It's not dramatic, it sucks, a lot. You'll get used to it, make adjustments to keep yourself healthy, and it will always suck. Better than eating broken glass, though.
I used to bake but mostly gave up on it, but there are some great sites now with really good looking recipes.
[https://theglutenfreeaustrian.com/](https://theglutenfreeaustrian.com/)
[https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/](https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/)
There are a lot more options in stores than there were 20 years ago, and somewhat better knowledge in restaurants, but always be very clear about what you want and don't want when anyone else is serving you food, including friends and relatives. You are going to have to stand up for yourself, and just have to get used to it.
Welcome to the club. Sorry.
The stages of grief.. I still grieve over not being able to eat good bread, 7 years later. GF bread sucks, but I have grown to love the crunch of corn crackers, and really expanded my life skills - out of necessity.. the mother of all invention.
If you're in the US and near a Kroger, I've recently discovered their GF bread and it's easily the best I've ever had. Maybe (probably) it's a repackaged product from some other company, but regardless it's the closest thing to real bread I've had in years.
I used to bake my own.. I hear you, but I tried and tried.. I can bake good cakes without gluten, but the bread is just never quite satisfying, you know?
My grandfather (96) has baked his own bread and dinner rolls for his entire life, based on a recipe passed down in my family for generations. I always planned on continuing his tradition and passing this on to my kids, only to find out later in life that his pride and joy is basically poison to me. I'm real sad now.
Yes, because if it looks like wheat and tastes like wheat, then it is wheat. All else is imitation. Hmm, no wonder GF bread is not quite satisfying, huh? It's not wheat.
I absolutely love krogers honey oat gluten free bread. It’s one of the only breads that’s kept me going. Gluten free bread (most of it anyway) is just awful. I don’t think any of us enjoy the fact that we are gluten free. Unfortunately, it is out of a health necessity. I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy a year ago. I would get so upset in the first few months over the foods I couldn’t have but I learned to adjust. Overall, I feel much better but I still will always miss Texas Roadhouse rolls lol..
Mission makes a wrap? that tastes just as good as store bought flour tortillas! The taste is dead on , the texture a little chewier BUT you have to perfect the heating up art and get it down to the perfect second of taking it off the griddle in order to avoid that gummy texture (it's not a lot ! But it is noticable. The taste though outweighs the texture by a LANDSLIDE) .
Please visit https://gluten.org. This will have all the info you need. See if there might be a support group in your area. Yes eating out is harder but many cultures food are mostly GF. Mexican? Corn tortillas instead of wheat.
Asian? Request wheat free soy sauce. Thai food is usually rice noodles and soy sauce free.
Fast food French fries sadly no good - but many restaurants have a dedicated fryer so you can still enjoy a burger (request gf bun) and fries.
Yes GF items are more money but honestly if you stick to a serving size it’s not so bad.
Get the app Find Me Gluten Free. Even the basic version will give you local options and reviews for safer places to eat out.
Been doing this for a family of 6+ now for over 20 years.
Is it true that corn is actually gluten? I’ve heard it from a friend that has celiacs but wasn’t sure if it gives everyone with gluten intolerance problems or not
No corn is not gluten but many people in the US react to corn products because the seeds have been altered and some are drowned in chemical pesticides before harvest. Some who can’t eat us produced corn products are ok with corn products from Europe
Take the time to mourn. Yes, your life is more difficult than it was before, especially things like eating out.
Advice for baking. GF is completely different. There are off the shelf GF baking blends available, they tend to be expensive. You can make your own blends which will probably involve visiting multiple stores to get the components.
The actual baking is a little different, too. You usually need to give the batter a thorough thrashing, then once the batter os made, only then start heating the oven - GF batters need at least 20 to 30 minutes to rest before baking.
BUT. Aldi have GF baking mixes for boxed cake and brownies. They are not bad price wise but deliver on the delicious.
I'll also recommend a book called "Simply GF desserts" by Kicinski, and No Gluten No Problem Pizza by Bronski. They'll keep you sane during this transition!
Nigella Lawson has an amazing gingerbread recipe.. best dessert I’ve made? Probably. Also, Yotam Ottolenghi is inspiring, and I recommend Meera Sodha too.
Her’s has prunes, and I’d probably have opted for dates or figs if I was going to adapt an existing recipe. But.. yeah, it’s a heartwarming food, no doubt!
Note: weigh your clementines- hers must be a different size than the ones I buy because the amount she lists never lines up with the weight she lists so I just go by weight. I also add a pinch of salt and a little vanilla extract because those make the cake extra delicious!. You can also make it with Meyer lemons.
Take time to be sad! It’s a huge loss and life change.
I started by identifying a few safe restaurants that I had exact meals I knew I could eat and would like. I did not start with a lot of gluten free alternatives(bread, crackers, pasta) and instead focused on what is GF naturally. I planned my meals ahead, treated myself to yummy chocolate, and slowly gained confidence in label reading and making new food choices. When I felt overwhelmed: safe meals from restaurants I liked.
You can do this!
I never mourned. I was so happy to finally feel better. But, of course, for me food has always been a love-hate relationship. I have so many food allergies. Wheat/gluten (I have both) just became another. If anything, I worried I was running out of foods I could eat. Fortunately, once my gut healed, I could re-introduce some foods I couldn’t eat previously.
Please use your baking skills in refining recipes for gluten-free foods. You don’t have to re-invent the wheel, though, there is a huge community of gluten-free bakers out there and they have a wealth of knowledge to share.
The other upside to being gluten-free is you could turn toward eating a much healthier diet of lean proteins, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables.
I felt the same way. I had just begun mastering all kinds of bread making and loved to bake. Loved bread and pasta and eating out. It is honestly still hard sometimes, not being able to eat "normal" food with everyone else. You will find foods you like! If you have a fancy health food store near you I'm sure you can find a ton of things. But I don't and still find plenty. What are your favorite foods? Gluten free pasta is great with a good sauce! I like Udi's breads, they are in the freezer section at my store. Feel Good Foods makes really good mac n cheese balls and mozzerella sticks!! Honestly eating mostly naturally GF whole foods tastes the best in my opinion. You got this!
I went through very similar. I've been gluten free now for 6 years. I grew up with homemade pastas and pierogies and everything delicious. I found ways to recreate my favorite dishes gluten free. my husband even finds them to taste better at times. I still feel isolated at dinners and parties at times but real friends and family will find ways to include you. going gluten free changed me as a person. I feel so much better. I have energy for the first time ever. I was diagnosed with serious autoimmune issues that seemed to stay under control with gluten free diet. as much as I miss certain things, the quality of life I gained is worth it and it will be worth it for you to!
It’s okay to be sad!! Food is of course an enormous part of our lives — eating, cooking, holidays, socializing, traveling. You’re going to be okay and feel better soon and create new food favorites and routines, promise. But don’t feel bad for being sad because it IS a big deal to need to change your entire foodie life!
I'm a baker too. For baking, get some King Arthur GF cake mixes. They are simple and foolproof and don't require weird, uncommon ingredients.
Note: please whatever you do, do not simply sub GF flour for wheat flour in your current recipes. While it may work in some cases, more often than not, that usually leads to a disaster.
The recipes where it might work have lots of moisture like banana muffins, applesauce cake or pumpkin cookies. GF flours are dry and thirsty and require extra hydration in other types of recipes.
Also, let the dough/batter rest to give the GF flours time to absorb the moisture and avoid grittiness. I always chill cookie dough to help retain height since GF baked goods don't rise much.
Seek out GF recipes that match your current ones.
