Gluten Free Girls (and Guys!)

slm638

I just saw in the supermarket that Betty Crocker has GF brownies, chocolate and yellow cake, and chocolate chip cookies....Their website has some recipes for carrot cake, pineapple upside down cake and marble cake...

Those aren't available in Canada (neither are the chex gf cereals)

slm638

My daughter had her biopsy yesterday and she was very very brave for a 3 year old. Watching a 3 year old going under with gas is very hard to watch. DR could not confirm the results without the lab results but was pretty sure it is celiak. Today we started the gf diet and she did not like the waffles , I thought they were good! My wife is shopping right now with a friend of a friend who has been dealing with this for years. Sounds like they are loading up on things that we need. lots of things we are learning. Purchased a few new toasters for home, daycare and gradparents. Didnt know how sensitive these things can be. Do we need to buy different pots and pans, cups, plates and silverware? We have given her spots in the fridge and drawers to put all her stuff so we don't get things mixed. This is going to be difficult to get used to! Thanks for all the support and great info.

I think it depends on the severity of your daughter's gluten allergy, which you might not know until you get her off everything that has gluten in it for a good month at least and see. She might be okay to have her food prepared on the same surfaces, etc...or she might be at the extreme sensitivity end.
Also, don't get discouraged with the waffles and other GF foods she tries. They taste different but keep having her try them. It took our daughter quite a while to where she would eat some things but now she will pretty much eat any GF product I put in front of her. Well....the nasty bread being the exception. We are very very very lucky that she can do sprouted wheat. Thank God for that.

If she has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, there is no such thing as degree of sensitivity! It is contact, it is crumbs, it is all wheat, barley, rye and commercial oat products (or anything that has come into contact with these ingredients)...there is no tolerance level. A big misnomer that celiac disease is referred to as an "allergy" as it's actually an autoimmune response which is different. A lot of times, I'll explain it as an allergy as people find it easier to understand. If someone is just allergic, then the severity may vary, but not for those of us with celiac disease.
Even if there are no external symptoms, it is doing damage to her small intestine.

auntbliz

Bread- I make ours, it's better and cheaper than any I've tried, we don't have to toast it to make it edible, the recipe is somewhere in the first couple pages of this thread.

Our whole house is gluten free, and those who can eat gluten do so outside of the home and wash hands every time they get home regardless of what they've been doing. We tried having stuff that was not gluten free for the kids that are fine with it, but the 2 year old (now 3) kept getting glutened by the other kids not washing their places or even just touching their places while she was eating too. Anyway, we just avoid it by not letting any in the house now.

It's normal, I've read, for reactions to get more severe to gluten the longer that you are off of it. Also, a lot of people with celiacs are lactose intolerant, however sometimes this can go away once all the villi are repaired and your body can start processing the dairy again. Sometimes you become lactose intolerant because the part of the villi that deals with dairy is at the tip, so the last to heal, and then you discover that your body just can't process it. It's weird, but I guess the gist of it is, you may be able to have dairy again after a while off gluten, as in many months, maybe a year. For my son, he couldn't tolerate any dairy for probably 6 months after going gluten free, but now he does okay with cheese and yogurt and we don't have to read every label looking for anything dairy anymore. He's only 1.5 though, so he didn't have years of damage to his intestine. Anyway, just some food for thought.

LOVINLIFEGUY

we have the udi bread. I tasted it and it was ok, a little dry tho. I tasted the vans waffles and thought they were better than the eggos we had been eatting but my daughter did not agree. A long road ahead of us. I hope the first day at daycare being gf is going well.

soccerfanatic10

""I am looking for a good tasting gluten free bread. The ones we have tried so far have been, well, not good!
Do you have a favorite brand? Do you toast it?

My husband has major gluten allergies, as well as 2 of my 3 kids. We are switching to primarly gluten free at home.
Thanks for your suggestions.

