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[Lyric]

I am sure that everywhere you look now, you are seeing "Gluten Free".  Everywhere.
It's cropping up the same way "Fat Free" did in the 80's.

If you happen to think that it is a great new weight loss diet to be on..  Stop there.

I will be the first to admit that I have been blessed with the side-effect of weight loss and change of body due to this diet.  But, I have Celiac Disease, I HAVE to eat this way.
Long gone are the days of pizza, regular pasta, doughnuts, cake, beer, bread, cookies and most of my old favorite comfort foods.
No more can I crack open a can of my favorite Cream of Mushroom Soup and toast up some bread or saltines to go with it.

If I do.... I am sick and want to die for a minimum of 3 days, 6 for it to all work out of my system.

But, before you pity me on food stuffs.  Don't. I would rather feel good than be sick... EVER again.


One of the big reasons that you are seeing more and more Gluten-Free (especially here in the US), is because of people like me.  When you have a number like 1 in 133 people have this disorder..  It really puts the food industry into perspective.
They have been missing out on a LARGE customer base.
Up until the last year, we have been largely ignored by Food Inc.,  giving our money to specialty companies, making it ourselves and well.. Not buying other items.

Now, truth told, Celiacs are not the only reason.  Studies are finding that Gluten-Free diets help lots of other people too.. Which just jacks up the number of how many people are going to buy "Gluten-Free".

The reason it may not be a great weight loss plan.. is this:

Yes, you are likely to lose weight not consuming gluten.  But, you are more than likely to gain it back and then some when you go back to your regular foods.

Because your body can process gluten, it may bypass some of the nutrients you need from your food and leave you mal-nourished or with other problems.

Can you cut out some extraneous gluten from your diet and benefit from it?

YES!!!

As I have mentioned before, gluten is in just about everything.  Including NON-FOOD items.
It is a binder and emulsifier that helps food to feel and taste the way you know it.

So, that means, quite simply, you will probably benefit from not having that bowl of sound, bread and crackers and washing it down with a beer. (just the thought of that makes my belly hurt)

You can easily trim out or replace some items and reap benefits like weight loss, lower cholesterol levels, better managed food cravings, as well as feeling good, having more energy.

But, before you do... Talk it over with your doctor.

[evilavatar]

A friend of ours has celiac disorder (I hate saying disease, it's an auto immune irregularity, not an external disorder.  That may sound nitpicky, but I stand my ground) and she has some fantastic bread recipes that are wheat and gluten free.  Old  Mill brand bread mixes are also very good and if you read the labels wheat has to be listed as an allergen on labels now.  If I can help let me know.

[Indigo]

I have some gluten free recipes from when the boys were younger! If you would like I will post them for you! Pizzas, chicken dishes, meatballs... all kinds of stuff! I cook homemade from scratch because I hate seeing 5000 ingredients you can not pronounce in my food!

It's a rough go at first but you get used to the diet fairly quick

[Indigo]

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/

[Lyric]

Thank you to everyone who commented regarding recipes..  I am pretty dialed in on food and cooking.  But, one can never have enough when it comes to more options.

I have only come across a few things that frustrate me with this.

1-  The "oh you poor thing, I could never give up my  <insert food item here>"

It's not like I wanted to give up my favorite pizza joint.  But, I would rather give it up than feel sick as a dog.

2-  The oddball and yet oh so common...  That eating G-free is like being on Weight Watchers or something else that I can quit for a day to eat garbage and then go back.
This is commonly heard as "it's my birthday and I am not sticking to my diet today so I can have cake and fudge brownie ice cream, so you should have some too."

I think this one frustrates me the MOST.  The failure to understand that if I do "cheat", that I pay for it... FOR DAYS!   I would love more people to understand that I am not skipping on the cake and ice cream for your birthday because I am being a diet snob.
This reaction to my new eating lifestyle, is a very hard one for me. 
Trust me, there are days where I would LOVE to go out with friends to our local joint and have pizza and hot wings and a beer.  It's not easy going out and having to hammer wait staff with loads of food prep questions.  Only to find out that I will be lucky to have a NAKED Salad and a glass of water.
Which means more often than not we are turning down invites for dinner.
(Any of the major chains that have put up G-Free menu items are NOT in my local area)

It's still a learning process and one I am happy to continue educating myself with.

[Indigo]

I just noticed while shopping yesterday that Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker both have GF options now!

I know what you mean about the idiotic comments and ideas about the diet. I used to volunteer to make the entree when we would go to dinner at people's homes and they would have no idea it as GF til later on lol I was stealthy! I also came up with a dessert recipe that was like a trifle, it ended up being such a hit at a bbq that I was asked to bring it every time  we went out BUT was always asked to not say it was GF.
http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/restaurants-bakeries-serving-gfcf-fare/
This site always helps. I realize it isn't just GF it is CFSF as well but it gives lists of options and restaurants that have GF menus! Hope it can help you

[Lyric]

I was THRILLED to find GF Betty Crocker, cake a brownie mix and have tried both!
I was also ecstatic finding Bisquick now has a GF version, but, I have not tried it yet.

Several big restaurant chains have GF options.  PF Changs, Chili's and others.

I got lucky and a little sandwich shop opened in my downtown area.  They have G-Free sandwiches and are totally safe.   They did it because they have 6 immediate family members who have CD.

I've gotten into Gluten only a few times since diagnosis, all on accident.  Things I didn't realize had Gluten in them.  Like-- SODA and ICECREAM!!! (the kind that do not have cake/cookie/brownie pieces)...  Plain flavors..

I've gotten really, really good at writing/emailing or calling companies, if I can't find information in the usual places.