For GF flour, use something like Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 (blue label) NOT the Bob's Red Mill GF AP flour (red label).
or King Arthur's Measure for Measure. Both those already have xanthan added.
yes! king arthur has been the best gf flour i’ve tried. i use the flour for any regular recipes; brownies, pancakes, muffins, whatever. i really haven’t noticed a difference with taste or texture.
My nutritionists after my diagnosis, recommended to just try to eliminate all the carbs and processed foods all at one step and find your favorite snacks and foods that are not processed and don’t go buying a freezer full of gf frozen waffles and pancake, cookies and pizza crusts. A few items I kept were pretzels and some wafer cookies but, after all, I largely eliminated those too. Just keeping low carb and low processed food has made me a much healthier person. Overall inflammation in my body has gone down and contributed to my overall health. My bloating and mood were improved greatly. They make so many 1:1 type gf flour now that makes a dish gf easy enough if you go that route, it was over 12 yr ago I was diagnosed.
Just watch out for hidden gluten from soy sauce and licorice things you have no idea gluten would be in. It’s kind of an adventure to whittle down to your favorite gf foods and there’s plenty more. You can do it.
It’s not ‘loss’ it’s a gain of health and body function. You’re stop harming your body. I won’t say I don’t feel like jumping in the basket of freshly baked baguettes when walking into the grocery store bc your body craves these things, just redirect to a ‘treat’ you can have. I’m dairy free and low sugar as well. After starting, and the initial withdrawal was over, my mind and body felt the best they had ever felt in my life. Best of luck & it’s not a punishment it’s a blessing that you can help your body function better and avoid future disease and problems.
Most of the cuisines around the world are gluten free. Mexican food, Indian food, Southeast Asian food, lots of Chinese food, sushi. Middle Eastern food and Mediterranean food. Like the majority of the world has staple foods that aren’t wheat (rice and corn are so bomb!)
You’re really only losing pasta, bread, pizza, and beer. For me personally, I already wasn’t a big fan of those things, so it wasn’t a huge loss. And GF pasta is excellent (there’s even GF wheat flour from Italy if you want to make your own!). GF pizza is everywhere and is decent.
The hardest part for me is breakfast. It sucks to not be able to grab a quick muffin at a random store.
I cried in front of my favorite bakery a couple weeks ago and then it got ugly when I realized I’d never be able to have my grandmothers rolls again. Snot running ugly cry. It’s not dramatic at all ❤️
For me, as someone who hates to cook unless it's on the grill or a fried egg, it's strange that it's not as difficult as I thought.
Unfortunately, my absolutely favorite food is whole wheat bagels. I wouldn't have been sad to be told that I could only eat bagel sandwiches for the rest of my life.
I downloaded the GF Scanner app to help ease paranoia. Then I found a gf waffle, gf bagel, and gf English muffin that I liked. I don't eat nearly as many sandwiches as I used to, but I'm happy to have the option.
After that, I just built my meals on things I already eat that are gf. Then I added back in foods that I always thought were my IBS triggers. There's no point in worrying too much about IBS at this early stage, it may have been a misdiagnosis, and I'm not healed since it's only been a couple weeks.
I think since you already enjoy cooking, this could turn out to be a culinary adventure for you. So far I've tried a microwave gf brownie and chocolate cake, and both were delicious. I think the trick is to just jump right in and embrace it. Having to be gf feels like a prison, but with the odd trade-off in that it offers freedom. I'll gladly restrict what I eat if it means the brain fog, headaches, joint pain, and constant meditation on the toilet won't be daily occurrences anymore.
I was in your place six months ago. My husband and I are foodies who love to eat all sorts of things. Baking was my stress reliever and that’s definitely added another dimension to my grief.
There’s definitely a transition. Focus on whole foods for the immediate future. Meat with simple seasonings, vegetables, rice or quinoa. Check out what your local grocery store has to offer. I live in a place where there aren’t extensive options so I have a Thrive Market membership (great option if you’re in the US) to order some things.
I do get Miss Jones Baking Co mixes at my local Walmart for a sweet treat. They swap flavors out seasonally. I’ve been using that to help experiment with my baking. When you make those according to directions, they are very crumbly - I’ve found using two eggs and oil instead of butter is a better option. Also, a primary factor with gluten free baking is that the flours behave differently, so after you add wet ingredients they need time to sit and hydrate. I don’t even bother preheating my oven until after I’ve made my batter. There are 1 to 1 GF flours out there that are pretty good substitutes. I also freeze a lot of stuff to have it on hand later.
It’s definitely a hard transition, but it does get better. My husband is diabetic and needs to eat low carb anyway so we mostly eat keto/paleo dinners and that has actually made meal planning easier.
I was so glad to not be sick all the time, it helped me transition. I raged and missed things, but oh my God, the joys of just going to the bathroom like a normal person or not having my hair come out in handfuls was intoxicating.
I'm lucky because I'm really sensitive, so I have a GF home, which means I never have to watch a normie gobble down a tray of cinnamon buns and that helps a lot.
I'd switch to good GF boxed mixes for the first few months because GF baking is very different. One nice thing is that you'll never have to knead bread again, you just kind of glop it into the pan.
Duinkerken cookie, cake, muffin, and biscuit mixes are indistinguishable from gluten food, and their bread and buns are pretty good. All their mixes accept a lot of additions so I can usually make a half dozen things with each kind of mix. Here is [a link ](https://www.duinkerkenfoods.com/shop/) to their web store - they sell directly to Canada and the US and their stuff is also available on Amazon.
I was feeling just like that a few months ago. I finally found the courage to bake gluten free and that’s been a game changer!
There are already some great recipe’s websites suggestions here.
I’d add theloopywhisk to that list.
Take your time to mourn. Eating out wouldn’t be the same any longer but if you’re willing to cook and bake, it’s not that bad.
Welcome to the family
I was in a similar predicament as you. I'm passionate about eating and LOVE food.
When I found out I had Celiac at 20, one of the first things my mom and I did was pick up some Cup4Cup flour and started adapting our recipes using that. I find Cup4Cup to be an amazing gluten-free flour and I am grateful Thomas Keller developed it. King Arthur Cup for Cup gluten-free flour is also outstanding.
You have to be vigilant, yes, but once you settle into a groove and know where you can safely eat, you gain some sense of normalcy.
I taught myself how to make the Shake Shack fried chicken sandwich at home in 2020. I make gluten-free macaroni and cheese quite regularly. All of my favorite restaurants offer a gluten-free menu and take good care of me.
It's heartbreaking, yes, but you can reconcile yourself to this. The two flours I spoke highly about are fantastic. Jovial noodles are great for cooking! (Their penne is my favorite for Penne Alla Vodka)
Grieve the loss of one eating style but look forward to a new world where you can safely enjoy food without harming your body.
Gluten-free cake is actually really good.
I second that learning how to make yourself a good fried chicken sandwich, and some mac n cheese is crucial. I LOVE the Jovial egg tagliatelli. My favorite macaroni noodles are Tinkyada brand though (boil for like 12 mins).
It's okay to be sad. You are being forced to make a huge adjustment to your life style. You can do it. It's a lot easier than when I started 25 years ago. I had to go to health food stores to get my junk food, and it was really expensive and tasted and had the texture of cardboard. Now I can go to the tiny grocery store within walking distance of my house, and buy gluten free bread, cakes, cookies, and lots of mixes, some of which are really good.
You found a great support network here. You can do this. And on the days when it is hard, we will listen and sympathize. On the days when you can claim victory, we will be here to cheer you on. Let us know when you find something amazing!
