Going Gluten Free... Tips?

We made that change when my Dad was diagnosed. Be sure to read all labels. Some brands of soy sauce have wheat others don't, it is the same with most sauces and dressings. Many soups are gluten free (but check by brand and flavor, around me Progresso is usually good but Campbell's has wheat listed in everything) There is prepackaged gluten free bread or you can make your own, but store it in the freezer because it tends to go bad quickly. A lot of the time my Dad just eats the cold cuts or orders a sandwich without the roll - even cheesesteaks. For snacks fruits and veggies are always good and healthy. (potato chips and corn chips are gluten free - but that won't help if you are looking for healthy. ) We eat a lot of rice now; anything can go with rice.

I really like Canyon Bakehouse bread (my favorite is the "rye" bread - I swear it tastes like the real thing). Also, try corn pasta. Imo it holds up and doesn't get mushy like other brands. And it's cheaper. Glutino has some decent cookies, and Betty Crocker mixes are good too!

Oh you can use sauces and marinades, just check that they're gluten free first. If it doesn't specify, call the company or Google it (a lot of times someone has already posted it). My mom uses salad dressing as marinade all the time too.

Also, when you're eating at restaurants/bars/cafes, never assume it's gluten free! I've been caught out by many things ... the most surprising was hot fries at a bar ... turned out they had a delicious and invisible flavoured coating that was wheat based. And if in doubt ... just don't eat it :-(

San-J and VH are all certified gluten free Asian sauces that are great and will dress up anything. They are available at all grocery stores and not overly expensive either. You could join us on the Gluten Free MFP group if you like.

auntchellebelle wrote: »

I recently found out that I have Celiac Disease and it is causing severe anemia. One way to correct this is living a gluten free life style.

What are some must have gluten free snacks and meals?

There really isn't much to suggest, outside of being really careful to get into the habit of reading labels/knowing what to look for, and learning what products you like/don't like. Just like with any other food group, it's a case of trial and error to figure out what you like/don't like.

It's really hard to suggest things if you aren't specific about what you need to replace since a lot of food is becoming gluten free these days, and it's about your preference. There is also a lot of variance depending on where you are! I've had a lot of Eatrageous, Amy's Annie's, Udi's, Van's, Nature's Path, Cascadian Farms, and a few others i can't think of off the top of my head. Whenever i've accidentally consumed gluten (or had any tummy trouble really) Good Belly has been of a huge help. They have a few gluten free products but not all of them are.

Make sure you're getting your vitamins, as bread tends to be fortified with vitamins! And be wary of everything - as little as 50ppm of gluten is enough to evoke a reaction (a slice of bread has a ton ton TON more ppm than that), so you have to ensure everything you're having is gluten free. You can't assume anything - even if you're having straight up black coffee, ask to see the package or go onto the website. Unless it's been certified gluten-free it's risky to consume!