If you’ve recently been diagnosed with Celiac disease, a gluten allergy, or gluten intolerance, you may feel like reducing or eliminating gluten from what you eat is going to be a difficult and unpleasant task. However, once you do a little research, you’ll soon discover there are many delicious and healthy foods that are naturally gluten free!
There are also many naturally gluten free grains that you can enjoy in all sorts of recipes. These gluten free grains include the following:
Corn (maize)
Soy
Potato
Tapioca
Quinoa
Millet
Arrowroot
Amaranth
Flax
Chia
Gluten Free Oats
Nut Flours
If you have Celiac disease or a severe gluten allergy, you will need to make sure that any alternative grain you purchase has not been processed in a facility where gluten contamination could occur. In these cases, you should look for products that are verified gluten free to make sure you are eating food that has not come into contact with gluten-based grains.
Give Gluten Free Substitutes a Try!
You may wonder how you’re going to enjoy your meals when most pastas, breads, crackers, and baked goods are made with wheat and contain gluten. But rest assured, there are tons of excellent gluten free options available that use alternative grains and flours. Frequently, gluten free bread, along with gluten free waffles, bagels, and other similar products can be found in the freezer section of your grocery store. Additionally, you will find gluten free flours and mixes in the grocery aisle that will allow you to make your own breads, cakes, brownies and other favorite baked treats.
Keep in mind that many packaged and canned soups and sauces may contain gluten, as food producers often use wheat as a thickening agent. If you’re trying to stay 100% away from gluten, then you’ll want to make sure to read the label of any prepared or packaged food item.
While fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten free, it’s important to review the labels on any processed fruits and veggies, dried fruit and fruit drinks, smoothies or juices. Please know that when it comes to Tommy’s Superfoods frozen vegetable medleys, ALL of our choices are certified gluten-free!
These gluten free kitchen staples will help to make cooking easier, tastier, and more enjoyable:
Tamari
Tamari is the perfect gluten free substitute for soy sauce. Add it to stir-fries, sauces, salmon and tuna steaks, salad dressings – any place you want some delicious Asian-style flavor.
Almond Flour
Almond Flour is nutrient-rich and it is wonderful for baking. Pancakes and waffles made with almond flour are light and fluffy, and you can use it as a thickener in any soup or sauce that calls for traditional wheat flour.
Quinoa Pastas
Love pasta but can’t digest the gluten? Give quinoa-based pastas a try! Spaghetti and other pastas made from quinoa is also higher in protein than most traditional varieties, so you’ll also get an extra good nutrition boost.
Gluten Free Oats
Oats are naturally gluten free but certain brands are processed in facilities that also handle gluten-based grains. Do your homework first to find which brand is best for you, and check the packaging before buying. When in doubt, buy from a verified gluten-free producer.
Gluten Free Bread
Most pre-made gluten free bread will be found in the freezer section of the grocery store, and is generally best served toasted first. This enhances the flavor and brings the texture closer to what you find in traditional, gluten-based breads. It’s always good to keep a loaf or two on hand in your freezer at home for when you want gluten free croutons or breadcrumbs!
Arborio Rice
Arborio rice is short and starchy and lends itself nicely to comfort foods like risotto and paella. It makes good sense to keep a box or bag in your pantry for when you need to stretch a meal or bolster leftovers. You can also blend mixed vegetables into it, add it to soups, or use it with your favorite gluten-free curry sauces.
Hemp Seeds
Not only are hemp seeds loaded with nutrition and antioxidants, but their fine texture also makes them a super easy gluten free breadcrumb substitute (especially if you don’t have any gluten-free bread on hand).You can also sprinkle hemp seeds on a salads or add them to fruit smoothies for extra fiber and omega-3’s.
As you get ready to start reducing or eliminating gluten from your diet, take a look at what’s in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry and make a plan for what you need to make gluten free eating as easy and as delicious as possible. Have tips and gluten free products you can’t live without? Share them with us in the comments section or on Facebook and Pinterest!
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