This post is inspired from a wall post question I received on facebook, basically asking “What do I do now? I need to go gluten free. What do I need to do first?”
Don’t Panic
First off, please don’t panic. There are hundreds, thousands of people in the same position as you.We all know what’s it like to find out that you will not be able to eat the same things again. First off it may seem like it is impossible to eat again. But you will. It gets easier.
Who is going Gluten Free?
Is it you? Your child? Your partner? Will it be everyone? It was everyone for me at first, just until I got used to things and now its about 50/50.
Learn what is Gluten.
You need to know what gluten is. What it is in. Basically (and this is very basic) gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley, rye, malt, and probably others I have forgotten. While oats is technically not a gluten protein it is often processed on machines that wheat is so no oats (that I know off) is gluten free in Australia (other countries may be different)
What can I eat for meals?
Unless you eat takeaway and/or pasty all the time you should be able to eat what you normally do which a few changes. That is the key to eating gluten free – knowing what changes to make.
Go through your fridge and pantry
Check the labels. In Australia the food labeling laws say that food products need to declare if it has gluten in it (or a derivative of it so look for them too).Write down what you can eat. What you think you may need. Then go shopping.
Argh. The supermarket!
Yes the first few trips will take you forever! The health food aisle will be your most visited aisle. The major chains are getting better with their range of gluten free products. You should be able to get breakfast cereals, pasta, pasta sauces, health bars, baking products like bread mixes, flours, and other things there. There is plenty of gluten free stuff in the normal section as well but you have to read the labels.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
My favourite part of the shop. You cannot go wrong with fresh fruit and veg. It is what goes with it that gets us into trouble.
Think about cross contamination
If you plan on sharing your food with non gluten free folk then this something you may need to think about. I cannot share butter/margarine with my husband or boys. I cannot share toasters, jams, spreads, etc. The wheat crumbs going into the marg/butter then if I put my knife in there to spread my own toast and then I get those crumbs on my toast and eat them? Yes I get sick.
If I am eating a yummy gluten free dip with rice crackers then someone comes along and scoops the same dip with pita bread then I can no longer eat that dip. The risk of ingesting wheaten crumbs is too high. I cannot eat off buffets if there is gluten food on there. This is something that alot of people don’t get so be prepared to educate them. If you don’t speak up you will get ill!
Whoops, got a bit carried away on that last one..
If in doubt – DO NOT EAT IT
If you cannot know for sure it is completely gluten free then do not take the risk! It is better being hungry than being ill.
Know that you are not alone
You aren’t alone. Do a google search on gluten free or coeliac and you will come up with hundreds of hits. Check out this blog (if you haven’t already), check out my gluten free friends blog roll, join the Coeliac Society where you are, ask me 100 questions. Just be safe in the knowledge that going gluten free is the first step to your health getting back on track.
I hope this has helped a little and not made you more confused than you already were. If anyone else has some other tips then please feel free to leave them in the comments.
image: rodaniel
Fortunately I’m going GF, but don’t have to be as strict as crumbs, but I’m hypervigliant now as I have GF friends who are coeliac, and others don’t get the issue with shred dips/butter/toasters etc
Fiona recently posted..Colombia – The Only Risk is Wanting to Stay
Thanks Fiona, I am so glad that you don’t have to be super strict on crumbs – I wish I didn’t!
great points nellbe :-0 As my daughter has IBS so she has to be careful obout what she eats
I was stuck for a while ,but getting there x
Thanks Dannie, it is such a steep learning curve isn’t it?
I freak out just packing my son’s lunch box, the other day I somehow managed to have both nuts and eggs in it (both are a no-no at his preschool) regardless of my efforts. I’d imagine eating gluten free would be a lot more complicated. Your post will be a great help for someone who is just starting out.
Tat recently posted..Connecting with nature- 10 simple activities for urban kids
If you aren’t used to it I can imagine it would be hard… I think you may have just inspired a blog post
Thanks for enlightening me – I know a few gluten intolerant people but they are not so strict. It must be quite a challenge educating people.
Trish recently posted..Its an Emergency
Thanks Trish, it is very tough as quite simply they just don’t get it unless it happens to them somehow.
I am not quite as sensitive as you, but the other day, I did (out of laziness) use a cutting board that my partner had just sliced bread on for my own sandwich – MISTAKE.
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Hi
Popping in from AMB to follow you and check out your blog.
Great, informative blog. I will be back as gluten free is on my radar at the moment.
Trish
xx
Trish@Show and Tell recently posted..Show and Tell
Wish I find your blog last year, I find out last year I have coeliac disease. I slowing getting use of eating gluten free food. It hard for me and my husband.
Thanks.
Lisa
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Really useful list Nellbe
I worked for a while in child care helping to take care of a boy who could only eat gluten-free. When people used to ask, “well what can he eat?” I used to tell them Fresh is Best, start with fruit and veg and work up from there. You just get really good at reading labels and preparing everything from scratch.
Here’s another idea – find a great bakery that makes good gluten-free breads – I used to go to one in Hawthorn (can’t think of name right now!).
Sarah@FoodFunHealth recently posted..5 Reasons Why Family Meals Matter
It’s so true, going through your pantry and sticking with fresh, fruit veg and meats means you can eat it all and then work from there to include gluten free pastas with homemade sauces, etc. When we have people over for dinner it’s always ALL gluten free except for if we serve bread rolls. When I go to friend’s places they are all well educated and if they have gluten crackers we split the dip into two different bowls, if everyone is told they all stick to teh dip next to the gluten crackers and my dip isn’t contaminated.
Fabulous post nell!
great post nellbe!
karen aka brazen recently posted..Menu Plan – family plan!