~Sami ""

I just posted this topic in the food/nutrition topic section. Can you please chime in and let me know what type of bread you are using? Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :flowerforyou:

I like making bread from the Gluten Free Pantry French Bread and Pizza Mix. It also makes a wonderful pizza. The bread is really good especially the first couple days after its baked. I've always sliced it all up after its cooled and left some to use and put the rest in the freezer. The key for the freezer is for it to already be sliced. I add some flax seed to it to make it more healthy. You can bake it right in the loaf pan, no need to use a bread machine but you can if you want.

soccerfanatic10

My daughter had her biopsy yesterday and she was very very brave for a 3 year old. Watching a 3 year old going under with gas is very hard to watch. DR could not confirm the results without the lab results but was pretty sure it is celiak. Today we started the gf diet and she did not like the waffles , I thought they were good! My wife is shopping right now with a friend of a friend who has been dealing with this for years. Sounds like they are loading up on things that we need. lots of things we are learning. Purchased a few new toasters for home, daycare and gradparents. Didnt know how sensitive these things can be. Do we need to buy different pots and pans, cups, plates and silverware? We have given her spots in the fridge and drawers to put all her stuff so we don't get things mixed. This is going to be difficult to get used to! Thanks for all the support and great info.

I think it depends on the severity of your daughter's gluten allergy, which you might not know until you get her off everything that has gluten in it for a good month at least and see. She might be okay to have her food prepared on the same surfaces, etc...or she might be at the extreme sensitivity end.
Also, don't get discouraged with the waffles and other GF foods she tries. They taste different but keep having her try them. It took our daughter quite a while to where she would eat some things but now she will pretty much eat any GF product I put in front of her. Well....the nasty bread being the exception. We are very very very lucky that she can do sprouted wheat. Thank God for that.

If she has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, there is no such thing as degree of sensitivity! It is contact, it is crumbs, it is all wheat, barley, rye and commercial oat products (or anything that has come into contact with these ingredients)...there is no tolerance level. A big misnomer that celiac disease is referred to as an "allergy" as it's actually an autoimmune response which is different. A lot of times, I'll explain it as an allergy as people find it easier to understand. If someone is just allergic, then the severity may vary, but not for those of us with celiac disease.
Even if there are no external symptoms, it is doing damage to her small intestine.

Wonderful post! I hate when people refer to the disease as an allergy. It may take a while to get a positive diagnosis. Please try her on a totally gluten free diet and see how she feels. I went undiagnosed for 3 years and I wish I wasn't the niave teenager and went totally gluten free. I felt if it was a negative diagnosis then I didn't have it and could still eat. My mom has Celiac's disease so I knew I probably had it but again the test came back false. I severly damaged my intestines they were the worst case of inflammation my GI has seen.

Laceylala

My daughter had her biopsy yesterday and she was very very brave for a 3 year old. Watching a 3 year old going under with gas is very hard to watch. DR could not confirm the results without the lab results but was pretty sure it is celiak. Today we started the gf diet and she did not like the waffles , I thought they were good! My wife is shopping right now with a friend of a friend who has been dealing with this for years. Sounds like they are loading up on things that we need. lots of things we are learning. Purchased a few new toasters for home, daycare and gradparents. Didnt know how sensitive these things can be. Do we need to buy different pots and pans, cups, plates and silverware? We have given her spots in the fridge and drawers to put all her stuff so we don't get things mixed. This is going to be difficult to get used to! Thanks for all the support and great info.

I think it depends on the severity of your daughter's gluten allergy, which you might not know until you get her off everything that has gluten in it for a good month at least and see. She might be okay to have her food prepared on the same surfaces, etc...or she might be at the extreme sensitivity end.
Also, don't get discouraged with the waffles and other GF foods she tries. They taste different but keep having her try them. It took our daughter quite a while to where she would eat some things but now she will pretty much eat any GF product I put in front of her. Well....the nasty bread being the exception. We are very very very lucky that she can do sprouted wheat. Thank God for that.