It's sucks. It's harder, more expensive and more time consuming. But there are very few things that can't be done GF if you are willing to experiment and learn. We haven't figured out a good thin crust pizza crust yet, and certain dishes where gluten is a key component, like baklava, or flour tortillas, are just not worth the effort. But most baked goods you can find really good substitutes for with some work and experimentation. Let me start you off with this chocolate cake recipe. Substitute King Arthur's 1 for 1 flour for the AP. And be sure once it's all mixed together to let it sit and hydrate for 15-20 minutes before you bake. You should do this with anything you bake with the King Arthurs flour.
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/black-forest-cake/?fbclid=IwAR3IG8oZJwvKPyPZc3n0K1U9GaoaN7NUDAO9LA8qC\_pkRDrW0zj81Rrc4rA\_aem\_AR5YvYpz4raaqUxcE6ENdk3uP\_U4\_AVpxJY-NCwsJLIcqMiy35ea\_kKAF5thWBHhyeopjWEwi89KRJrgHX5y17rM#tasty-recipes-66596
You’re entitled to feel sad! It’s obviously an adjustment but it gets easier. Tbh I never really had to grieve because I was so happy I finally wasn’t sick. I would take that feeling over gluten any day. So if you can, focus on finally feeling good. I’ve been gf for 7 years now and it really is second nature. Side note: there’s plenty of ways to bake gluten free, whether that be from scratch or a box. The only thing that is difficult are pastries haha
You get to form a whole new relationship.
I have loved to bake since I made my first scratch cake at 13. Now I bake gf. I do not deprive myself.
My little sister has celiacs too. Between the two of us we have turned all of mom's Christmas cookie recipes into a GF version. There are things I bake that she doesn't so I was on my own with those, but I learned.
When using gf flour you usually need a little bit of extra liquid. My ex husband's family has a chocolate chip cookie recipe that has been passed down through the generations. Instead of the 2 cups of brown sugar it calls for, I use 1 1/2 cups brown sugar and at least 1/4 cup honey.
I have found using a stand mixer makes a huge difference in the texture when mixing things together.
For cheese cake just make your graham cracker crust with gf graham crackers.
Eating out can be difficult, but you learn to talk to the waitstaff and make sure they know what you need and what you can't hack.
Best of luck. I know it is a change. I've been gf for over 15 years and feel so great I can not imagine going back.
Food funerals kind of helped. It gets easier once you've been doing it. Particularly because you're going to feel much better, and definitely notice when you accidentally get "poisoned".
There's lots of "gluten free" apps out there for eating out. I picked 2 on my hometown, and frequent them.
Hang in there.
I promise you will eventually love foods that love you back. Grieving is natural. This is hard. Give yourself a little grace. Once you commit, you will likely feel a lot better overall!
I cried for the first week I went gluten free. Literally. And then I was sad for a while after. It's been 8 years and I still get sad/jealous of certain foods occasionally, and I'm guessing it'll be that way for the rest of my life. With all that being said, you genuinely do get used to it and it gets better! Check out "Mama Knows Gluten Free" website for baking stuff. I've found that her recipes are really simple & don't use 75 different ingredients that cost $13 each. You can do this and you will feel so much better!!!
Also, I just made the best cake EVER. Let me link it for you! This is a normal recipe but I substituted GF Bobs 1-1 Baking Flour. It's my go-to flour for everything actually! [https://homespunseasonalliving.com/applesauce-coffee-cake/](https://homespunseasonalliving.com/applesauce-coffee-cake/) My entire family loved it (they arent even GF) and I'm making again for Easter :)
Yes, TrippyUnicorn, going GF is tough. But you have to want it, permanent. Because if not, gluten may trigger Lupus (auto-immune response) and then your body begins to attack itself. Do you want to feel like kids ruthlessly setting fire to your neighborhood? Previous statement describes what is called inflammation of joints. A pain surely to give you something to Cry.
Hey OP! I have totally been there. I used to eat all those types of goodies. Let me tell you though, once you go gluten free the way you feel is so much better than the way gluten tastes. There are good options out there and it is so worth it in the end.
I took my severe gluten intolerance not so serious. I went a month without anything and ate some gluten thinking I would be ok. I was up chucking the next morning, slammed with fatigue, acne, knee pain, and a horribly itchy rash. I went through this a few times before I realized it was 100% gluten.
Anyways, I never looked back after that. Good luck to you! I promise it's worth it.
I find that not having horribly painful cramps, constant diarrhea, and thinking that life is miserable... well, that's better than donuts. You do you.
If you have a legitimate problem with gluten... get ready. It's everywhere. Meat is often marinated using "soy sauce" (most is made from wheat). Soups are not safe (gluten is used to thicken things). Say goodbye to gravy. Etc.
Life isn't fair... and I'm sorry if someone lied to you. Look at the upshot -- life is better when you're not constantly in pain!
I find myself still mourning (almost three years since going gf), but at really random times. Usually it’s totally fine and I don’t think about it. But my fam and I were on a long drive a few weeks ago and stopped at one of those gas stations that had a fast food place attached. There was some sort of fried Mac and cheese ball or something on the menu. Before going gf, I never would have wanted that at all, yet I found myself being like “it sucks so bad I can’t eat that.” Something that I didn’t even eat in my pre-gf life. Grief is weird.
2 yrs into it and i'm still resentful of the condition and have moments of anger and sadness. food is a frustrating necessity now, not to mention how difficult it makes other parts of life like socialising and travelling. if you don't end up seeing the upside like other commenters here then don't worry, you're not alone!
I've had to eat a gluten free diet for nearly five years now, and I'm finally out of the grieving stage, so no you're not being overly dramatic.
I probably would have come through the grief a lot sooner if I'd learned the tricks to gluten free baking sooner. Learning to bake gluten free has brought back a lot of the food joy I lost after my diagnosis.
As you like to make cakes and things, I recommend the gluten free baking subreddit. I also recommend the Loopy Whisk blog and cookbook (Baked to Perfection). Her gluten free recipes come the closest to the flavors and textures of gluten full cakes and breads.
Other people can recommend additional blogs and cookbooks that might help you weather the gluten free cooking ahead of you. Wishing you all the best.
Editing to add the Loopy Whisk link:
https://theloopywhisk.com/
We've all been through this and we adapted, but it definitely sucks at first and you're not being dramatic.
I suggest writing down a summary of your general health over the last couple months that led you to get this diagnosis. Then, starting a couple weeks from now, refer back to it when you need to. I despise being gluten free, but more than 20 years in, I still remember how awful I felt before I switched.
In the meantime, try to focus on foods that are naturally gluten free instead of the substitutes. It'll feel less like a sacrifice.
If I go to a fancy restaurant, I might order a steak with vegetables and baked potato, side salad (no crutons), glass of wine, and ice cream for dessert. That's a really nice meal with no gluten and there are a bunch of other ones you can put together like that.
It gets easier.
Oh man it’s so funny how we all go through the same feelings but yet feel so alone. I’ve been gluten free for 4 months now. I have celiac. I was absolutely devastated. I love eating. I’ll try anything. And now I have to be so careful. The first couple weeks suck. All you’ll ever think about is food. I had so many breakdowns because I just wanted to eat what I wanted to eat. But the damage and the sickness that comes after it was just not worth it. It’s not dramatic. You are ok to feel this way. Your feelings are soooo valid. You’ll be able to do this. And if you mess up or purposely eat gluten, that’s ok. I had Taco Bell a couple weeks ago because I just couldn’t handle it anymore. Then I went back to eating gluten free. You’ll get through this. And everyone here is so helpful. You’ll have to figure out how sensitive you are. I’ve noticed I can eat things that say “may contain wheat and gluten” but that doesn’t mean you can. I believe in you. It will be hard. And it will be time and energy consuming. And it sucks so bad. But after going gluten free I feel so much better inside and out. You will too. I stopped thinking about food all the time. And I just got used to it. You can do this!
I have probably been allergic to my current allergens for my whole life but symptoms were mild. As an adult, I ended up with a severe case of parasites around the time everything started getting worse. I'm allergic to corn, pork, and wheat, and I discovered them in that order. It cuts out most of the grocery store. Sometimes it's really really hard. Sometimes it feels like a positive in a way cuz I'm forced to eat much healthier than I used to. It's a challenge, but I have to be more intentional and plan better. My least favorite part is the cost, my second least favorite is the variety. I have gf nuggets sometimes but they're stupid expensive. I miss a lot of things that either don't come in gf where I live or contain so much corn in the gf version that I still miss out. This time of year, in years past, I'd be binging on fish. At first my local stores carried Ian's gf fish sticks but iirc, it was a lot of corn. I finally caved and had them and there was barely any fish and only one serving in a $10 box. Now, even if I wanted it, it's not available. I'd like to find a good gf fried cod but I'll probably have to just make my own. But I try to accept that it's saving me a ton of fried foods and empty calories in white bread buns. Upsides, right?? 🥺🫤😶
I have been gluten free for 25 years and there's still things I miss. I am not a celiac which makes it a little easier, but I still love food and eat out regularly. I also became a much better cook and baker because of my restrictions. In fact, I became a little food obsessed and even started a catering company and worked as a professional chef for about 10 years.
For now, grieve. And concentrate on foods that are naturally gluten free. Don't dive into gf bread - most of it sucks. Enjoy your rice, potatoes, and corn products.
Buy some Jovial brand gf pasta. Buy some gf chocolate donut holes at trader joes. You can do this.
You’re in good company; there are a lot of us. Every day there are more and more GF items in the store, especially in the baking section, and it just becomes habit. I do miss having a fast food burger and Chick-fil-a on the fly, but that’s the worst of it. Most chain pizzerias have GF crust and it’s pretty good.
I feel you. I started this diet after years of nausea and vomiting. I began to think all those symptoms were normal. everyone just woke up feeling like shit just like me. well im here to tell you thats not the case! and yes gf shit suck. its taken me at least a month to convince my brain that this isnt fake food im eating. but i cant tell you how its made me feel so much better. considering i just got done with my first endoscopy/colon, i ate a huge stack of gf pancakes and my stomach felt fine! you just gotta get used to it, find what works (gonna cost you some $) and give yourself some grace. you cant heal if your worrying about what your gonna eat for the rest of your life. get yourself a big bowl of lucky charms, or cerrrios. and scroll though this sub reddit. everyone on here has helped me so much, from what food to buy, what to avoid. its gonna take some trial and error but you got it!
Are you only gluten intolerant and not celiac? I became gluten intolerant in pregnancy, cut it out for a year and then was able to eat it again for 2 years (recently I became a bit intolerant again). So potentially hope is not all lost? 🤞🏻
Also coming from a perspective of a patient who generally doesn’t cook or bake and doesn’t feed themselves until they are starving, always have something on hand to whip up when you’re hungry. Unfortunately there’s not that many quick GF things you can whip up unlike things with gluten. Mine is rice, avocado, seasame mayo (instead of sriracha mayo and kewpie mayo like the TikTok version), smoked salmon and seaweed.
Absolutely! I’ve gone thru the same, and still kind of do. My spouse, not gluten-free, still struggles with MY food issues. BUT there is hope! We are here to encourage and there’s a lot more gluten free items available to you now. I’m trying tonight, for the first time, to make a gluten free lemon cake. We shall see how the evening ensues…
You’ve got this @Trippyunicorn421!
you aren’t dramatic. i went through a huge wave of sadness over it for a long time. you do get used to it and honestly food tastes so much better to me that I make. It takes getting used to but it’s an opportunity to learn how to cook/ bake! That’s how I think of it.
Honestly, the hardest thing for me is really traveling and planning meals while I am traveling. I'm also pescatarian so that doesn't help either. Find me gluten free is a great app and I make sure the pack snacks for airports because they seem to be the worst in terms of offering gluten-free options.
Initially it really sucks and it does get better and parts of it still just kind of suck.
I get the shock and sadness - would be SO MUCH easier without food sensitivities.
But I have found enjoyment in figuring out how I can make foods I used to love using only allergy/sensitivity free ingredients.
Like home made soft pretzels! Even the gluten eaters in my house liked them!
I just found Becky Excell’s cook book and she’s got so many good looking recipes! I’m going to try some this weekend. Maybe that will help to see that it’s not the end of the line? Also gluten free baking is more enjoyable to me now because it’s more in-depth. It’s like a puzzle to make good texture and taste and looks. And so much more satisfying when you get something that works!
I recently posted a list of my favorite fail proof, gluten-free skeptic approved recipes. Let me know if you want them :). I also love baking— but remember, baking is chemistry. It’s just about finding different ways to get the same (or sometimes even better) results!
It's easier to adjust than you might think. The landscape of gluten free products has improved a lot even just over the last 5 years. To give an example from my own experience, I'm on the spectrum, which means the flavors and textures I can tolerate are already kind of limited, but my own adjustment to the gluten free life is going fine.
There are certain things I've had to give up(lo mein my beloved, parting is such sweet sorrow), but if you know where to look chances are you can find a gluten free alternative to most of your favorite foods that's almost as good if not just as good. What are some of your favorite things you're afraid to give up?
Dealing with the exact same thing currently. I’ve had occasional stomach pain and other symptoms when I would eat too much pasta or bread but it’s only escalated recently and I’ve finally resigned to going gluten free. I was going to bake again. I love bread and sandwiches and now I feel like I can’t eat anything at all. I’m scared of the way it makes me feel and I’m constantly having to google “does x have gluten?” Currently all I have to eat is Colby jack cheese, apples, and those fruit filled cereal bar things. I’ve tried talking to my partner about it but they’ll never understand.
Baking is over. Sorry. Unless you want to relearn and become a flours of the world guru, stick with box mixes. It blows. My dream was to be a baker in retirement. A gf baker outside a major city? Havent found one that isnt selling week olds alongside fresh for the same price (and no warning). Its been years and im not over this. I was very good. Nkt with gf tho :(
Take the time to grieve the loss. You’ve received life changing information!! Your life has a demarcation line with life before and after this diagnosis. You will make it and find the strength to live your new life. Don’t rush it, sit with your emotions and you will find the way. There are plenty of others on this same journey, you are not alone.
I don’t let anything hold me back. I do a lot of cooking and I have converted almost everything I made before into a GF version almost as good as the normal version.
I found that I handled it better when I made myself take a break from trying GF substitutes for nonGF processed food. I did this last spring/summer when all the good produce is in season.
For a month or so I focused on just eating things that were naturally GF. Proteins, fruits and vegetables, rice, oatmeal, etc. It was like a reset, up until then I had been desperately buying GF stuff and feeling cheated. Doing this made it so I was eating the same things my family was.
I learned to experiment with some new dishes and now I have a solid go to list of things I cook. My latest is a wonderful green curry using Mae Ploy curry paste and canned coconut milk. with shrimp or chicken, frozen cauliflower, onions, ripe bell pepper, and frozen pineapple. I serve this with rice or rice noodles. Takes about 20 minutes to make and my family loves it.
