Anyone here have celiac? Help!!!!!!!

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Replies

  • rotill
    rotill Posts: 244 Member
    As people say: Just drop the bread. It's fairly easy to make things with baking soda and naturally gluten-free flour though. This means that bisquits, waffles, cookies and pancakes are still within reach. Rice, corn and oats are naturally gluten free, and breakfast can easily be changed from bread to oatmeal, for instance.

    The challenge appears to be his lunch. Does he have access to a microwave? My male colleages in my previous job were about to die with envy at lunch, as I reheated last night's dinner, while they had sandwiches. If not, and he can't sit down at a table for a lunch with plates and knife/fork, you need to think about finger-food or something to eat with just a fork or chopsticks. How about potatoes, raw vegetables, mayonnaise and slices of steak or fish? Easy to pack, put the mayo in a little box, and it can be eated with relatively little mess with the fingers while stuck in an office, a car or on a boat - or anywhere else.

    It's a transition phase, but it's not the end of the world. By and by he will discover that he feels much better when eating gluten free, and the craving for bread will disappear. I actually feel very reluctant to eat gluten free bread now, because I am so used to the bad reaction I get from eating normal bread: Bread and illness have become closely associated in my mind.

    Good luck!

    PS: about the oats - oats are naturally gluten free, but they often grow in fields where wheat, rye or barley tend to get mixed in. This means that regular oat mixes often contain gluten, and celiacs need to be careful. If you can get oats that are not "infested" with other grains, either before or after the harvest, they are gluten free.
  • megsybeth
    megsybeth Posts: 23 Member
    I have Celiac's Disease and spend a lot of time on celiac.com where they have really active boards. How is your husband's weight? I just ask because I'm on this board because of the weight gain I've had since going off gluten. It can be a little frustrating for me sometimes because going gluten free for weight loss is so popular, but many of us were very thin and could eat everything when undiagnosed. The Celiac's disease, as I'm sure you know, can make your body not absorb fat and nutrients. I used to eat a ton of sugary carbs because my body was starving and I never gained. Now I never eat pancakes or other starchy foods, no muffins, scones, etc. but I'm up two dress sizes and ten pounds. So I'd try very hard to swap in vegetables wherever possible.

    For treats I use Pamela's flour, also for waffles for my boys. If your family really likes bread I'd recommend getting a bread machine and playing around with recipes on celiac.com and other gluten free sites. Watch out for rice flour as that's kind of the "white flout" of gf foods and it's very high calorie. We don't eat much bread. I've actually never had GF bread because it was never my thing, but I keep Udi's millet/Chia bread in the freezer. My non-celiac DH likes it and so do my boys.
  • amybg1
    amybg1 Posts: 631 Member
    A friend of mine has celiac and we've had sleepovers over there a few times. their wheat substitutes aren't great but if you guys like bread there is one company whom we all agree tastes pretty decent called Udi's.

    In terms of flours there are a few out there taht can be bought but be warned it won't turn out the same as when using regular
  • Hi, I was just diagnosed in november, but after living with a roommate for over 2 years with the allergy the transition was not very hard at all! One thing I found interesting, if your husband gets a biopsy to diagnose his allergy, submit this diagnosis to the government. Then keep all your receipts on gluten free products (the ones that cost 5X the price) and the government will give you back money. Celiac disease is considered a "disability". So you will get paid "disability". By roomate has been doing this for over 10 years and gets around $1000 back each year.
    Small towns can be HARD to find products.

    Here are some things to shop for (if possible):
    - Chex cereal.
    - The brand: Glutino (their bread is actually decent), they have granola bars, pretzles etc
    - Betty crocker
    - Buy a recipe book for gluten free cooking. Alot of the time quinoa can be substituted in muffins.
    - Rice cakes! So good. Lots of Chips are gluten free (so if you like nachos!)
    - Gluten free pancake mix!

    Some things I generally snack on (snacks are the hardest)
    - Apple & Peanut Butter
    - Egg
    - Rice cake
    - Veggies & Hummus
    - Nuts
    - Dried fruits
    - popcorn

    Somethings that Gluten is hidden in:
    - Soy sauce
    - BBQ sauce
    - Gravy
    - Anything that is a gel kind of liquid (flour is usually used to thicken)

    I hope this helps! I know another one of my friends was diagnosed around the same time and the transition has been really hard!
    Best Wishes!
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    My diet is very restricted from IBS, reflux and migraines. So no nitrates (deli meats or sausage) no tomatoes (:noway: :sad: no tomato sauce?) and now I have gone GF at the gastro's suggestion.

    I am truly not sure if gluten has played a role in the IBS or reflux for me. The celiac/gluten intolerence test results are not back at this time.

    It is daunting to work up the calories when you are without those fillers. (as was the OP issues I believe)

    I found Udi's GF bagels at the grocery and doubled my lunch calories in a snap. This was good for me as I was eating 800-900 a day and a healthy range with no exercise is 1200-1500 for me to lose 1/2-1 pound a week.

    My nutrients were fantastic, and actually my energy has been wonderful this week, but I dare not exercise on that kind of intake except light weights.

    I have not played with recipe's yet because I do not crave sweets or breads/pastas at all. This is nothing short of a miracle for me!! :laugh: