How to Go Gluten Free

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Yesterday, I explained why I’m going gluten free. It’s all about trying to reduce my joint pain by reducing the inflammation throughout my body.

This was a spontaneous decision, the result of following advice from a friend. I walked away from that conversation and have avoided gluten ever since.

You know, for a whole 4 days now.

I had only a vague notion of what gluten-free even meant until I started googling after church on Sunday. I learned that I would need to avoid wheat, rye, barley, and probably oats, and all products made with them.

I felt sort of adrift at first, but then started brainstorming what I would actually be able to eat. There’s a lot.

I know a lot of people who are gluten free, so I asked them for their best advice. Here’s what they said:

How to Go Gluten Free (8 tips from people who’ve done it)

1. “Plan to cook everything from scratch as many prepared and convenience foods contain gluten.” from Gluten Free Girl
2. “Learn to identify what you consume that has gluten in it. Find ways to eliminate and make gluten free substitutions.” from Kelly Whalen
3. “Print out a list of ingredients to look for in packaged products.” Read labels religiously.  from Kelly Whalen
4. “Don’t be an idiot and skip getting Udi’s gluten free stuff. I finally got some of their cinnamon raisin bread and LOVE IT.” from Cecily Kellogg
5. “Any carbs can increase inflammation, so I’d recommend that you cut sugar and all processed carbs for a few weeks. I wouldn’t add in the gluten free substitutes until 2 or 3 weeks into a gluten elimination.”  from Heather Solos
6. “Set yourself up for success by planning meals and snacks in advance.” from Jo-Lynne Shane for Udi’s Gluten Free
7. “Instead of focusing on what you can’t eat, instead find some things that you can eat. Find restaurants that you enjoy. Find flours that work as an excellent substitute. Stock your home with treats for those times, those inevitable times, where you wish you could have a gluten treat {I’m thinking the Udi’s Chocolate Muffins.} You would be surprised at how much food is gluten free and what is available.” from Rachel Martin
8. “If you don’t know whether something is gluten free, call. And, by the way, I make it a point to THANK companies who go the extra mile to clearly label their items gluten free. If I see that label on a product I will buy it because I know it is certified gluten free and safe. Expect to pay more.” from Rachel Martin
9. “Gluten is the glue that makes wheat stick together, so imagine what it is doing inside of your body? It’s really kind of gross to think about.”  from Jessica Cohen
10. “Be on the lookout for hidden gluten, especially in sauces (soy sauce) and candies (licorice).” from Jessica Cohen
11. “The hardest part is the beginning when you clean your cupboards and buy your first groceries. After that, you will figure out it isn’t very hard because there is so much available and so many places to get recipes. Even meal planners like onceamonth mom and many others have added gluten free recipes and plans.” from Karen
12. “They make so many great gluten free pastas, breads, etc. that you won’t even feel like you’re giving anything up.” from Amy Metherell

12+ Recipes for Going Gluten Free

I feel like I have a lot of food options lying out ahead of me. Granted, most of my desserts are out, as are regular pasta, bread, and pizza crust, but I can adjust.

I just ordered this gluten-free flour blend on Amazon, so we’ll start using that in a couple of weeks (per Heather’s suggestion, above).

Here are some awesome recipes I found while researching:

• Budget-Friendly Gluten-Free Grocery Staples at Wisebread.com
• 20 Gluten-Free Lunches at Wisebread.com
• Homemade Gluten-Free Trail Mix Bars at Wisebread.com
• My Top Ten Gluten-Free Snacks at musingsofahousewife.com
• Easy Gluten-Free Pizza Crust at Wisebread.com
• Gluten-Free Flour Tortillas at Wisebread.com
• Delicious Homemade Gluten-Free Bread at Wisebread.com
• Gluten-Free Noodles at Wisebread.com
• Gluten-Free Desserts at Wisebread.com
• Flourless Chocolate Cake here at FeelsLikeHomeBlog.com
• Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies at rachelmariemartin.blogspot.com
• Mennonite Girls Can Cook Gluten Free - a big list of gluten-free recipes included breaded chicken strips, chocolate pudding, cream puffs, fruit fritters, and about 50 others

© 2012, Tara Ziegmont. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: gluten-free, recipes

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