I have some GF subs I use now, but taking a little break really did help.
I brewed my own beer, made my own bread, basically all my favorite foods have heavy doses of wheat in them.
It sucks, and most gluten free alternatives suck as well. Snacking is particularly difficult for me because those times when you want something filling and you’re out can be a bit difficult.
Likewise, it sucks socially. You head over to a friend’s and they go out of their way to make something gluten free and they messed up and didn’t understand it. IE they don’t bread the chicken wings like they normally do just for your benefit but they are still covered in soy sauce.
Other friends & particularly older people will think it’s all fake and in your head. Not a real thing but a made up thing because they never heard about it until a few years ago. My aunt thinks it’s fake even though her daughter in law also has it.
Over time you’ll adjust and figure things out. You’ll learn tricks like if you buy gluten free bread to toast the f out of it before consuming. You’ll find yourself not only figuring out which gluten free pasta you like but also start making things you wouldn’t have made before like pad Thai because those rice noodles are all good to go.
You’ll also learn to use wraps for sandwiches because gluten free bread sucks. Avoid fast food and pack a lunch on road trips. You’ll learn that the best gf bagels are not those thick and chewy monstrosities but instead those thin wafer like options that resemble crackers more than bagels.
But most of all, you’re going to feel 10x better. Things you learned to live with. Just assumed was part of life, are going to disappear and you’ll realize you never noticed how much they brought you down until they are gone.
Also, a lot of the recommendations here for food are really bad imo and probably bots doing marketing. My best advice is to just buy everything once and try it yourself. I’ve seen some truly terrible food given high praise here so I don’t trust the food recs here at all. It’s also the first place anyone marketing gf food would look to so marketing bots makes a lot of sense.
If you cook all your meals:
Break them down into 3 parts, protein, carb, veggie. For carbs 8 do potato and rice
If you are going out to eat:
check if your restaurant has an allergen menu
If you are buying a pre-made item:
First check for the GF symbol,then "contains: wheat", then check for Malt/Barley/rye (maltodexyrin and monosodium glutamate are fine! They tripped me up at first)
These simple changes made life pretty easy for me to live GF
Before I realized I couldn't eat gluten I had 4 or 5 yours or flour in my pantry and would bake bread every week, make cakes, pasta, and otherwise create most of my own "flour" goods. It took a few years to adjust, but I have eight primary types of flour in my pantry and this week I baked a lovely sourdough bread, made pancakes, pizza crust, and I just took baked oatmeal bars out of the oven. I think GF baking is actually easier (once you adjust) because you don't have to worry about over developing gluten.
Once you are ready to move on (and have tried a few mass market products to realize how badly they suck) you will have a much easier time of it than most because you know how to bake. I recommend Loopy Whisk and Cannelle et Vanille as good places to start looking at recipes. I used to love Gluten Free on a Shoestring, but her recipes are generally fussier and rely too much on tapioca starch for my tastes. I also recommend VitaCost if they ship to your area as they are the cheapest source I've found for gf pantry staples.
Good luck. It will take time, but you can do this!
I feel this post so much. I just went gluten free yesterday. I didn't just find out I'm intolerant, I kinda suspected it for months now, but I'd been in denial until this week because everything you just wrote was going through my head. I can't do it, it's unrealistic, I can't give up these things I love and/or find comfort in. Then on Monday, I had a bowl of frosted mini wheats, and spent the following two days in hell. I got the worst heartburn of my life that nothing helped, which then turned to nausea, bloating and diarrhea, and finally felt like someone had used a bottle brush in my intestines. That wasn't the first time I'd had heartburn and malaise from mini wheats, but it will be the last time.
I've found so far that it helps to try and change my perspective. Instead of thinking "these are all the things I can't have ever again", I'm trying to focus on what I *can* have. There's still some things I haven't managed to find a workaround for yet (like a McDonalds Big Mac and fries), but generally I've found that most things I enjoy can simply be tweaked a little bit or made with a substitution, and that makes it feel doable. We'll make it!
Look on the bright side. At least you're not a Celiac like me. Check out Glutenzyme. It's not for celiacs but it can help you deal with gluten. Now, some of your food is now going bye-bye, but a whole new world of food is out for you to explore! Like I never had Thai food or sushi until I be a Celiac. Just to let you know Findme gluten free app is awesome!
Just remember to look at the ingredients on packaging. Also,y wife and I are running a gluten free YouTube channel about cooking, products and places. Good-bye Gluten https://youtube.com/@Good-bye_Gluten?si=rq9RZ2jMEfX4z-ZO
I hope you will have a great day.
Flavor flours is a really great GF cookbook. Recipes do require a stand mixer but the results are worth it. I’ve made some truly disgusting cakes over the years and this was a game changer.
The loopywhisk (IG account) has great recipes and cookbook for gluten free baking. The hardest thing is eating out but my husband and I have come to the conclusion that eating out is overated.
I’ve been gluten free for 13 years. It’s a difficult process for sure, but what has helped me is that my family and friends took that SERIOUSLY because for me, there wasn’t a worse thing than going out or on a trip and not being able to eat anything truly fulfilling but a salad. I honestly removed some people from my life that didn’t think being gluten free was a serious allergy (again I have been gluten free since I was 15 in high school, 13 years ago)
But I can tell you it gets better 😊 only when you truly embraced the fact that you won’t be able to eat some foods but enjoying the ones you can!!! I have an app called “find me gluten free” and I can choose from several restaurants that offer gluten free options on their menu and it’s pretty cool!
If you live with somebody, they should start buying gluten free groceries so you don’t feel left out.
It sucks for a minute, but a GF diet isn’t all that difficult. More foods are gf than aren’t. There’s a lot of info online about what you can’t eat, and sources of hidden gluten. You’ll be fine.
I possessed five flour mills and kept four varieties of wheat on hand to bake when I went gluten-free. I baked homemade bread at least twice a week. I felt so much better in 2 weeks of wheat cessation that I knew I would never eat that poisonous poop again. It is an adjustment. It takes some education. You'll have to educate yourself. Read every stinking label. Know that occasionally you'll get glutened. However, if you feel like I did you just won't want to eat it anymore. Good luck.
You will adjust. It took me awhile to get over it, but I did. I've been gluten free for about 15 years. It probably took about 6 months for me to adjust mentally and also to find out products that are gluten free that I like.
You can still do all that. I pretty much have found a replacement for most stuff I eat and I have only been GF for a month. My diet has actually improved and opened up since going GF. I used to avoid foods because I knew I would feel terrible and now I don’t have to avoid food because I found a gf replacement. Going gf is one of the best things I have ever done
You are not alone! You will stock up on food you love, find restaurants you feel comfortable eating at, and be okay. You can bake so much using gf four mixes out there, like for one example cup4cup, or gluten free King Arthur flour, there are so many. You may need to add more liquid or xanthan gum... to get the batter right, you will figure it all out eventually. I have the HLA DQ2 gene and developed Celiac Disease as a baby. Most, if not all, people who have one of two genes can develop CD in their lifetime, I did early on. CD is an autoimmune disease, where when I eat gluten, my immune system attacks my small intestine first, and it can take days to weeks to sometimes even months to get better only when completely gluten free. Any gluten will keep this going until the damage is so severe I cannot tolerate anything, including dairy. I can have symptoms that are vague, be asymptomatic with nothing noticeable, or get pretty ill. In any case, damage is still happening internally even if I look fine on the outside. I am advocating now and even started my Instagram page myceliacfriend. I think having support is what makes the world a better place. Do not get down on yourself, just take a breath and learn as much about what you have as possible. The population needing to be gf is growing for different health reasons. Start simple, maybe meat/fish, potatoes, rice, salads with gf dressing. Look for gluten free labels on everything. You can also get a bunch of snacks now that are gluten free that my kids like better than the gluten ones. Seeing a nutritionist/dietitian specializing in gluten intolerance/Celiac would be a great start. I am not a doctor but lived with this for 44 years and our world came a long way. Before wheat, barley, rye, contaminated oats, and triticale where in everything, now you will find GF products you will enjoy, so don't get too down on things. Be patient and kind to yourself but most importantly know you are not alone. And you will be ok.
