle of deep personal losses — her sister and best friend passing away just weeks apart — Annie also learned she had celiac disease. For a lifelong food writer, the news was devastating. “It was identity loosening,” she says. “Who am I now if I can’t eat or cook the way I always have?”

But Annie leaned on her skills as a teacher and food professional. Instead of focusing on what she couldn’t eat, she focused on what she could. And she noticed a huge gap: most gluten-free cookbooks centered on baking, but what newly diagnosed families needed were the basics — simple, nourishing meals anyone could make without special ingredients.

Her gluten-free cookbook was born out of gratitude. With the help of over 100 recipe testers on Facebook, Annie created a book filled with whole-food, easy-to-source recipes that work for the whole family. One mother told Annie her 16-year-old daughter with celiac was finally able to enjoy healthy, tasty meals thanks to the book. “That was it,” Annie says. “That moment made me know this was worth it.”

Beyond the kitchen, Annie has built community in other ways. She founded the Denver Area Women’s Network for Women 50+, which now has over 500 members. What started as a way for Annie to find connection during a hard season has grown into a vibrant group of women who meet weekly over coffee, lunch, and events.

Her advice for aspiring writers is simple but powerful: keep writing. Annie encourages anyone who doubts their story’s value to remember that people need to hear it. “Don’t think your story isn’t important enough. It is. Keep writing, keep going, don’t stop.”

Annie’s story is a reminder that writing isn’t just about words on a page — it’s about healing, teaching, and connecting. Whether through a gluten-free recipe or a heartfelt memoir, her voice is helping others find hope and belonging.