If she has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, there is no such thing as degree of sensitivity! It is contact, it is crumbs, it is all wheat, barley, rye and commercial oat products (or anything that has come into contact with these ingredients)...there is no tolerance level. A big misnomer that celiac disease is referred to as an "allergy" as it's actually an autoimmune response which is different. A lot of times, I'll explain it as an allergy as people find it easier to understand. If someone is just allergic, then the severity may vary, but not for those of us with celiac disease.
Even if there are no external symptoms, it is doing damage to her small intestine.

Wonderful post! I hate when people refer to the disease as an allergy. It may take a while to get a positive diagnosis. Please try her on a totally gluten free diet and see how she feels. I went undiagnosed for 3 years and I wish I wasn't the niave teenager and went totally gluten free. I felt if it was a negative diagnosis then I didn't have it and could still eat. My mom has Celiac's disease so I knew I probably had it but again the test came back false. I severly damaged my intestines they were the worst case of inflammation my GI has seen.

I stand corrected and was NOT meaning to offend anyone by what I said. :indifferent:

runnerdad

If she has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, there is no such thing as degree of sensitivity! It is contact, it is crumbs, it is all wheat, barley, rye and commercial oat products (or anything that has come into contact with these ingredients)...there is no tolerance level. A big misnomer that celiac disease is referred to as an "allergy" as it's actually an autoimmune response which is different. A lot of times, I'll explain it as an allergy as people find it easier to understand. If someone is just allergic, then the severity may vary, but not for those of us with celiac disease.
Even if there are no external symptoms, it is doing damage to her small intestine.

Thank you for making that point. You always hear people talking about 'reducing gluten' or being 'mostly gluten-free', and I wonder, what's the point? You have to strive to eliminate it from your diet. As a non-celiac, gluten sensitivity person, I still work on gluten-free, even though I can probably tolerate it at a low level. But you are going to get that low level just by accident, especially if you eat out, just from contact / contamination in the kitchen or simply lack of knowledge from the kitchen staff. Even if you cook from home, some stuff you buy as gluten-free is not truly gluten-free, it just has a low enough level that they don't have to tell you about it. If you doubt how serious a problem cross contamination can be, talk to some one with peanut allergies.

iRun4wine

I 100% agree, Tom. And it sounds like you and I are pretty much in the same boat. I was told that I do not have Celiac's, but am gluten-intolerant. I eat 100% gluten free at home (not 90%, or "mostly" gluten free). I aim for 100% when eating out, but realize that that's probably unrealistic due to restaurant practices. When I accidentally eat gluten, boy can I tell a difference right way, and it usually lasts for a few days- most definitely not worth it :ohwell:

soccerfanatic10

I 100% agree, Tom. And it sounds like you and I are pretty much in the same boat. I was told that I do not have Celiac's, but am gluten-intolerant. I eat 100% gluten free at home (not 90%, or "mostly" gluten free). I aim for 100% when eating out, but realize that that's probably unrealistic due to restaurant practices. When I accidentally eat gluten, boy can I tell a difference right way, and it usually lasts for a few days- most definitely not worth it :ohwell:

I tend to stick with resturants that I know are safe. If its someplace I've never been I'll check the menu out ahead of time. I'm see more and more GF options and even seperate menus at some places.

I usually go with mexican and get a hard shell taco or fajitas and replace the flour with corn tortillas. I've been fine everywhere I've had a burger and fries (no bun obviously) or a piece of chicken.

I know what you mean about it lasting though. In high school fun sized candy bars were passed out. I took out the ones I already knew were unsafe but I didn't know milk ways were bad. The fun sized ones don't have the ingrediants on them. I knew I shouldn't have risked it but I ate it anyway. Another niave move of mine. I knew within 20 minutes I had reacted. I was out of school for 3 days after a little candy bar. I got home and looked it up online milk ways have barley and malt.

coronalime

SO I have been using taco shells for "sandwiches". I did tuna fish in 1 taco shell and egg salad in another. Its not that bad. A little messy but hey..

rtownzen

i'm so glad to see there's such a large gluten free community here! i'm gluten free and it's such a struggle cuz i'm in college, on a meal plan that is far from accommodating. i'm lactose intolerant, so i don't eat any dairy as well (i was a vegetarian before i came, and then i developed both my gluten and lactose intolerances...so now i'm basically vegan AND gluten free!). next year will be the same as well, i won't have a kitchen. i feel like the only options for me to eat are fruits/veggies, nuts, rice chex, potatoes and rice and i've gained so much weight! it's hard because i want to diet and i don't know what the best way to eliminate foods would be, as i eat such a small variety as it is. i've stopped eating potatoes (at least white ones) and rice and it hasn't made that much of a difference at all! any ideas?