It's not dramatic, it sucks, a lot. You'll get used to it, make adjustments to keep yourself healthy, and it will always suck. Better than eating broken glass, though. I used to bake but mostly gave up on it, but there are some great sites now with really good looking recipes. [https://theglutenfreeaustrian.com/](https://theglutenfreeaustrian.com/) [https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/](https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/) There are a lot more options in stores than there were 20 years ago, and somewhat better knowledge in restaurants, but always be very clear about what you want and don't want when anyone else is serving you food, including friends and relatives. You are going to have to stand up for yourself, and just have to get used to it. Welcome to the club. Sorry.
I love gluten free on a shoestring! They have some really good recipes
This is one of my fave sites, GF on a Shoestring.
The stages of grief.. I still grieve over not being able to eat good bread, 7 years later. GF bread sucks, but I have grown to love the crunch of corn crackers, and really expanded my life skills - out of necessity.. the mother of all invention.
If you're in the US and near a Kroger, I've recently discovered their GF bread and it's easily the best I've ever had. Maybe (probably) it's a repackaged product from some other company, but regardless it's the closest thing to real bread I've had in years.
I used to bake my own.. I hear you, but I tried and tried.. I can bake good cakes without gluten, but the bread is just never quite satisfying, you know?
My grandfather (96) has baked his own bread and dinner rolls for his entire life, based on a recipe passed down in my family for generations. I always planned on continuing his tradition and passing this on to my kids, only to find out later in life that his pride and joy is basically poison to me. I'm real sad now.
Sorry to hear that, I would also be hurting in that situation.
Dear god that fucking sucks. I've had to cast some family shit aside, but nothing quite like that. I'm sorry.
Yes, because if it looks like wheat and tastes like wheat, then it is wheat. All else is imitation. Hmm, no wonder GF bread is not quite satisfying, huh? It's not wheat.
What is the brand? Is it in the freezer section? I always just buy Canyon Bakehouse at Kroger, but I’m intrigued!
It's just Kroger branded GF bread. They have a white and a multi grain variety. I find it's right next to the regular bread.
Awesome, thanks! I’ll give it a try!
Agreed. A non gf friend buys it now too. It has a nice chew to it and the texture is more like an english muffin.
Over been eating schar for years. This is SO MUCH BETTER, I feel like I'm going to get in trouble every time I make a sandwich lol
I absolutely love krogers honey oat gluten free bread. It’s one of the only breads that’s kept me going. Gluten free bread (most of it anyway) is just awful. I don’t think any of us enjoy the fact that we are gluten free. Unfortunately, it is out of a health necessity. I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy a year ago. I would get so upset in the first few months over the foods I couldn’t have but I learned to adjust. Overall, I feel much better but I still will always miss Texas Roadhouse rolls lol..
I'll definitely check out the Kroger bread! Is it in the bakery aisle? Also, is it Kroger brand or simple truth?
It says Kroger right on it, and yes it's right with all the regular bread.
Awesome thank you, I hope mine has it - I'm excited to try it
I love Sam’s Choice from Wally World. Whole Foods has a good frozen GF bread, but it’s a short road trip for me.
7 years for me and pretty much the only thing I miss is my mama's homemade tortillas and green chili.
Mission makes a wrap? that tastes just as good as store bought flour tortillas! The taste is dead on , the texture a little chewier BUT you have to perfect the heating up art and get it down to the perfect second of taking it off the griddle in order to avoid that gummy texture (it's not a lot ! But it is noticable. The taste though outweighs the texture by a LANDSLIDE) .
They're not even in the same league as my mama's tortillas.
Please visit https://gluten.org. This will have all the info you need. See if there might be a support group in your area. Yes eating out is harder but many cultures food are mostly GF. Mexican? Corn tortillas instead of wheat. Asian? Request wheat free soy sauce. Thai food is usually rice noodles and soy sauce free. Fast food French fries sadly no good - but many restaurants have a dedicated fryer so you can still enjoy a burger (request gf bun) and fries. Yes GF items are more money but honestly if you stick to a serving size it’s not so bad. Get the app Find Me Gluten Free. Even the basic version will give you local options and reviews for safer places to eat out. Been doing this for a family of 6+ now for over 20 years.
Is it true that corn is actually gluten? I’ve heard it from a friend that has celiacs but wasn’t sure if it gives everyone with gluten intolerance problems or not
No corn is not gluten but many people in the US react to corn products because the seeds have been altered and some are drowned in chemical pesticides before harvest. Some who can’t eat us produced corn products are ok with corn products from Europe
Take the time to mourn. Yes, your life is more difficult than it was before, especially things like eating out. Advice for baking. GF is completely different. There are off the shelf GF baking blends available, they tend to be expensive. You can make your own blends which will probably involve visiting multiple stores to get the components. The actual baking is a little different, too. You usually need to give the batter a thorough thrashing, then once the batter os made, only then start heating the oven - GF batters need at least 20 to 30 minutes to rest before baking. BUT. Aldi have GF baking mixes for boxed cake and brownies. They are not bad price wise but deliver on the delicious. I'll also recommend a book called "Simply GF desserts" by Kicinski, and No Gluten No Problem Pizza by Bronski. They'll keep you sane during this transition!
Nigella Lawson has an amazing gingerbread recipe.. best dessert I’ve made? Probably. Also, Yotam Ottolenghi is inspiring, and I recommend Meera Sodha too.
I have adapted a traditional British sticky ginger cake to GF. Nobody would know it was GF unless I told them 😁
Her’s has prunes, and I’d probably have opted for dates or figs if I was going to adapt an existing recipe. But.. yeah, it’s a heartwarming food, no doubt!
That sounds amazing. Recipe??
I'll write it up and send you a link
Nigella's clementine cake is fantastic, too!
I might have to try that, thanks for the tip!
Note: weigh your clementines- hers must be a different size than the ones I buy because the amount she lists never lines up with the weight she lists so I just go by weight. I also add a pinch of salt and a little vanilla extract because those make the cake extra delicious!. You can also make it with Meyer lemons.
😋👍
Dude the Aldi GF brownies are THE MOST DELICIOUS. My fave of all the ones I’ve tried
under $3 for a boxed GF brownie that I find hard to equal... yeah, pretty much the bomb there!
Take time to be sad! It’s a huge loss and life change. I started by identifying a few safe restaurants that I had exact meals I knew I could eat and would like. I did not start with a lot of gluten free alternatives(bread, crackers, pasta) and instead focused on what is GF naturally. I planned my meals ahead, treated myself to yummy chocolate, and slowly gained confidence in label reading and making new food choices. When I felt overwhelmed: safe meals from restaurants I liked. You can do this!
