Gluten Free

I'm a little late, but there is a cookbook that is awesome for kids that is Gluten Free called Sophie Safe Cooking. My kids have enjoyed everything I've made out of it and I don't have to make two meals.

BTW, I've heard there is an awesome Gluten Free bakery in Plano.

Here is one of my favorite recipes
Cheesy Chicken (or Tuna) Muffins
3C cooked rice-white or brown
1 can chicken or tuna drained
1 small can (1/4c)minced black olives
2T dried parsley
2T dried minced onion or 1/4c finely minced onion
4 eggs slightly beaten
2C grated cheese
season salt, salt and pepper to taste
Mix all together
put heaping spoonfuls into a large 12 muffin pan
bake at 425 until slightly brown on top approx 35 min

top with a sauce of
1 stick of butter and 1/2 cup lemon juice melted together

*this is not an exact science recipe. You can't mess it up my adding more or less of the ingredients. If it is to dry and won't stick together just add another beaten egg.

It sounds like a weird combination of ingredients but every one I have served it to has loved it and requested it be served again.

Have you ever looked at glutenfreemommy.com? I had a friend from work that used to be in my ladies supper club. We would rotate every month to each other's houses and cook for group. Well since she had celiac, we would prepare tasty gluten-free dishes. She provided us this website for ideas. Good luck and hope you are able to cook some tasty dishes.

Hi L.,

Try getting some books. They have a few Gluten Free For Dummies by the author Danna Korn books that might help:

http://www.amazon.com/Living-Gluten-Free-Dummies-Health-F...

http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Cooking-Dummies/dp/0470...

You will also need to find the list of all the labelled ingredients that are gluten in disguise. I think the books may have this listed. Lots of stuff you might not think has gluten in it, really does (e.g. soy sauce, licorice, skittles, etc.).

I cook gluten free for me and my daughter and agree that you can eat almost anything, PROVIDED THAT you are not eating processed food or eating out in restaurants with any frequency. This means cooking, packing, bringing most of your own food every day, since most processed food has gluten in it. If the entire world ate healthier natural whole foods diets, gluten free would not be very had at all. Whole Foods or Central Market are good places to visit.

You also may want to do some further health research on www.mercola.com, and even get his book Take Control of Your Health, for restoring your body. When you are nutritionally and hormonally depleted, you need to do more than just stop eating gluten to fully heal. It helps to detox your body with a detox plan. It also is necessary to supplement with quality vitamins and minerals and omega-3 fish oil. His book and website may help you get started.

For follow up testing, I recommend you visit www.enterolab.com. As you eliminate gluten, the blood tests and endoscopies from the docs may not show the actual state of your healing. Dr. Ken Fine's tests are better for that.

Congrats on discovering your intolerance. Most people never do. Good luck on your research and recovery!

A website I found with great recipes that even those without a gluten allergy may like. http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/

Good luck!

Try www.savingdinner.com or www.mealmixer.com to help you make some gluten free meal plans. Also, Kroger has a small gluten free section or of course Whole Foods and Central Market. That must be frustrating!!

I would like to suggest "Tom Sawyer Flour". I was gluten free during my pregnancy and my mom has celiac disease. This is the only flour that we have found that you can use cup for cup in place of regular flour. It tastes just like flour! Just type the name into google and the website will pop up. If I remember correctly, it costs about $5 for 8 lbs. of flour.

Hi, L.! Actually, if you're trying to avoid gluten, there's a BUNCH of food you can't eat. My mom has Celiac Disease, which is not only a gluten intolerance, but if you continue to eat gluten the villi in your small intestines will be destroyed and, eventually, you're unable to absorb nutrients. It's the same diet because they're both related to a food allergy. If you'll go to a search engine and type in gluten intolerance, gluten-free diet, etc. you should find all kinds of help. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. Good luck!

Whole Foods grocery store has products as do some of the Kroger grocery store. Vans (plain)gluten free waffles can be found at Wal-Mart as well as Kroger. Blueberry gluten free are really good. There is gluten cereal and "rice crispy barss" by Environkidz (Also found at Kroger). It is really a matter of eating fruits, vegetables, protein -- without the bread....unless you make your own from gluten free flour. GOODS NEWS..... not only will you feel better... you will also drop weight.

