One of the first things I did after going gluten free was to run out to every health food store I could find and start buying up every gluten free thing in site. Gluten free chips, check. Gluten free pasta, check. Gluten free tv dinners, yes, check. This was all part of the sudden uncertainty of what gluten free eating really entailed. I have since become very aware that none of this was necessary and that it can be a very unhealthy option.
That being said, I do still buy gluten free products. They are not all bad and some can be lifesavers. But there are just as many that do nothing but drain the bank account and add a billion grams of salt to your daily diet. There have been several shows, including Dr. Oz, that have stressed the downfalls of gluten free products, specifically frozen dinners. Making those things tasty takes a lot of unhealthy additions. Frankly, I have yet to find a gluten free frozen meal that I would actually eat again. But, why should I have to......
A lot of regular products in our grocery stores are naturally gluten free. Those gluten free chips that you saw a Whole Foods, totally unnecessary!!! Frito Lay has a full page of all of their products that are gluten free. (http://www.fritolay.com/your-health/us-products-not-containing-gluten-ingredients.html). Another great example is soups. While I have found the gluten free cream of mushroom and cream of chicken to be invaluable for cooking, Progresso has a handful that are listed as gluten free on their website (http://www.progressosoup.com/healthy-soup.aspx).
There are plenty of other products out there that are not branded as gluten free specifically, but a look at the label will tell you exactly that. (I will be reviewing a few of these in upcoming blogs). These are all things that are learned in time after getting a grip on how the diet works and by networking with others who have the experience to share. Of course, reading labels and knowing what to look for becomes the key to easy shopping, but it takes practice!
So, before you become best friends with your local health food store, take some time to look into what you are really buying and whether or not the same thing is available on the shelves of your local grocer. You will likely be surprised by how many things you have already been buying that are still ok!!!!!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
My Gluten Free Story
My name is Brenda and I have Celiac's Disease. Like many people, I spent years trying to figure out why I was sick all the time and was told repeatedly that there was nothing wrong. After a million tests and no answers I started looking for the answers myself. After some changes in my diet, which were not aimed at removing wheat, I thought that I might have an allergy to yeast. I went back to the doctor, asked to be tested, and she included a Celiac panel which came back positive. I have never gone on to have the biopsy done, which I should just to be 100% certain, but I think that the outcome of the diet says enough. **(As a note, I have also found that I have a vitamin B deficiency and take a monthly shot. Not all of my issues have been resolved with my diagnosis and I am still seeing doctors in an attempt to find the answers.)**
Right after my diagnosis, which was almost 2 years ago, I was actually set to go on my first vacation in about ten years, so the diet had to wait for a few weeks!! But once I got going it made a huge difference. No more stomach issues, no more rashes, and my mental clarity improved. However, like I assume many people struggle with, the diet can be hard to keep on track. My biggest issue has been dealing with my fiance ordering pizza or bringing home a burger that I am not suppose to eat. Unfortunately, I do not have the greatest willpower in the world and have gone through some pretty bad binges from time to time. Of course I pay the price for it and always feel guilty, but that is just one of the downsides of living with this.
My reason for starting this blog lies in some of the stories that I have heard on a local Celiac support group's Facebook page. While many of them are well seasoned in the ins and outs of being gluten free, there are always the newcomers who are lost and feel like their world has been turned upside down. Many ask for gluten free recipes while others say that they don't have time to spend making special meals. The reality is that you can still eat and cook the same meals that you love and are familiar with, it just takes minor modifications. That is why I named this blog "Real Life Gluten Free". I am not a fabulous cook and I struggle with time management just like everyone else. But, over time, I have figured out that eating gluten free does not have to mean spending ridiculous amounts of money on specialty products or missing out on delicious dinners that I have eaten all of my life.
My plan for this blog is to share my recipes as well as the products that I have found to be the best. Many of my recipes are naturally gluten free, and many are very basic meals that people just don't think about. And although I have been trying to eat healthier, I am from the South, so there will be plenty of those homestyle favorites as well!!
I hope that at least one person will find one thing in this blog helpful and I would love to hear about your experiences with my recipes and product suggestions, good or bad! Thanks for reading and the best of luck to you on your gluten free journey.
Right after my diagnosis, which was almost 2 years ago, I was actually set to go on my first vacation in about ten years, so the diet had to wait for a few weeks!! But once I got going it made a huge difference. No more stomach issues, no more rashes, and my mental clarity improved. However, like I assume many people struggle with, the diet can be hard to keep on track. My biggest issue has been dealing with my fiance ordering pizza or bringing home a burger that I am not suppose to eat. Unfortunately, I do not have the greatest willpower in the world and have gone through some pretty bad binges from time to time. Of course I pay the price for it and always feel guilty, but that is just one of the downsides of living with this.
My reason for starting this blog lies in some of the stories that I have heard on a local Celiac support group's Facebook page. While many of them are well seasoned in the ins and outs of being gluten free, there are always the newcomers who are lost and feel like their world has been turned upside down. Many ask for gluten free recipes while others say that they don't have time to spend making special meals. The reality is that you can still eat and cook the same meals that you love and are familiar with, it just takes minor modifications. That is why I named this blog "Real Life Gluten Free". I am not a fabulous cook and I struggle with time management just like everyone else. But, over time, I have figured out that eating gluten free does not have to mean spending ridiculous amounts of money on specialty products or missing out on delicious dinners that I have eaten all of my life.
My plan for this blog is to share my recipes as well as the products that I have found to be the best. Many of my recipes are naturally gluten free, and many are very basic meals that people just don't think about. And although I have been trying to eat healthier, I am from the South, so there will be plenty of those homestyle favorites as well!!
I hope that at least one person will find one thing in this blog helpful and I would love to hear about your experiences with my recipes and product suggestions, good or bad! Thanks for reading and the best of luck to you on your gluten free journey.
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