Tips For Living A Gluten-Free Life • RI Family Photographer
Going gluten free seems like it’s a “fad” nowadays, but really, there are many valid reasons you may want to stop eating gluten. They range from being celiac to having a gluten intolerance to just wanting better overall health and deciding to see what no gluten does in that realm.
I was never a huge eater of gluten overall (though I can say that fresh baked homemade bread is something I still kind of dream of). But that all changed in 2016, when I found out that I’m celiac. I had NO CLUE at all that this was the case, and I actually laughed at the doctor when she said she was going to test me. Guess who was really surprised when that test came back positive? This girl.
In the last several years, there has been a lot I’ve learned about being gluten-free. It’s not super difficult, but here are some tidbits that might help if you’re new to this gluten-free world.
Being gluten free doesn’t have to be hard.
For me, it was actually rather easy because I didn’t eat much with gluten in it to begin with, so there was little that I had to stop eating. That said, there are a huge amount of gluten-free products available nowadays, from pastas to breads to waffles. And yes, there is even gluten-free beer. Giving up beer was what made me the most sad, until I realized that there is actually good gluten free beer. There are beers made without wheat, which are ok. But there are actually also beers made just like regular beer but are filtered to remove gluten. They may have trace amounts, so if you’re super sensitive, keep this in mind. I’ve never had any issue at all, which is great, because they taste exactly like real beer. Favorite kinds: Omission and Daura Damm.
One of my favorite gluten free beers
It can be expensive…and calorie-dense.
If you’re buying gluten-free pastas, bread products, and baked goods or mixes, it can get pricey; there’s no way around this. A loaf of GF bread can cost upwards of $7. If you know how to look for good sales and shop around, though, you can find what you need for less. Also, those GF carb products pack way more of a calorie punch than the same products with gluten, so be aware of that.
Beware of the hidden gluten
It can seem pretty easy to figure out where gluten is…except that’s not always the case. I was fortunate enough to speak to a nutritionist when I was first diagnosed celiac and she told me some specific things to look for on food labels that can indicate they include gluten. One of the biggest ones is anything containing malt or barley malt. Malt is easy to find in some places (no more malt vinegar on my fries for this girl) but it also shows up in the most random places, so if it’s not a whole food, READ. YOUR. LABELS. The other day I considered buying some oat milk until I read the label and found out there was malt in it. Not a place you’d expect to see it, so be on the lookout.
When at restaurants
Many, many restaurants have a number of GF options and are very transparent with what does and doesn’t contain gluten. One of the biggest things I’ve learned to watch out for is to ask where the fries are cooked. Yes, I do love French Fries from time to time. Often they are cooked in the same oil where items battered with flour are fried. Depending on how sensitive you are, this can cause a reaction. At first, it didn’t bother me but the longer I haven’t eaten gluten, the more I’m bothered by it. This is why there are often different sides offered with GF burgers rather than fries.
Are you gluten free? Do you have any tips? Let me know in the comments!