[Info from the Mayo Clinic]


DEFINITION
A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes the protein gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye).

Initially, following a gluten-free diet may be frustrating. But with time, patience and creativity, you'll find there are many foods that you already eat that are gluten-free and you will find substitutes for gluten-containing foods that you can enjoy.

DIET DETAILS
Switching to a gluten-free diet is a big change and, like anything new, it takes some getting used to. You may initially feel deprived by the diet's restrictions. However, try to stay positive and focus on all the foods you can eat. You may also be pleasantly surprised to realize how many gluten-free products, such as bread and pasta, are now available. Many specialty grocery stores sell gluten-free foods. If you can't find them in your area, check with a celiac support group or go online. [Amazon and eBay have lots of options.]

ALLOWED FOODS
Many healthy and delicious foods are naturally gluten-free:

o Beans, seeds, nuts in their natural, unprocessed form
o Fruits and vegetables
o Most soy products
It's important to make sure that they are not processed or mixed with gluten-containing grains, additives or preservatives. Many grains and starches can be part of a gluten-free diet:

YUMMY GLUTEN-FREE GRAINS
o Amaranth
o Arrowroot
o Buckwheat (Just a name, not really wheat)
o Corn and cornmeal
o Flax
o Gluten-free flours (rice, soy, corn, potato, bean)
o Hominy (corn)
o Millet
o Quinoa
o Rice
o Sorghum
o Soy
o Tapioca
o Teff

ALWAYS AVOID
Avoid all food and drinks containing:
o Barley (malt, malt flavoring and malt vinegar are usually made from barley)
o Rye
o Triticale (a cross between wheat and rye)
o Wheat
o Avoiding wheat can be challenging because wheat products go by numerous names. Consider the many types of wheat flour on supermarket shelves — bromated, enriched, phosphated, plain and self-rising. Here are other wheat products to avoid:
o Bulgur
o Durum flour
o Farina
o Graham flour
o Kamut
o Semolina
o Spelt
o Avoid unless labeled 'gluten-free'

In general, avoid the following foods unless they're labeled as gluten-free or made with corn, rice, soy or other gluten-free grain:

o Beer
o Breads
o Cakes and pies
o Candies
o Cereals
o Cookies and crackers
o Croutons
o French fries
o Gravies
o Imitation meat or seafood
o Matzo
o Pastas
o Salad dressings
o Sauces, including soy sauce
o Seasoned rice mixes
o Seasoned snack foods, such as potato and tortilla chips
o Self-basting poultry
o Soups and soup bases
o Vegetables in sauce
o Certain grains, such as oats, can be contaminated with wheat during growing and processing stages of production. For this reason, doctors and dietitians generally recommend avoiding oats unless they are specifically labeled gluten-free.

You should also be alert for other products that you eat or that could come in contact with your mouth that may contain gluten. These include:

o Food additives, such as malt flavoring, modified food starch and others
o Medications and vitamins that use gluten as a binding agent