Cassia

Ok this might not have any connection, but is there any way it could cause you to have a hard time losing weight? Or maybe lactose intolerance? I'm trying to figure out if i'm lactose intolerant.

soccerfanatic10

i'm so glad to see there's such a large gluten free community here! i'm gluten free and it's such a struggle cuz i'm in college, on a meal plan that is far from accommodating. i'm lactose intolerant, so i don't eat any dairy as well (i was a vegetarian before i came, and then i developed both my gluten and lactose intolerances...so now i'm basically vegan AND gluten free!). next year will be the same as well, i won't have a kitchen. i feel like the only options for me to eat are fruits/veggies, nuts, rice chex, potatoes and rice and i've gained so much weight! it's hard because i want to diet and i don't know what the best way to eliminate foods would be, as i eat such a small variety as it is. i've stopped eating potatoes (at least white ones) and rice and it hasn't made that much of a difference at all! any ideas?

Talk to the schools nutritionist. Celiac is considered a disability and is under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Basically they have to try and offer you some type of accomidation but it can be very little, see below.

I'm in college but I commute as its so much easier to live at home and eat. One school I wanted to go to was not accomidating at all to my needs. It was becoming too much of a headache. The most they would provide me was a freezer where I could put things like bread. They said the chefs would prepare something special if I wanted but I didn't want to risk the cross contamination. In a place like a dinning hall its about getting the food done fast and in large quantities. I couldn't be sure that I would get someone who knew about the disease, cross contamination etc that would be making my food.

Another one of the local schools (about 45 minutes away) had an article in the school newspaper about students with Celiac disease and other food intolerances and allergies. They worked with the schools nutritonists and went over the meal plans for the week and looked for what the students could eat. The nutrionists were really fired up about trying to help the students. They mentioned its not just the dinning hall but the little shops on campus don't have any GF foods which makes it really hard.

runnerdad

i'm so glad to see there's such a large gluten free community here! i'm gluten free and it's such a struggle cuz i'm in college, on a meal plan that is far from accommodating. i'm lactose intolerant, so i don't eat any dairy as well (i was a vegetarian before i came, and then i developed both my gluten and lactose intolerances...so now i'm basically vegan AND gluten free!). next year will be the same as well, i won't have a kitchen. i feel like the only options for me to eat are fruits/veggies, nuts, rice chex, potatoes and rice and i've gained so much weight! it's hard because i want to diet and i don't know what the best way to eliminate foods would be, as i eat such a small variety as it is. i've stopped eating potatoes (at least white ones) and rice and it hasn't made that much of a difference at all! any ideas?

Other than the nuts, what are you doing for protein? The rest of your diet sounds pretty much like high glycemic carbs - great way to gain weight. I would look into some protein supplement, like a soy protein shake, as a way to boost your protein intake without all the fat that comes with the nuts. (Not that you want to cut out all the fat, but you know what I mean, your primary protein source shouldn't come with high fat)

runnerdad

Ok this might not have any connection, but is there any way it could cause you to have a hard time losing weight? Or maybe lactose intolerance? I'm trying to figure out if i'm lactose intolerant.

