Are you joining the growing number of people who have discovered you are intolerant to gluten? Or, perhaps you have recently discovered you have celiac disease, or allergies. Regardless of the reason, it can be rather intimidating at first, realizing that you need to make a choice between changing your diet, or suffer. Well, maybe that choice isn’t tough…nobody likes to suffer.
But, making the necessary changes can seem overwhelming at a glance. However, there are some easy steps you can take to make the transition easier.
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of this is knowing where to start on your path to a gluten free lifestyle…or how. I have found that with most daunting tasks, breaking it down in steps makes it easier to start, as well as stick with it.
What is Gluten?
To know more about staying away from gluten, you need to understand a little about it first.
Unfortunately, gluten is everywhere. It’s hard at first to stay away from it, because society has been encouraged to eat “healthy” with multi-grain breads, cereals, pastas, and more. Then again, it’s not exactly “healthy” for you, when it makes you sick.
Gluten is actually a protein that is often found in wheat, rye, and barley. It is also found in most any processed foods that we unknowingly buy at the grocery store. In fact, it can be found where it doesn’t make sense, including artificial bacon toppings and shredded cheese. Now, who isn’t a fan of shredded cheese?
Now, you can avoid all food, but I don’t recommend it. So, let’s see what I can do to make this transition easier and smoother for you…
#1 Get a List
A list of foods where gluten is often found is your first step in avoiding it. You can go to websites such as www.gluten.net to obtain a comprehensive list of foods and areas where you will find gluten. Also, the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America has a great deal of information on gluten free food items.
#2 Find Support
By joining a support group, either local or online, you will have a much easier path ahead of you. First, they will be able to share their stories, which could help you avoid their mistakes. And second, you could brainstorm and come up with ideas and recipes to share.
#3 Find Alternative Recipes and Foods
Time to make a list. Write down your favorite foods that you don’t want to give up. Next, search for alternatives. I like to search online, because you can also find reviews for products you want to try before buying them. For example, you will find gluten free noodles, so you won’t have to go without pasta. Miracle Noodles is a great one to try, because they are also calorie free. Type in “Miracle Noodle reviews” into your search browser, to see what people are saying about them. You can do this with any new item you want to learn about.
#4 Go Back to School
There is probably a local cooking school that would be happy to teach you how to cook and create gluten free recipes. You might even find a seminar in the area that you can go to in order to learn more about cooking gluten free meals.
#5 Stick with Fresh
When in doubt, stick with fresh foods such as meats, veggies, fruits, or whole grains such as quinoa and wild rice. A general rule of thumb, if it has a label on it, it’s most likely not fresh.
#6 Learn about Food Labels
If you know how to read food labels quickly, it will be much easier. Fortunately, in the US, it is now mandatory for companies to list if there is wheat in the item. Even if a package claims to be gluten free, it might not be completely accurate. If a product claims to be gluten free, it could still contain:
- Rye
- Barley
- Oats
Just make sure to educate yourself on terms associated with gluten, then check labels for them. Yes, become your own detective in a way.
#7 Seek out Professional Advice
Set up a meeting with a nutritionist, who can help you learn more about living a gluten free lifestyle. You can ask your doctor to recommend one in the area. This will also help you to learn how to find a proper balance of nutrients and fiber in your diet.
#8 Find a Blog
Or, start your own! Blogs are great for support and information. What is especially great about a blog is that you don’t have to take the time to go anywhere, other than your computer, and yet you can expand your community quickly.
#9 Dining Out
You might have a few restaurants in your community that offer gluten free items on their menu. If you aren’t sure, just call them. Larger restaurants are often willing to accommodate special requests, especially since this particular one is becoming more common.
#10 Find a Friend
Find a friend who is in the same situation and go down this path of learning with them.
It might seem like an impossible task at first. But, the tips above should make it easier for you to get started. And, just imagine how much better you will feel!
About the Author
Sophie Evans works from home as a freelance writer, and often draws inspiration when she is surfing the Internet. For example, she chose to write a series of articles on getting healthy and fit when visiting the website www.biogirlhealth.com. When Sophie is not working, she enjoys time with her husband, son, and daughter. A huge fan of Disneyland and Starbucks, Sophie and her family reside in Balboa Beach, California.
Categories: Diets, Guest Posts | Tags: gluten free, gluten free diet, healthy food | Permalink