Tips for Living a Gluten-Free Life
If you’ve decided to switch to a gluten-free life, the prospect can seem quite daunting. While it’s easier to buy gluten-free foods these days, your diet can seem somewhat limited. However, with a bit of guidance, you too can find it relatively easy to live a gluten-free life.
This is a collaborative post.
Find Out Which Foods Are Naturally Gluten-Free
Many foods are naturally gluten-free. These include cheese, rice, potatoes, meat, eggs, and fruits and vegetables. You can also eat corn, quinoa, tapioca, polenta, buckwheat, and amaranth. Your new diet does not need to be as limited as you think. You can still have a varied and balanced diet even if you have to avoid gluten.
These days, it’s so much easier to buy gluten-free foods. Gluten free biscuits, breakfast cereals, and snacks can usually be found in most supermarkets. You can still enjoy the foods that you love without compromise.
Read the Packaging When You’re Grocery Shopping
Reading the packaging and labels when you shop is perhaps the best way to avoid gluten. Reading labels may take up a lot of your time at first. However, after a while, you will know which products do and don’t contain gluten.
When you’re shopping, be on the lookout for products that contain wheat, oats, barley, rye, and spelt. These grains contain gluten and they can be found in many bread products and health foods.
Some manufacturers make it clear which of their products contains gluten by highlighting the relevant ingredients, others do not. This is why it is always wise to read the packaging so you know exactly what each product contains.
Take Up Baking
Many people choose to take up baking because they know exactly what ingredients are used. Gluten-free flour can be purchased from many supermarkets, health food stores, and websites. Flour such as this can be used in the same way that regular flour can be used.
If you don’t want to use gluten-free flour, you could consider using corn, chickpea, or rice flour. These flours can alter the taste of the foods slightly, but they are easy to bake with.
Remember Why You’re Doing This
There may be times when you’re tempted to buy or make foods that contain gluten. However, you should remember why you’re going gluten-free.
Perhaps you feel bloated or uncomfortable when you’ve consumed gluten. Perhaps you want to experiment with gluten-free foods to see if you like them.
Whatever your reasons behind going gluten-free, try to remember them. Reminding yourself can help to prevent you from consuming those foods that don’t do you any good.
Plan Ahead
Plan your meals ahead of time so that you always have something to eat. Try to plan a week’s worth of meals if you can. Knowing what you’re going to eat can help to prevent you from reaching for a gluten-filled snack when you’re hungry.
If you regularly eat out, knowing your meal options can save time. Many eateries serve gluten-free dishes, but not all of them do. Looking up the menu before you reach the restaurant, for example, can help you to determine whether you can eat there.
The thought of going completely gluten-free may seem overwhelming. However, with a bit of work on your behalf, you too can enjoy a gluten-free life without feeling guilty afterwards.