You can be temporarily lactose intolerant if your celiac / gluten allergy is not well controlled, because it affects your digestion. Going gluten free and allowing your intestine to heal may make you more lactose tolerant. (I admit, lactose intolerance is relatively common, unrelated to gluten disorders, just saying)

Cassia

ok thanks! Does anyone find it easier to lose weight after discovering your allergie?

auntbliz

I lost about 20 pounds when I found out I was allergic to wheat and stopped eating it. It only took a couple months. It hasn't made it easier to lose the rest of the weight though Gluten intolerance is different though. My scrawny kids gained weight after we took them off gluten, but they are still skinny. But if gluten is part of your weight problem, then it likely will make it easier to lose weight if eating properly. Ugh, that sounds clear as mud huh? I'm too tired, lol.

Cassia

naw... i understand what you mean thanks!

lisa4kids

Hi...
I just started a gluten free diet due to probable wheat allergy and possible celiac disease. I was tested for celiac 2 years ago, but the biopsy at that point was negative, however my current doctor doesn't think biospies are totally accurate sometimes. Most recently, my stomach had blown up like a balloon and I looked pregnant. I have been simply miserable and living on Gas-Ex. In just 2 days of eating without wheat in my diet, I already feel a lot better. The increase in fruits and vegetables that I've made, have also helped my IBS problems.
I'm looking for as many pointers to living gluten free as possible...and hoping to take off some weight in the meantime!

iRun4wine

Hi...
I just started a gluten free diet due to probable wheat allergy and possible celiac disease. I was tested for celiac 2 years ago, but the biopsy at that point was negative, however my current doctor doesn't think biospies are totally accurate sometimes. Most recently, my stomach had blown up like a balloon and I looked pregnant. I have been simply miserable and living on Gas-Ex. In just 2 days of eating without wheat in my diet, I already feel a lot better. The increase in fruits and vegetables that I've made, have also helped my IBS problems.
I'm looking for as many pointers to living gluten free as possible...and hoping to take off some weight in the meantime!

As far as losing weight, look back through these posts- I just posted something yesterday or the day before about not substituting gluten free versions of regular foods if you're concerned with calories or losing weight. Good luck to you! :flowerforyou:

soccerfanatic10

Hi...
I just started a gluten free diet due to probable wheat allergy and possible celiac disease. I was tested for celiac 2 years ago, but the biopsy at that point was negative, however my current doctor doesn't think biospies are totally accurate sometimes. Most recently, my stomach had blown up like a balloon and I looked pregnant. I have been simply miserable and living on Gas-Ex. In just 2 days of eating without wheat in my diet, I already feel a lot better. The increase in fruits and vegetables that I've made, have also helped my IBS problems.
I'm looking for as many pointers to living gluten free as possible...and hoping to take off some weight in the meantime!

You sound like me. It took 3 years for me to finally get a positive Celiac disease diagnosis. I kept being told I had IBS but once I went GF all my IBS symptoms disappeared.

A big key is to read labels on EVERYTHING. Even things that may look safe could have gluten, wheat, barley, malt, rye, or oats all things you need to stay away from. You can look for gluten free oats, some people have been able to tolerate them. If you could eat oats before and be fine then you should be ok. Some companies will bold the word wheat or gluten, some won't that is why you need to read. Also sometimes the item looks fine (no wheat or gluten) but farther down the ingredient list will be malt which is usually not bolded.

If you have a Whole Foods near you that would be a great place to go or any type of health food store. Check Kroger or a similar grocery store. My Kroger has some nice GF selections.

GF food is more calorie dense than non GF packaged items so be careful. GF food is also pretty expensive so it can add up. However, lean meats like chicken, turkey, fruits and veggies, are always GF.

ccaruso219

Hi Everyone,

Got a question for all of you....Are any of you taking any supplements to offset any of the vitamins lost from not eating wheat? I was watching Dr. Oz the other day and a woman with Celiac asked if there was anything she could do because she feels tired all the time....He recommended that she take L-Carnitine. I was at my local VitaminWorld last night and the woman there told me that it is possible that it will help boost energy because it is supposed to boost your metabolism and it helps with weight loss. Does anybody use this or anything like it? I just started using it this morning so I'll let you guys know how it works....Oh by the way any products made by Vitaminworld are gluten free.......

runnerdad

However, lean meats like chicken, turkey, fruits and veggies, are always GF.