If you live near the Flower Mound area, try going to FM Specialty Foods inside Flower Mound Pharmacy. They are located on Main Street. Ask to speak with Mary. She was diagnosed herself a few years ago and has been trying to help others since. She even makes meals for families. Good luck!

Hi L., Homemade Gourmet has several recipes that are gluten free. I am a consultant and will be glad to help you with meal planning. To see a list of the recipes that are gluten free, go to my website - www.homemadegourmet.com/janice1680. Click on Keys to the Kitchen, then Recipes, Recipe Search and GlutenFree. There are quite a few recipes. If you need help don't hesitate to email me. Thanks! J. Miller

L.,
Our son was on a GF diet for two years. There are hidden glutens in many foods. Your best choice? Eat foods that "remember where they came from." If it doesn't look like it did coming out of the field or off the carcass, it doesn't remember where it came from. :-) For breads, pasta, etc., go to your local health food store. They have many GF foods. Also check out the Gluten Free Pantry (Google it) for lots of other things like cookies and some of the yummiest pretzels I've ever tasted. Watch out for hidden gluten in ketchup (yes!), marshmallows (they are dusted in flour to prevent sticking, but it's not on the pkg b/c it's not "in" the food), and Worcestershire sauce. There are more -- do an Internet search.

BTW, there is actually a connection between your gluten intolerance and the brain fog. Once you get your GF diet going, you will think clearer. Hard to explain, but it has to do with what your intestines are supposed to filter out and what is getting into your system that should not be there. Trust me -- you will feel AND think better.

GF can be expensive, but if you eat lots of produce, you should do well.

Blessings,
P.

Whole Foods Market in Arlington has some AWESOME handouts about their Gluten Free selection and have a all their Gluten Free food, non-frozen, in the bulk aisle. Good luck!

Hello L.,

Already lots of great info. for birthdays I like to use the pineapple flavor cake from www.reallygreatfoods.com. I use rice milk for the liquid so the pineapple flavor is not obvious. their cakes are delicious. Good luck and hang in there. it takes a while. For example, you can't eat at TGI Fridays (even their mashed potatos have gluten). ~C.~

Dear L.,
This is one issue I know almost nothing about. However, I used to know this man who was gluten intolerant. He was thrilled to learn that Outback Steakhouse has a completely gluten free menu if you just ask for it when you arrive. Might be a nice alternative for you on those nights when you don't feel like cooking. Good luck!! B.

http://www.ceceliasmarketplace.com/ is an amazing website for people with gluten free diets. They send me daily gluten free products with pictures so I know what it looks like when I go to the store.
I just started a gluten free diet for Fibromyalgia and IBS. I know how important research is. I do all mine online and I haven't had to buy books.
Good luck and God Bless. M.

I am so excited you posted this question. My husband is currently on his second week of gluten free. He has IBS and eating gluten free has almost relieved him of his pain.
Ofcourse The Cupboard has wheat free products, as does Kroger. Whole Foods in Plano probably has the most.
Something easy is spagetti squash with marinara. Although the quinoa pastas are great. If you like seafood (my husband does) eat lots of that. Anyway, I look forward to the responses you get.

I've been gluten free for Celiac for two yrs now. I'm a stay at home mom of three and pregnant with number four due in February. I basically take the recipes we love and change them around and make them gluten free. Amazon.com carries lots of gluten free mixes and things in bulk at cheaper prices and glutenfree.com does as well. Its VERY hard and trying at first but soon you will see its really easy and just as easy to feel SO much better. Also I am lactose intolerant and allergic to nuts so if can eat these things then you are luckier than I am...None of my kids are Celiac or gluten intolerant like I am but we all eat pretty much gluten free all of the time. Good luck!

My name is T. and I am writing on behalf of my sister. She has had some "skin issues" that are stress induced and her dermatologists don't know what is going on with her. A recent conversation with another physician stated that she, too, should be on a gluten free diet. If you find any info on a gluten free menu plan, would you please pass it along to myself or to my sister...her name is Theresa and her email address is ____@____.com luck in your search and I hope you find anything and everything that will help you.

Google "Gluten Free Diets", Gulten Free Cookbooks", etc. They have a lot to offer.

