Just A Few Suggestions on Following a Gluten Free Diet

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. There are many reasons people avoid gluten - celiac disease is the most serious. There are others who have a sensitivity to gluten and just feel better when they avoid it. Some people are actually allergic to wheat itself.

In the beginning, gluten-free may sound very limiting. Fortunately, there are many more delicious foods on the gluten-free list than the forbidden list. There are also more and more products from cereals to baking mixed to pastas, that are now being formulated in gluten-free versions. These days you'll find them not just in health food stores and online, but also on the shelves of most major grocery stores.

Spotting hidden gluten in processed foods is a lot easier now thanks to the FDA's Food Allergy Labeling Law that went into effect in 2004. Since wheat is a common allergen, any product that contains wheat or is derived from it must say so on the label. Use caution as this only applies to foods produced in the United States and Canada. Always check the label's fine print as sensitivities differ from person to person and ingredients differ from brand to brand.

Look at your dietary restrictions as an opportunity to try new foods. Add quinoa (one of my favorite) and chickpea flour to your cupboard. Use corn tortillas to make sandwiches and lasagna. Healthy eating may actually be easier without gluten. Adding more fresh produce to your meals, eating less processed food and avoiding refined flour are all steps to a better diet for anyone.

Before you buy a cupboard of speciality products, remember the most basic ingredients are naturally gluten-free. Fresh produce, meat and fish are excellent choices but frozen dinners and fish sticks are no longer available. This does not mean you can not have your favorite foods  - it just means you need to make some adjustments.

You will want to stock up on certain things so that you are prepared to eat well on your diet. Several years ago a health food store was the only option to buy speciality flours and mixes. Fortunately, today most grocery stores have about everything you need.

Cooking gluten-free will be easier if you keep these staples on hand;

- beans & lentils
- corn grits
- cornmeal & cornstarch
- corn tortillas & taco shells
- gluten-free cereal
- gluten-free mixes for your favorite brownies, cookies, or muffins
- gluten-free pasta
- gluten-free soy sauce
- polenta
- quinoa ( my favorite)
- tapioca, chickpea, tapioca flour
- xanthan gum