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New to the GF world, and struggling a bit.

by Keri
(Wellington, NZ)

I have recently found out that I am gluten intolerant, in fact this is week number 3. I have found it quite hard when it comes to shopping, and have mistakenly assumed that something didn't include gluten, only to be so crook later on, and checking the label I find that it in fact has gluten in it - DOH!!! I think I need to go through my pantry/fridge and get rid of anything with gluten in it.

One thing that I am finding quite hard is the fact that my partner thinks that gluten intolerance is "the latest fad" and "all in your head". So, he isn't keen on eating GF pasta when we have spag bol, and things like that. So I am finding myself cooking 2 meals each night which is such a hassle!!!

I discovered Commonsense Organics (in Wellington) yesterday - such an awesome place to shop!!

Does anyone have some tips and hints for people who are new to the GF world, and feel like they are drowning slightly?

Comments for
New to the GF world, and struggling a bit.

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Apr 06, 2010
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It Takes time
by: Cheryl

Hi, I've been Gluten Free for about four years now, and am loving it. I buy a loaf of gluten free bread and keep it in the freezer and just take out a slice or two when required, I also keep a pack of GF baps for hamburgers. I have GF breadcrumbs and make my gravy and white sauce with white rice flour. I usually bake a batch of Muffins once a week and freeze most of them to use for lunches and snacks.
I also make snack bars in old shallow muffin tins and individually wrap in wax paper. We have a small oven and a microwave at work so I usually take last nights leftovers if any for lunch or a couple of slices of bread, cranberry jelly, cheese and an onion makes a very tasty lunch. I have to say that gf grains are very healthy and full of nutrients.
Sprouts are another thing to add.

Mar 05, 2010
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Be careful
by: Brenda Crozier

Hi there. You need to be careful cooking gluten free foods only for your family. A gluten free diet is low in fibre, and high in fat. The nutrients normally obtained from wheat, rye, barley and oats are also missing and must be replaced by a range of other grains. I was diagnosed with coeliac disease 8 months ago, followed by my daughter a couple of months later. I threw all gluten containing ingredients out of the cupboards and 'began again'. 6 months down the track my husband, not coeliac' became ill with gut problems. It turned out that the gluten free diet we were on was doing him more harm than good because of the lack of fibre and nutrients. I had been compensating in my lunches and snacks, he wasn't. Suggest you cook gluten free sauce for your pasta, and cook pasta in two saucepans. I do now and it works.

Feb 26, 2010
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GF books on trade me
by: Anonymous

I have been on GF food for 3 weeks so am in the same boat. Have 2 friends who are helping me and I am feeling better already. I was still using Rolled Oats as I thought they were OK, but alas, no!!
About the books, I have just bought 5 books on TradeMe. Just go into GF books. Also got some good info from DR Rodney Fords website.
Good luck

Jan 02, 2010
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GF Receipe books
by: G Heenan

Hello and a Happy new Year here are some really yummy receipe books you can buy,
1, 4 Ingredients Gluten Free by Kim McCosker & Rachael Bermingham.
2,Gluten Free Food Kiwi Style by Tracey Richardson,
3,The New Zealand Gluten Free Cookbook by Sophie Johnson, all book shops should sell a good range of G/F receipe books, look up the internet under G/F books. Join the Coeliac Society in your part of the country they are marvelous to help.
Good Luck with your search.

Jan 01, 2010
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:)
by: gf sister

That's so great to hear!
Snacks ideas:
an omellette - just one egg, a few herbs and cheese makes a really healthy and filling snack.
Hummus and crackers. Again, hummus is really good for you!

GF cupcakes, yes it's possible. And GF muffins work out really well too.

Find a recipe that freezes and de-frosts really well, so you don't have to eat everything in one go!

Look in your local library for some gf cookbooks - there should be some muffin or cupcake recipes in there.

I hope that your year will be filled with wonderful food and gf learning experiences! Have fun, play around with your food and above all - be healthy! :)

Jan 01, 2010
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Well, so far so good.
by: Keri

Firstly, thank you everyone for your comments, it is much appreciated, and great to know that I have somewhere to go if I have questions :)

Christmas went well. I have a cousin who is also GF, so her and I made sure that we both made "safe" foods, and our family members made alternatives of what they had brought along that we could eat, YAY!!

My partner is (slowly) coming around I think. Perhaps he is starting to realise how unwell eating gluten can make me...I hope so anyway.

I am looking forward to getting back to work, because at home I find that I don't have enough to snack on and I am so hungry all the time. That doesn't seem to be the case at work.

Does anyone have some good ideas for easy snack ideas when you get hungry??

Dec 26, 2009
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New to GF world
by: Paul H

I recommend you buy the book gluten free living for dummies which has a lot of key information in it. The recipes are American which is not that useful but it contains a lot of information that is crucial.

I thought I was eating gluten free for a while, once I read the first part of the book I realised that gluten is in a lot of things and it is not obvious.

Once I got better at identifying the problem ingredients, I started feeling a lot better.

There is a lot to know and I recommend improving your knowledge and it will improve your quality of life.

I am sorry to hear that your partner is not on board yet but I hope you can make him understand.

Good luck.

Dec 14, 2009
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pasta
by: Anonymous

You can buy yummy pasta in the gluten free isle in your supermarket, Healtheries ''Simple'' range has a very good selection of dried pasta. have you a support group in your area. your partner needs a wakeup call to stop being so stupid, pity he wasn't the one to get Coeliac, that would shut him up quick smart.

Dec 14, 2009
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Helpful hints
by: G Heenan

Hello, Yes it takes a while to get yourself into eating totally gluten free foods,I emptied my pantry of all gluten food items and cleaned the shelves then started from stratch and brought all new containers,because of cross contamination you can get major tummy upsets, have you joined the Coeliac Society, they will help you with all your questions,and will give you what I call my shopping bible, its a small blue book with all the Gluten free foods you can have plus in the back are the NO-No groups of foods you do not touch.
As for you husband he needs to be taken to your family Dr and have it explained to him that Coeliac Disease is NOT what he thinks, he is just being dam ignorant. Good luck and keep well..

Dec 14, 2009
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gluten free is a family affair
by: Anonymous

It really does make a differance when the whole family is on board and atleast eating gluten free in the home. And as for picky husbands what they don't know wont hurt them. I would just make the one lot of pasta and not tell him, it is so much easier and sometimes families just have to bite the bullet and do this for their loved one. He will get use to it just like you will.
The last person that wrote in about sticking to the basic food like rice, spud,meat...is so right. Its such a good idea and brown rice freezes really well so you could freeze some for your lunches and pull one out the night before to have with salad and meat or those lovely flavoured cans of fish. And don't forget left over dinner from the night before is yum for lunch too. And I agree with the last person saying G.F. flours arn't good for you.

Dec 14, 2009
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yup, me too
by: Anonymous

Hi, I've been gluten free for just over a year now. I know how you feel! Trust me, you'll get better at it and soon you won't even find it a big problem, eating gf every day.

I think the first few months can be really challenging because you've got to change your whole style of cooking! Try and use the ingredients that are "naturally gluten free" - such as eggs, meat, rice and potatoes as a base for your meals instead of replacing grain for grain. [For example: don't eat as much gf bread as you would normal bread - you may get constipated and gf grains don't have much nutrients in them at all.]

Health is more important than a fleeting taste in your mouth. :)

Stay strong!

Dec 13, 2009
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GF too
by: Anonymous

Hi Keri. I can totally understand where you are coming from. I have been gluten free for about 5 or so months now and still struggle.

I have a young family and cooking things like spag bog I do boil 2 types of pasta and dish my own up, but find that the family don't mind the GF lasagne.

I struggle with breakfast and lunches a bit and get a bit sick of rice crackers, as a diabetic it is difficult with this as well.

Not much help, but hopefully nice to know there are others out there too.

Good luck

Michelle

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