An meat is naturally gluten free, but you have to be careful with turkey that is 'internally basted' - the broth they inject isn't necessarily GF.

yvonneh

Whats everyone doing to "keep things moving". Are you adding a daily laxative or metamuccil daily? I dont eat the breads or pastas really and I cant get enough veggies in. Now on South Beach and its really a problem...Any thoughts?

Try adding a couple of tablespoons of ground flaxseed into your diet. You can sprinkle them on salads, put them in smoothies, or just mix it in with some juice/liquid (but drink right after you stir, and it will tast bland).

soccerfanatic10

However, lean meats like chicken, turkey, fruits and veggies, are always GF.

An meat is naturally gluten free, but you have to be careful with turkey that is 'internally basted' - the broth they inject isn't necessarily GF.

This is true. I only get honeysuckle white products. I get the turkey breast from them and cook it up in a crockpot, really good. The gravy that comes with it (seperate packet) is gluten free as well.

Anyone have problems with Tyson chicken? I can't eat it, it makes me sick.

ccaruso219

[Anyone have problems with Tyson chicken? I can't eat it, it makes me sick.
[/quote]

I'm not a fan of Tyson Chicken....For some reason it gives me a bad stomach ache...I have no problem with Perdue chicken. Back in 2008, Tyson was caught by the USDA for injecting hormones into chickens before they were hatched....Also if it means anything, Tyson supplies KFC....

soccerfanatic10

[Anyone have problems with Tyson chicken? I can't eat it, it makes me sick.

I'm not a fan of Tyson Chicken....For some reason it gives me a bad stomach ache...I have no problem with Perdue chicken. Back in 2008, Tyson was caught by the USDA for injecting hormones into chickens before they were hatched....Also if it means anything, Tyson supplies KFC....
[/quote]

Same here! I live with my dad and he used to throw a huge fit because I asked him to get Perdue chicken instead of Tyson. I told him it made me sick but he doesn't believe me. I buy my own chicken now.

Perdue is good but only one grocery store out of three in my town sells it. The other two (Kroger and Meijer) only sell Tyson.

yvonneh

Ok this might not have any connection, but is there any way it could cause you to have a hard time losing weight? Or maybe lactose intolerance? I'm trying to figure out if i'm lactose intolerant.

I've been looking all over the internet about this same question the past two weeks, and there sure seems to be a lot of people who have celiac or gluten intolerance and who are also having a hard time losing weight. There are some posts earlier in this thread about it. On a couple of sites, I read people were told by their doctors to be prepared to actually gain some weight because the gluten damaged the intestine and prevented the body from absorbing food properly. Once you take it away, the body begins to heal and holds on because before it was in a form of starvation. There seems to be a lot left to learn about this disease, but the consensus seems to be that you may gain for a while, then level off. Even then, many people said it came off very slowly.

I regularly exercised, but if I'd known this was a risk in advance, I would have been sure to exercise more and count calories to minimize the gain. As it was, my eating habits and exercise stayed fairly constant, yet I gained about 20 pounds the first year and a half after I went GF, then - also no real change in habits - I have leveled off and stayed the same the last year. Some people attribute it to the high glycemic index of many gluten free foods, and while I'm sure that played a small part, I really don't eat that many processed gf products.

I did read on some forums that removing dairy did help, so I've started that this week.

Here's the link to one forum I've been following on this topic. http://www.topix.com/forum/health/celiac-disease/TVI22V2LD9686BV68

It doesn't make the weight magically disappear, but at least it is a relief to understand what has probably been going on the past few years - I may still feel frustrated, but at least I don't feel so guilty :-)

iRun4wine

When I first knew something was wrong, but hadn't identified it as a gluten issue it was darn near impossible for me to lose weight. I was ALWAYS starving hungry and would often pig out and show no self control whatsoever. I had never, ever done that before in my life. Looking back, I pigged out on gluten-containing foods. Since I've been gluten-free I don't have nearly the hard time I used to.