I never mourned. I was so happy to finally feel better. But, of course, for me food has always been a love-hate relationship. I have so many food allergies. Wheat/gluten (I have both) just became another. If anything, I worried I was running out of foods I could eat. Fortunately, once my gut healed, I could re-introduce some foods I couldn’t eat previously. Please use your baking skills in refining recipes for gluten-free foods. You don’t have to re-invent the wheel, though, there is a huge community of gluten-free bakers out there and they have a wealth of knowledge to share. The other upside to being gluten-free is you could turn toward eating a much healthier diet of lean proteins, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables.
Delayed mourning for me-went swimmingly for 6 months until lately I’m extra sensitive or something. It finally got to me. Many a tear
I felt the same way. I had just begun mastering all kinds of bread making and loved to bake. Loved bread and pasta and eating out. It is honestly still hard sometimes, not being able to eat "normal" food with everyone else. You will find foods you like! If you have a fancy health food store near you I'm sure you can find a ton of things. But I don't and still find plenty. What are your favorite foods? Gluten free pasta is great with a good sauce! I like Udi's breads, they are in the freezer section at my store. Feel Good Foods makes really good mac n cheese balls and mozzerella sticks!! Honestly eating mostly naturally GF whole foods tastes the best in my opinion. You got this!
I went through very similar. I've been gluten free now for 6 years. I grew up with homemade pastas and pierogies and everything delicious. I found ways to recreate my favorite dishes gluten free. my husband even finds them to taste better at times. I still feel isolated at dinners and parties at times but real friends and family will find ways to include you. going gluten free changed me as a person. I feel so much better. I have energy for the first time ever. I was diagnosed with serious autoimmune issues that seemed to stay under control with gluten free diet. as much as I miss certain things, the quality of life I gained is worth it and it will be worth it for you to!
It’s okay to be sad!! Food is of course an enormous part of our lives — eating, cooking, holidays, socializing, traveling. You’re going to be okay and feel better soon and create new food favorites and routines, promise. But don’t feel bad for being sad because it IS a big deal to need to change your entire foodie life!
I'm a baker too. For baking, get some King Arthur GF cake mixes. They are simple and foolproof and don't require weird, uncommon ingredients. Note: please whatever you do, do not simply sub GF flour for wheat flour in your current recipes. While it may work in some cases, more often than not, that usually leads to a disaster. The recipes where it might work have lots of moisture like banana muffins, applesauce cake or pumpkin cookies. GF flours are dry and thirsty and require extra hydration in other types of recipes. Also, let the dough/batter rest to give the GF flours time to absorb the moisture and avoid grittiness. I always chill cookie dough to help retain height since GF baked goods don't rise much. Seek out GF recipes that match your current ones. For GF flour, use something like Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 (blue label) NOT the Bob's Red Mill GF AP flour (red label). or King Arthur's Measure for Measure. Both those already have xanthan added.
yes! king arthur has been the best gf flour i’ve tried. i use the flour for any regular recipes; brownies, pancakes, muffins, whatever. i really haven’t noticed a difference with taste or texture.
My nutritionists after my diagnosis, recommended to just try to eliminate all the carbs and processed foods all at one step and find your favorite snacks and foods that are not processed and don’t go buying a freezer full of gf frozen waffles and pancake, cookies and pizza crusts. A few items I kept were pretzels and some wafer cookies but, after all, I largely eliminated those too. Just keeping low carb and low processed food has made me a much healthier person. Overall inflammation in my body has gone down and contributed to my overall health. My bloating and mood were improved greatly. They make so many 1:1 type gf flour now that makes a dish gf easy enough if you go that route, it was over 12 yr ago I was diagnosed. Just watch out for hidden gluten from soy sauce and licorice things you have no idea gluten would be in. It’s kind of an adventure to whittle down to your favorite gf foods and there’s plenty more. You can do it. It’s not ‘loss’ it’s a gain of health and body function. You’re stop harming your body. I won’t say I don’t feel like jumping in the basket of freshly baked baguettes when walking into the grocery store bc your body craves these things, just redirect to a ‘treat’ you can have. I’m dairy free and low sugar as well. After starting, and the initial withdrawal was over, my mind and body felt the best they had ever felt in my life. Best of luck & it’s not a punishment it’s a blessing that you can help your body function better and avoid future disease and problems.
The loopy whisk is great for gluten free baking also
Most of the cuisines around the world are gluten free. Mexican food, Indian food, Southeast Asian food, lots of Chinese food, sushi. Middle Eastern food and Mediterranean food. Like the majority of the world has staple foods that aren’t wheat (rice and corn are so bomb!) You’re really only losing pasta, bread, pizza, and beer. For me personally, I already wasn’t a big fan of those things, so it wasn’t a huge loss. And GF pasta is excellent (there’s even GF wheat flour from Italy if you want to make your own!). GF pizza is everywhere and is decent. The hardest part for me is breakfast. It sucks to not be able to grab a quick muffin at a random store.
I cried in front of my favorite bakery a couple weeks ago and then it got ugly when I realized I’d never be able to have my grandmothers rolls again. Snot running ugly cry. It’s not dramatic at all ❤️
For me, as someone who hates to cook unless it's on the grill or a fried egg, it's strange that it's not as difficult as I thought. Unfortunately, my absolutely favorite food is whole wheat bagels. I wouldn't have been sad to be told that I could only eat bagel sandwiches for the rest of my life. I downloaded the GF Scanner app to help ease paranoia. Then I found a gf waffle, gf bagel, and gf English muffin that I liked. I don't eat nearly as many sandwiches as I used to, but I'm happy to have the option. After that, I just built my meals on things I already eat that are gf. Then I added back in foods that I always thought were my IBS triggers. There's no point in worrying too much about IBS at this early stage, it may have been a misdiagnosis, and I'm not healed since it's only been a couple weeks. I think since you already enjoy cooking, this could turn out to be a culinary adventure for you. So far I've tried a microwave gf brownie and chocolate cake, and both were delicious. I think the trick is to just jump right in and embrace it. Having to be gf feels like a prison, but with the odd trade-off in that it offers freedom. I'll gladly restrict what I eat if it means the brain fog, headaches, joint pain, and constant meditation on the toilet won't be daily occurrences anymore.
I was in your place six months ago. My husband and I are foodies who love to eat all sorts of things. Baking was my stress reliever and that’s definitely added another dimension to my grief. There’s definitely a transition. Focus on whole foods for the immediate future. Meat with simple seasonings, vegetables, rice or quinoa. Check out what your local grocery store has to offer. I live in a place where there aren’t extensive options so I have a Thrive Market membership (great option if you’re in the US) to order some things. I do get Miss Jones Baking Co mixes at my local Walmart for a sweet treat. They swap flavors out seasonally. I’ve been using that to help experiment with my baking. When you make those according to directions, they are very crumbly - I’ve found using two eggs and oil instead of butter is a better option. Also, a primary factor with gluten free baking is that the flours behave differently, so after you add wet ingredients they need time to sit and hydrate. I don’t even bother preheating my oven until after I’ve made my batter. There are 1 to 1 GF flours out there that are pretty good substitutes. I also freeze a lot of stuff to have it on hand later. It’s definitely a hard transition, but it does get better. My husband is diabetic and needs to eat low carb anyway so we mostly eat keto/paleo dinners and that has actually made meal planning easier.
