If you've been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, going gluten free is essential. You will find little joy in the beginning of this journey. You won't celebrate a grand finale at the end, because eating gluten free is a lifelong journey.
What you will embrace are many, many milestones. Rashes or acne will clear up…brain fog will lift…you'll think with clarity…you'll experience renewed energy…no more bloating, diarrhea or constipation…headaches and dizziness go away…and that's just a piece of the gluten free pie!
First, quit thinking of gluten free as a diet and start believing it is your healthy eating plan for life. You won't feel deprived. In the not too distant past gluten free foods …show more content…
However, much of it may be written in doctor-speak. Let's begin with a simple definition of gluten.
Gluten makes dough for bread making stretchy and chewy. It is the protein in wheat, rye, barley and triticale. Not surprisingly, gluten originates from the Latin word for glue.
Diets as we know them are all about weight loss. This is another reason you are not going on a gluten free diet, you are going to eat gluten free for life. And if you're not a careful shopper, you may even gain weight.
Read food labels to ensure gluten free products aren't rich in refined sugars and other forbidden ingredients.
Here are gluten containing foods: wheat, semolina, rye, triticale, barley, spelt and kamut (ancient oriental wheat-type …show more content…
Safe grains include brown rice, quinoa, millet, amaranth, corn, oats and buckwheat. (Buckwheat is made from a fruit seed, which is a relative of rhubarb.)
Before you go grocery shopping, clean your pantry and fridge of foods containing gluten. Sanitize your kitchen thoroughly, since products containing gluten can cross-contaminate your gluten free foods.
Read ingredient labels and throw away opened products containing gluten. Set unopened products aside and give them to your local food bank.
Now, let's get through the first day of your gluten free journey.
Breakfast
Smoothies – always delicious and nutritious. Use almond or rice milk, if you can't tolerate dairy products.
Toast and Eggs – Scramble, boil, fry. Use eggs in frittatas or omelets . Toast gluten free bread. Make breakfast tacos on tortillas.
Fruit, Yogurt, Nuts, Seeds – Top yogurt with fruit or berries and sprinkle nuts or seeds on top.
Hot Bowl of Oatmeal or Rice Cereal
Buckwheat Pancakes
Lunch
Sandwiches - have been lunch time go-tos for decades. Buy or bake gluten free bread. Spread with chicken, tuna, egg or ham salad. Make veggie sandwiches from avocado, tomato, cucumber, sprouts and baby spinach or