Going wheat/gluten free and need advice

[Nickarolaberry]

Hi all,

I have had a low grade stomach ache for a couple weeks now, not related to illness, hormones, or anything else. I have a history of IBS from my high school and college days (although that was usually precipitated by stress and dairy, and caused acute intestinal distress) and this isn't causing me to need the bathroom or anything. I'm very active and have no other physical issues.

However, I have been thinking for a while that my body might do better without wheat and/or gluten, esp. because I definitely notice mood changes after I eat it.

I'm just, I don't know ... reluctant (?) to embark on such a drastic change, esp. because my family won't be joining me. We are on a very tight food budget as well, so I won't be doing much in the way of exotic flour substitutions. Exercise (running) is very important to me; I can't go on a cleanse or something where I won't have energy (also, I don't fast well...it makes me quite ill).


I guess that leaves me with rice and potatoes, correct?

There are so many websites on this, it's overwhelming. I'd love some direction and gentle suggestions, if anyone has.

Thanks!

[Ruthla]

Corn is also gluten-free and readily available, although it's also a common allergen and you may want to avoid corn as well.

There are basically two main approaches to this: you can go completely gluten free, see if you feel improvements, then trial each non-wheat gluten grain separately, and see if you can tolerate them. Another approach might be to ONLY cut out wheat, while continuing to eat barley, rye, etc, and then only cut out additional grains if you dont' feel any improvements.

There are a zillion recipes for gluten-free versions of baked goods that normally are made with wheat, but IMO you're better off skipping those entirely. The texture is usually off, they're usually expensive (or at least made with expensive ingredients) and they're usually not very healthy. IMO, the easiest, healthiest, and cheapest method is to stay simple: omit the gluteny baked goods rather than trying to find substitutes.

Beans are gluten free, as are meats eggs, and fish. All raw fruits and veggies are gluten free. Most basic, simple meals are naturally gluten free, or can easily be converted to gluten-free versions.

For sauces calling for flour, substitute rice flour, or substitute half as much potato or corn starch. For example, if it calls for 1 teaspoon of flour, use 1 teaspoon of rice flour or 1/2 teaspoon of corn starch or 1/2 teaspoon of potato starch. Most casseroles calling for pasta will work with rice and/or cooked potatoes in place of pasta.

[Rosehip]

Typical day for me:

Breakfast: plain yogurt with honey & homemade granola (I do eat oats)
Lunch: tuna fish salad on rice crackers, leftover dinner, cold cut roll ups w/fruit or veggies, or quesadilla made w/corn tortilla
Dinner: protein (fish, chicken, or sometimes beef), veggie, starch (rice or potato)

I do get the Trader Joes rice pasta & usually make that w/homemade sauce (carbonara, amatriciana & garlic/oil/sausage are in heavy rotation) maybe once/week

I hope this is helpful. I don't buy or make a ton of GF baked goods. I usually have some bread on hand, in the freezer, and have a max of one slice per/day. Usually it's for breakfast, toasted, topped with a sliced hard boiled egg & cheddar cheese.

[Mylie]

We are gluten free here as well...

Also dairy and soy free too..My little one is allergic to alot..

I don't have much of a food budget..So I also don't buy alot of the replacements..We eat alot of plain meats,starch(rice and potatos)with veggies and fruits..I do buy the occasional Tinkyada spagetti noodle though..L loves noodles with soyfree Earth Balance and salt and pepper.

But I don't buy the breads...They all look like bricks of mortor to me..So we also just make do with rice crackers when they go on sale..

Every once in awhile though I will splurge on Cherrybrook Gluten free yellow cake mix and make it into a strawberry jello cake..

Montomonous...Yes
Hard...Sometimes
Boring...Oh yeah

Worth it?? 100%

You can do it..Just make out a rotating menu that you and your family will eat..I wouldn't do 2 different dinners ...Too stressful and too much work..I eat what my little one eats...

Good luck...

[Blueone]

I'm gluten free

Breakfast: Kix plain (only safe cold cereal covered by WIC) or Chex otherwise, they are GF! I also love oatmeal.

