What is all the hype about gluten-free? It seems that everywhere there is talk about this new diet. Is it a fad and a craze that will simply go away? For those who suffer from gluten sensitivities, it is an actual issue that can sometimes be extremely dangerous. No, it is not a fad or craze for them, but a new way of life and a new way of eating. To begin their lifestyle changes, they must answer the question: What are gluten-free foods?[]
That was the same question I had when I began my journey. I was extremely confused about what to eat, since it seemed that everything contained gluten! I struggled with this concept until I gained some knowledge after doing some research. Gluten-free foods are those that do not contain flours such as wheat, barley, rye, etc. Once I obtained that definition, it made it a whole lot easier to shop and cook.
Gluten is also found in beverages, such as in barley-based drinks like beer and barley fruit drinks. Yoghurt and cheese spreads may also contain gluten, as well as ready-mix spices, spice powders, and even certain kinds of medicines.Nonetheless, there are also many kinds of healthy food that do not contain gluten. Almost all fruits and vegetables do not contain gluten, and most alcoholic drinks, except for beer, are typically gluten-free. Add to this list eggs, cheese, and coffee creamers.
Luckily for those who find themselves unable to eat gluten based foods, there are now many gluten free products on the market. Gluten free breads are available that are made of rice, millet, almonds, soy and other non-gluten grains.Rice is a common grain which is known to be devoid of gluten. Rice can be substituted over gluten based foods. Substances like beer and whiskey which are brewed with fermented wheat, are definitely gluten foods and should be avoided. Wine could be an alternate to beer. And there are now some gluten free beer products on the market.
One meal that follows the three food combination is lemon herb chicken with broccoli and seasonal fruit. In the summer, I would serve watermelon and in the winter oranges. Another meal that is very simple and tastes great is baked barbeque chicken with a baked potato and grapes (or any other fruit that tastes luscious). I also like to serve taco meat over a green salad with fresh pineapple. All of these meal combinations follow the protein, vegetable, and fruit concept and are of course all natural gluten-free foods.
I do not always go without flour. There are days when I need some gluten-free flour products to fill the cravings of the past. I still love to eat spaghetti and that requires gluten-free noodles. I have found a great brand of noodles that cook well and do not compromise flavor. Then, I add a green salad and a fruit (if I am not too full from the spaghetti and the salad).What about dessert? Don't most desserts contain gluten? The answer is YES! It is more challenging to cook homemade desserts. They are not as moist as wheat filled desserts. Occasionally, I find myself craving a homemade cake or banana cream pie. This brings on a desire to begin a baking adventure. For these recipes, I use a gluten-free flour blend to replace wheat flour and coconut milk to replace dairy products. They end up being sweet enough to fill my craving for a flour filled treat.
Whether an individual has just been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, or whether an individual has been living with the diagnosis for years, it's always necessary to be mindful when shopping for gluten-free food products. It's not only the protein found in wheat, barley and rye that can be harmful, but components of the protein called glutens as well. Glutens are widely used as stabilizing, flavoring or thickening agents in a variety of processed foods.
There was once a time in our not-so-distant past when finding specialized food items, such as organic or gluten-free, required a trip to a store that carried such products, usually at a health or natural food stores. If you were lucky, there was one close to where you lived, but often you had to travel quite a ways before you found one.Today, though, it's another story. Our retail grocery store chains are carrying a nice, if limited, selection of products once only found in health food stores. This is good news for anyone who is on a gluten-free diet, because you won't have to travel far to find the foods you need to maintain your health.
Many of these products are becoming available in the frozen food sections of local supermarkets. Shoppers will find an increasing number of safe-to-eat products like pizza dough and waffles showing up in the frozen food aisle. Among the newest arrivals are baked goods, including breads, cornbread and dinner rolls, as well as a broad assortment of delicious sweets, such as brownies, cupcakes and pies.Baked goods have always been among the most challenging foods to prepare and cook at home. It can be difficult to recreate the elastic quality of traditionally baked breads and desserts. Achieving the right texture requires special ingredient substitutions, from guar gum and xanthan gum to evaporated cane juice and tapioca starch. As more and more supermarkets offer foods produced by wholesale gluten-free food companies, shoppers can enjoy the convenience of purchasing pre-packaged sweet treats for themselves and their families.
Some traditional foods found in the grocery store frozen food sections are naturally free of glutens, but shoppers still need to check labels carefully to ensure the absence of ingredients containing them. Frozen vegetables, fruits, fish, meats and poultry with no additives or sauces are safe to eat, as are dessert items like ice cream and sherbets. Some supermarkets offer frozen foods in a special frozen food section, sometimes designated with a "natural foods" sign.While shoppers can feel confident about buying foods produced by companies that specialize in offering gluten-free foods, they need to be wary about conventional food manufacturers jumping on the celiac bandwagon. Some companies label their foods as "wheat-free," a label that holds no guarantee that the foods are safe for those diagnosed with celiac disease to eat. Foods that are labeled "gluten-free" are a safer choice.
