If you've just heard the words, "You need to go Gluten Free" and have no idea exactly what that means or where to begin, this blog is for you. I totally understand the overwhelming feeling that rush over you as you realize there's a whole new word with terms to learn and foods to buy and things not to eat that you never knew before now. Please know that things will get easier and soon you'll be navigating in this Gluten Free world like a pro. Until then, start simple. Think simple. And the transition will be simple.....er.
One of my main rules to follow is to make a plan BEFORE you take action. And know how you're going to REPLACE the foods you are REMOVING. I know your physician may have said, "Go home and never eat gluten again." Well, I can tell you from experience, that the saying is 100% true: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." So I always suggest to take a couple days to plan your steps of action. This also allows your feelings to settle down and catch up a bit before you purposely tip the boat over again. You'll feel much more in control than you did when you heard those life-changing words. You'll have a sense of confidence that you know what you're doing....even if you don't...and your first few steps into Gluten Free will be firm and steady instead of like walking on an ice-covered mountain trail going downhill with a 80-pound dog on the leash (just did that so I kinda know how well that goes).
There's plenty of older posts which talk about going gluten free and I love Karina's helpful tips over at www.glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com.
This post is about how to clean out your cupboard. How to "purge your pantry."
Plan to set aside 90 minutes - 2 hrs to begin your journey into a new, healthier you. This will not be hard and will actually be somewhat enjoyable as you think of how you used to feel compared to how you'll soon be feeling. The foods you'll be discarding are actually poison to you and they must go. "Let food be thy medicine" is also another one of those very true sayings. And if some of the food you're eating is just the opposite, then try saying your good-byes with a smile. :)
1. Throw away any item that you have a sensitivity to - wheat, gluten, corn, soy, dairy, etc... As you throw it away, mark on the grocery list the item you will need to replace the food you just removed. For instance, if you are removing your cow's milk, ensure you jot down to replace it with a non-dairy milk (almond, coconut, hemp, etc...). If you just threw out gluten pasta, then you'll need some gluten-free pasta. If you are removing potato chips, jot down you'll replace them with rice, bean, or veggie chips, gluten-free pretzel sticks or another healthy snack option. Something you'll be content eating when your belly starts rumbling. There is no reason you have to starve no matter how many allergies/sensitivities you have.
2. While you have the trash can handy, I suggest you make the choice to throw away the products filled with refined sugar - and even those panned in cans and plastic containers or are made with artificial flavorings, pesticides, and chemicals - if you want to "go big" on this journey to health. While many know pesticides aren't good for us, I don't believe many realize just how deadly sugar is. If you'd like to know more, please check out this post by Heidi over at www.adventuresofaglutenfreemom.com. I think you'll be convicted and convinced that sugar, too, needs to go. There are many flavors of stevia which work well as a replacement for sugar and date, coconut/palm sugar, and agave nectar are other healthy options.
3. Once your pantry, cupboards, and refrigerator are nearly bare, it's time to make a trip to the grocery store. This is where things can get really, really tricky and downright difficult if you haven't prepared for the trip. I have been known to spend hours in the grocery store reading every label only to walk out in tears, leaving a nearly empty grocery cart behind. If you have the time before - like on one of those transitional planning days - check out gluten free items online at places like the Gluten Free Mall,
Navan Foods, or
Vitacost.
You'll have a better idea of what you'll be looking for in the stores - or may find it just as easy to order online. Vitacost has great prices. :) You may also want to check-out some allergy friendly, gluten-free blogs for recipe ideas if you're really adventurous.
My suggestion, which I learned from The Gluten Free Goddess, Karina, is to start choosing foods which are naturally gluten free (see older posts). Don't worry about making casseroles or full-blown dinners with desserts at first. Think simple. That's the key. Choose raw nuts, organic meats, fresh fruits and veggies. Stay out of the middle aisles of the grocery store! That's where the trouble lies! Stay along the outside aisles as that's where most of the fresh and healthier food choices are. And, believe it or not, you will not starve eating fresh and healthy! In fact, you most likely will feel more alert and energized than you have in a very, very long time!
As time goes on, you'll become more familiar with your food sensitivity list and the gluten free lifestyle. As you do, you'll naturally become more adventurous with your food choices and desire to cook a variety of new and different things in your kitchen. I know I have. As I've gone through the various stages of grieving on a couple of different occasions, I have finally come to the stage where I have embraced this gluten free lifestyle to the fullest. Sure I try some recipe and it is super-yucky and it gets thrown out after one bite. But I must say those times are fewer and farther between these days. I also have learned to modify just about every recipe to fit my personal set of allergies and desire to be as healthy as can be - ie, sugar free as well.
The gluten-free world grew tremendously in 2011.