Gluten Free?

Missaeriel

Hey everyone,

Through speaking with my doctor and a family member who has a gluten intolerance I have decided to cut out gluten for a period of time to see if it eliminates some of the gluten intolerance symptoms I am currently experiencing. However, I am very overwhelmed with the vast amount of products in my kitchen and grocery store that contain gluten. Is there anyone out there with tips on how to tackle this new way of eating or maybe some favorite gluten free products/recipes. The internet, of course, has such a vast amount of information and contradicting "facts" that I thought I would ask the dependable members of MFP first

teachfl2

Hi there! I have a wheat allergy and recently eliminated wheat from my diet (I just do gluten free). It is really hard though. There are alot of great gluten free products, but there are some that are just nasty. Also I have noticed that gluten free foods are really expensive. But if it is going to make you feel better than it is worth it. My local grocery store is really good about labeling things that are gluten free with a big GF sign next to the price. Also, a lot of foods out there have gluten free on the package, so that is helpful. I love VANS gluten free blueberry waffles! Rice Krispies also just came out with a gluten free version!

Feel free to message me and maybe we can tackle this together!

fluecok

i have celiac which means no gluten
especially wheat!!! makes me really sick

pasta is my fave!!!!
and tortillas....are my kryptonite!!!!

what i do is focus on the things i CAN eat
its overwhelming to think about every thing i am NOT able to eat
which is a lot to take in at one time

and yes!!! a lot of gluten free foods are disgusting but some are not so bad
you just have to taste and go

since a lot are expensive
i found new places
our local asian market carry a lot of gluten free products at real cheap prices
same pastas are over $5 at other stores and more
but i found they run a dollar or so in the Asian market

my diet usually consists of meats, veggies and fruit
not so bad now
but at first it was such a hassle
i do treat myself to pasta or a tortilla once in a while

i think i just ranted.... lol....

Bunna99

Been gluten free now for about two weeks. I'd say take that time to read up on what you can and can't eat, and look for the hidden gluten in things. Keep your eating simple during this time. Then you can start branching out into some gluten-free products. I like Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Granola, Udi's Vanilla Granola, Glutenfreeda Beef and Potato burrito (frozen), Gluten Free Cafe Lemon Basil Chicken (frozen).

Good luck - I feel so much better! Hope you will too!
Carolyn

ehunte

Since I started my changed way of eating with MFP I've discovered my gluten intolerance. I now shop down the gluten free aisle of my local grocery store and I tend to make most of what I eat and I read all labels. There is actually gluten-free pasta but I haven't tried it since I'm not big on pasta. You are right - if it says gluten-free it is 2x more expensive than the non gluten-free.

I eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy. If I eat tortillas, they are corn not flour based.

It gets easier once you work through what you can eat. Good luck on your journey to health

Bunna99

BTW I have been reading Elizabeth Hasselbeck's book, the G free diet. Don't like her so much but the book has great information!

suziecue66

You have to change the way you eat by not just chaning to gluten-free products. Some gluten-free products are okay but its a good time to concentrate on eating protein, some good fats and lots of vegies and fruit. If you have weight to lose it will start falling off. You can then also take some kind of supplements to heal the gut that the gluten caused over time.

meshashesha2012

i also have gluten intolerances and now i mainly buy fresh fruits and veggies, sweet potatoes, avocados, eggs, chicken, turkey and beef.

if you like pasta trader joe's has a nice assortment of gluten free stuff made from brown rice that's a bargain. i also get rice noodles from the korean grocer and those are super cheap.

TJ also has tortillas made from brown rice (i also miss tortillas) but these never stay together well enough that you can use them as a burrito wrap. i end up just cutting them into squares, drizzling a little olive oil and sea salt on and baking to make my own tortilla chips

stay away from processed lunch meats because those all have gluten in them.

i try not to buy stuff that's specifically marked as gluten free version of stuff that normally has gluten since they will be way more expensive than needed and there's usually more sugar, salt, calories than you'd want.

the good thing is that all of my trigger foods that lead me to overeat have gluten, so allergies gives me a great excuse to avoid them

kleighsamboer

veggies, dark leafy greens and fruit are your friends! If you have a fred meyer near you they have a pretty great gluten free section and do some research online. there is gluten in many products that you would never think about having gluten in them

babyblooeyes

If you want lunch meat the only one I know that is gluten free is Hormel All Natural, preservative free and gluten free. Trader joes can also give you a list of their gluten free products.

Theresa

sweetsierra

I agree with the person above that said focus on what you can eat, not what you can't.

A few tips:

1. Don't try to replace food you're eating now with gluten-free options. Meaning, instead of eating gluten free bread for your sandwiches (which is usually pretty gross anyways), eat a salad. However, rice pasta and quinoa pasta is pretty yummy if you need it and they are more complex carbs than regular pasta.
2. Lots of foods are naturally gluten free. Rice is a great option for grains, as is quinoa. Be adventurous and try new things.
3. Gluten is a tricky ingredient and shows up in foods you wouldn't expect it to. For example: soy sauce, Twizzlers, and some gum. ALWAYS check labels! Oh, and be familiar with other terms that describe gluten. Examples: malt, graham, spelt, kamut, semolina....all these have gluten in them.
4. The internet is your friend. There is a WEALTH of info out there and blogs with great gluten free recipes!

Missaeriel

Thank you for all of your great tips and advice!