That was the same question I had when I began my journey. I was extremely confused about what to eat, since it seemed that everything contained gluten! I struggled with this concept until I gained some knowledge after doing some research. Gluten-free foods are those that do not contain flours such as wheat, barley, rye, etc. Once I obtained that definition, it made it a whole lot easier to shop and cook.
Gluten is also found in beverages, such as in barley-based drinks like beer and barley fruit drinks. Yoghurt and cheese spreads may also contain gluten, as well as ready-mix spices, spice powders, and even certain kinds of medicines.Nonetheless, there are also many kinds of healthy food that do not contain gluten. Almost all fruits and vegetables do not contain gluten, and most alcoholic drinks, except for beer, are typically gluten-free. Add to this list eggs, cheese, and coffee creamers.
Luckily for those who find themselves unable to eat gluten based foods, there are now many gluten free products on the market. Gluten free breads are available that are made of rice, millet, almonds, soy and other non-gluten grains.Rice is a common grain which is known to be devoid of gluten. Rice can be substituted over gluten based foods. Substances like beer and whiskey which are brewed with fermented wheat, are definitely gluten foods and should be avoided. Wine could be an alternate to beer. And there are now some gluten free beer products on the market.
One meal that follows the three food combination is lemon herb chicken with broccoli and seasonal fruit. In the summer, I would serve watermelon and in the winter oranges. Another meal that is very simple and tastes great is baked barbeque chicken with a baked potato and grapes (or any other fruit that tastes luscious). I also like to serve taco meat over a green salad with fresh pineapple. All of these meal combinations follow the protein, vegetable, and fruit concept and are of course all natural gluten-free foods.
I do not always go without flour. There are days when I need some gluten-free flour products to fill the cravings of the past. I still love to eat spaghetti and that requires gluten-free noodles. I have found a great brand of noodles that cook well and do not compromise flavor. Then, I add a green salad and a fruit (if I am not too full from the spaghetti and the salad).What about dessert? Don't most desserts contain gluten? The answer is YES! It is more challenging to cook homemade desserts. They are not as moist as wheat filled desserts. Occasionally, I find myself craving a homemade cake or banana cream pie. This brings on a desire to begin a baking adventure. For these recipes, I use a gluten-free flour blend to replace wheat flour and coconut milk to replace dairy products. They end up being sweet enough to fill my craving for a flour filled treat.
Whether an individual has just been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, or whether an individual has been living with the diagnosis for years, it's always necessary to be mindful when shopping for gluten-free food products. It's not only the protein found in wheat, barley and rye that can be harmful, but components of the protein called glutens as well. Glutens are widely used as stabilizing, flavoring or thickening agents in a variety of processed foods.
There was once a time in our not-so-distant past when finding specialized food items, such as organic or gluten-free, required a trip to a store that carried such products, usually at a health or natural food stores. If you were lucky, there was one close to where you lived, but often you had to travel quite a ways before you found one.Today, though, it's another story. Our retail grocery store chains are carrying a nice, if limited, selection of products once only found in health food stores. This is good news for anyone who is on a gluten-free diet, because you won't have to travel far to find the foods you need to maintain your health.
Many of these products are becoming available in the frozen food sections of local supermarkets. Shoppers will find an increasing number of safe-to-eat products like pizza dough and waffles showing up in the frozen food aisle. Among the newest arrivals are baked goods, including breads, cornbread and dinner rolls, as well as a broad assortment of delicious sweets, such as brownies, cupcakes and pies.Baked goods have always been among the most challenging foods to prepare and cook at home. It can be difficult to recreate the elastic quality of traditionally baked breads and desserts. Achieving the right texture requires special ingredient substitutions, from guar gum and xanthan gum to evaporated cane juice and tapioca starch. As more and more supermarkets offer foods produced by wholesale gluten-free food companies, shoppers can enjoy the convenience of purchasing pre-packaged sweet treats for themselves and their families.
Some traditional foods found in the grocery store frozen food sections are naturally free of glutens, but shoppers still need to check labels carefully to ensure the absence of ingredients containing them. Frozen vegetables, fruits, fish, meats and poultry with no additives or sauces are safe to eat, as are dessert items like ice cream and sherbets. Some supermarkets offer frozen foods in a special frozen food section, sometimes designated with a "natural foods" sign.While shoppers can feel confident about buying foods produced by companies that specialize in offering gluten-free foods, they need to be wary about conventional food manufacturers jumping on the celiac bandwagon. Some companies label their foods as "wheat-free," a label that holds no guarantee that the foods are safe for those diagnosed with celiac disease to eat. Foods that are labeled "gluten-free" are a safer choice.
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