We just moved my daughter to a Gluten Free and Casein Free diet. Sorry to say, this is not easy. Yes there are many many things you CAN eat but there is also Gluten in many many things as well (especially processed stuff). You can buy books (there are tons) that will help. You can reference recipezaar.com which will help you find recipes without certain ingredients. We live near Sprouts in Flower Mound, they have an entire endcap and two shelves of gluten free products. Surprisingly KROGER is very very prepared and had a large amount of gluten free products including a frozen pizza crust which my daughter adores! Make your self a cheat sheet of "forbidden" products and be patient!

Good luck! C

You don't mention where you are, but in Lewisville there is a great little store called Abundant Life, they have a large selection of Gluten Free and carry almost all of the Bob's Red Mill like of gluten free flour.

Also, many of the area Kroger's are carrying a larger selection in their Nutritional section. Whole Food's is another good place as well.

Good luck! I'm not intolerant, but I am allergic. So I know what it's like to get that initial shock!

Hi L.,
I am also gluten intolerant (as well as dairy and corn!) and you really can't eat almost everything (maybe you meant "can't" where you put "can"). Many processed and packaged foods contain gluten. I'm not sure where you live or how convenient this is for you, but there is a store called Healthy Approach in Colleyville off of Glade Road and 121 that has an entire gluten free aisle (it is awesome!).
Also, there is a group called the North Texas Gluten Intolerance Group (NTGIG) that has monthly meetings that could be very helpful for you. There are also several restaurants that have gluten free menus (PF Changs, Chilis, Rockfish, Outback- and a gluten free restaurant called Delicious N Fit in Plano). I hope that gets you started a bit. Feel free to write me back with any questions, I have been gluten free for 10 years.
T.

I have many tips and my mother has many, many recipes. I am not gluten free, but most of my extended family are and have been for years. Let me know if you'd like ideas. It can be difficult because so many sauces and seasonings have gluten, but we prepare tasty and filling food here at home by substituting and using tons of fresh ingredients.

Go to your local "health foods" store. They should carry a lot of gluten free products (crackers, cereal, pasta, cookies, breads, etc). I used to get stuff for my son when we tried the gluten free/casein free diet for autism (it didn't work).

I tried a lot of the items before giving them to him. Most are not too bad. I LOVED the gluten free bread mix (made in bread maker machine). The brand is Bob's Red Mill and they carry mixes for a LOT of things (brownies, cake, bread, etc). Check out www.bobsredmill.com to find a local store that carries it. If you can find it in a supermarket, they will be less expensive than getting the SAME mixes at a specialty/health foods store.

Blessings,

P. <><

The first 6 months of the diet are the hardest. I've been on it for about 5 years. The biggest hurdle will be removing the hidden gluten in processed foods and contamination if you eat out. Very few restaurants handle the food properly, in particular the chains. The best is Rockfish. Other than that, higher end restaurants are your best bet and talking to the chef or sending the server back to talk to the chef to find out what are the safest foods. And, you have to make sure the server marks the order appropriately. If they have a glazed look or don't bother talking to the chef, you're likely to get a meal that will make you sick. The general moto is: "If in doubt, do without". I carry snacks with me at all times. Seeds (pumpkin are my favorite) and nuts are good to have since they're compact and filling.

I have a Yahoo Group setup that has some food suggestions, recipes, etc.:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/FM-Celiac-GI-FA/?ygu...

We have plans for a meeting in Sept. I'll be going over material from a conference held by Dr. Fine in Taos in April. My notes from the conference are in the "files" for the Yahoo group.

There are also some excellent support groups in the area, including one in Dallas:
http://www.dfwceliac.org/

and midcities:
http://www.northtexasgig.com/
The midcities group has a monthly "Gluten-Free diet 101"

Also, feel free to contact me if you have other questions.

My husband is gluten free, we found out about 4 years ago. I pretty much fix everthing that I used to, but make a gluten free substitution. Whole Foods and Market Street have a great Gluten free aisle. I make lasagna with rice noodles, spaghetti with corn noodles and just watch sauces because they all have a lot of wheat flour in them. If you want to email me for recipes or more ideas feel free. ____@____.com

Sprouts has a booklet you can pick up that lists what you can and can't eat. They also carry a pretty good variety of gluten free items.

Hi L.,

At my resturant, we have several Gluten-Free customers. They usually call ahead so we can prepare something for them. If you need some assistance on idea or foods, please feel free to call and my chef and I can give you some ideas. ###-###-####, anytime after 3:00. It's easier to talk after the lunch crowd has left. C.