Lunch: Sandwiches made from GF bread (Glutino is the best followed by Food for Life) or rice and beans or Brown Rice pasta.

Dinner: Whatever I didn't have for lunch, or mashed potatoes etc.

There are so many options, just look in your GF aisle at your health store!

[2lilsweetfoxes]

We're just starting on the gluten-free journey as well. Label reading is a big one. If at all possible, do not take the little ones to the grocery store with you while you are learning what is safe and what isn't. Despite that, I've thrown stuff in my cart because I get in a hurry and don't read the label carefully. There is often gluten hiding in things you would not expect to find it (I ruined my gf stuffing with Swanson's Chicken Broth, then ate it anyways. I'm just now--5 days later--recovering). I only make one meal. Usually a meat, a starch such as potatoes or brown rice or quinoa, and a couple vegetables.

[puffingirl]

DD is the gluten intolerant one here but for meals that we all eat together, we all eat gluten-free. Tonight we had, and the grandparents ate too, gluten-free baked ziti (nobody can tell it's GF), salad, roasted asparagus, olives, and GF french bread with butter. Going GF really hasn't been that tough. We just eat more rice and potatoes and other grains, like quinoa. Baked stuffed potatoes are a great cheap, naturally GF meal that we do often.

[Punchy Kaby]

I was GF for almost 2 years and half that time I was grain free. I felt great. I eat everything now but I definitely feel better when I eat less grains. If you are on a tight budget I would stick to potatoes, starchy squashes (they are in season right now and really cheap at the latin markets), carrots, parsnips. You will crave grains for awhile but I promise you will feel so much better! Make sure you get enough good fats in your diet: nut butters, grass fed butter, CO. Get used to eating a dollop of fat with each meal to make up for the calories you would have been getting from grains.

[Nickarolaberry]

Thanks everyone! These are great suggestions. The last two days have been good, I'm feeling better. (stomachache is gone which was constantly with me for months). A bit challenging filling in, but working on it...

[lactivistmama]

Thanks for this thread! I have suspected that I have a gluten issue going on between symptoms like IBS and headaches after eating, but I haven't started eliminating yet.. this gives me a good start..

[crunchy_mommy]

I have been GF on & off for the past few years, for me it's tough to stick to because I just get HUNGRY after a few months. I'm also vegan & mostly (at times completely) soy-free. Plus I can't always see the direct correlation between eating gluten-free & feeling better. But I do want to mention that you have way more options than rice & potatoes! We do eat a lot of brown rice & brown rice pastas but we also eat quinoa (and quinoa flour & pastas), corn flour & pastas & tortillas & polenta, amaranth (especially amaranth corn flakes!), buckwheat, etc. Trader Joe's has some great options that aren't too expensive but I also get a lot of my GF foods at local discount stores (the kind of stores they ship surplus products to, things that have been damaged or are too close to expiration, don't know if you have stores like that in your area?) and we spend so little on our other foods (which basically consists of produce & canned beans) so it doesn't break the budget at all for us.

ETA: Meant to add that we don't buy GF breads because they are gross & expensive, and we don't buy baked goods or granola bars or anything... mostly just pastas, tortillas, cereals, & some GF pancake mix if it's on sale... so it's not as big an expense as it could be.

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by lactivistmama

Thanks for this thread! I have suspected that I have a gluten issue going on between symptoms like IBS and headaches after eating, but I haven't started eliminating yet.. this gives me a good start..

I kept putting going GF off and finally made the change a few weeks ago and feel so different. So worth it.

[doubledutch]

i don't think i saw wild rice mentioned - it's so good!

[Nickarolaberry]

Doing great, finally feeling like the me I knew was in there somewhere! What a difference..it's astonishing really.

My only real issue is noshing. I could use a good recipe for (easy) oat granola if anyone has. Midmorning and late afternoon I tend to cruise around the kitchen trying to figure out what to eat. Lots of fruit and veggies, but sometimes you just want something...more snacky. KWIM?