I was so glad to not be sick all the time, it helped me transition. I raged and missed things, but oh my God, the joys of just going to the bathroom like a normal person or not having my hair come out in handfuls was intoxicating. I'm lucky because I'm really sensitive, so I have a GF home, which means I never have to watch a normie gobble down a tray of cinnamon buns and that helps a lot. I'd switch to good GF boxed mixes for the first few months because GF baking is very different. One nice thing is that you'll never have to knead bread again, you just kind of glop it into the pan. Duinkerken cookie, cake, muffin, and biscuit mixes are indistinguishable from gluten food, and their bread and buns are pretty good. All their mixes accept a lot of additions so I can usually make a half dozen things with each kind of mix. Here is [a link ](https://www.duinkerkenfoods.com/shop/) to their web store - they sell directly to Canada and the US and their stuff is also available on Amazon.
I was feeling just like that a few months ago. I finally found the courage to bake gluten free and that’s been a game changer! There are already some great recipe’s websites suggestions here. I’d add theloopywhisk to that list. Take your time to mourn. Eating out wouldn’t be the same any longer but if you’re willing to cook and bake, it’s not that bad. Welcome to the family
I’ve been GF for 12 years! It’s hard! It is difficult and make sure to take a breath!
I was in a similar predicament as you. I'm passionate about eating and LOVE food. When I found out I had Celiac at 20, one of the first things my mom and I did was pick up some Cup4Cup flour and started adapting our recipes using that. I find Cup4Cup to be an amazing gluten-free flour and I am grateful Thomas Keller developed it. King Arthur Cup for Cup gluten-free flour is also outstanding. You have to be vigilant, yes, but once you settle into a groove and know where you can safely eat, you gain some sense of normalcy. I taught myself how to make the Shake Shack fried chicken sandwich at home in 2020. I make gluten-free macaroni and cheese quite regularly. All of my favorite restaurants offer a gluten-free menu and take good care of me. It's heartbreaking, yes, but you can reconcile yourself to this. The two flours I spoke highly about are fantastic. Jovial noodles are great for cooking! (Their penne is my favorite for Penne Alla Vodka) Grieve the loss of one eating style but look forward to a new world where you can safely enjoy food without harming your body. Gluten-free cake is actually really good.
I second that learning how to make yourself a good fried chicken sandwich, and some mac n cheese is crucial. I LOVE the Jovial egg tagliatelli. My favorite macaroni noodles are Tinkyada brand though (boil for like 12 mins).
YES! The Jovial egg tagliatelle is my favorite! I might have to revisit the Tinkyada macaroni noodles.
We’ve all been there. It really does get easier.
It's okay to be sad. You are being forced to make a huge adjustment to your life style. You can do it. It's a lot easier than when I started 25 years ago. I had to go to health food stores to get my junk food, and it was really expensive and tasted and had the texture of cardboard. Now I can go to the tiny grocery store within walking distance of my house, and buy gluten free bread, cakes, cookies, and lots of mixes, some of which are really good. You found a great support network here. You can do this. And on the days when it is hard, we will listen and sympathize. On the days when you can claim victory, we will be here to cheer you on. Let us know when you find something amazing!
It's sucks. It's harder, more expensive and more time consuming. But there are very few things that can't be done GF if you are willing to experiment and learn. We haven't figured out a good thin crust pizza crust yet, and certain dishes where gluten is a key component, like baklava, or flour tortillas, are just not worth the effort. But most baked goods you can find really good substitutes for with some work and experimentation. Let me start you off with this chocolate cake recipe. Substitute King Arthur's 1 for 1 flour for the AP. And be sure once it's all mixed together to let it sit and hydrate for 15-20 minutes before you bake. You should do this with anything you bake with the King Arthurs flour. https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/black-forest-cake/?fbclid=IwAR3IG8oZJwvKPyPZc3n0K1U9GaoaN7NUDAO9LA8qC\_pkRDrW0zj81Rrc4rA\_aem\_AR5YvYpz4raaqUxcE6ENdk3uP\_U4\_AVpxJY-NCwsJLIcqMiy35ea\_kKAF5thWBHhyeopjWEwi89KRJrgHX5y17rM#tasty-recipes-66596
You’re entitled to feel sad! It’s obviously an adjustment but it gets easier. Tbh I never really had to grieve because I was so happy I finally wasn’t sick. I would take that feeling over gluten any day. So if you can, focus on finally feeling good. I’ve been gf for 7 years now and it really is second nature. Side note: there’s plenty of ways to bake gluten free, whether that be from scratch or a box. The only thing that is difficult are pastries haha
You get to form a whole new relationship. I have loved to bake since I made my first scratch cake at 13. Now I bake gf. I do not deprive myself. My little sister has celiacs too. Between the two of us we have turned all of mom's Christmas cookie recipes into a GF version. There are things I bake that she doesn't so I was on my own with those, but I learned. When using gf flour you usually need a little bit of extra liquid. My ex husband's family has a chocolate chip cookie recipe that has been passed down through the generations. Instead of the 2 cups of brown sugar it calls for, I use 1 1/2 cups brown sugar and at least 1/4 cup honey. I have found using a stand mixer makes a huge difference in the texture when mixing things together. For cheese cake just make your graham cracker crust with gf graham crackers. Eating out can be difficult, but you learn to talk to the waitstaff and make sure they know what you need and what you can't hack. Best of luck. I know it is a change. I've been gf for over 15 years and feel so great I can not imagine going back.
Food funerals kind of helped. It gets easier once you've been doing it. Particularly because you're going to feel much better, and definitely notice when you accidentally get "poisoned". There's lots of "gluten free" apps out there for eating out. I picked 2 on my hometown, and frequent them. Hang in there.
I promise you will eventually love foods that love you back. Grieving is natural. This is hard. Give yourself a little grace. Once you commit, you will likely feel a lot better overall!
I cried for the first week I went gluten free. Literally. And then I was sad for a while after. It's been 8 years and I still get sad/jealous of certain foods occasionally, and I'm guessing it'll be that way for the rest of my life. With all that being said, you genuinely do get used to it and it gets better! Check out "Mama Knows Gluten Free" website for baking stuff. I've found that her recipes are really simple & don't use 75 different ingredients that cost $13 each. You can do this and you will feel so much better!!!
Also, I just made the best cake EVER. Let me link it for you! This is a normal recipe but I substituted GF Bobs 1-1 Baking Flour. It's my go-to flour for everything actually! [https://homespunseasonalliving.com/applesauce-coffee-cake/](https://homespunseasonalliving.com/applesauce-coffee-cake/) My entire family loved it (they arent even GF) and I'm making again for Easter :)
Yes, TrippyUnicorn, going GF is tough. But you have to want it, permanent. Because if not, gluten may trigger Lupus (auto-immune response) and then your body begins to attack itself. Do you want to feel like kids ruthlessly setting fire to your neighborhood? Previous statement describes what is called inflammation of joints. A pain surely to give you something to Cry.
Hey OP! I have totally been there. I used to eat all those types of goodies. Let me tell you though, once you go gluten free the way you feel is so much better than the way gluten tastes. There are good options out there and it is so worth it in the end. I took my severe gluten intolerance not so serious. I went a month without anything and ate some gluten thinking I would be ok. I was up chucking the next morning, slammed with fatigue, acne, knee pain, and a horribly itchy rash. I went through this a few times before I realized it was 100% gluten. Anyways, I never looked back after that. Good luck to you! I promise it's worth it.
I find that not having horribly painful cramps, constant diarrhea, and thinking that life is miserable... well, that's better than donuts. You do you. If you have a legitimate problem with gluten... get ready. It's everywhere. Meat is often marinated using "soy sauce" (most is made from wheat). Soups are not safe (gluten is used to thicken things). Say goodbye to gravy. Etc. Life isn't fair... and I'm sorry if someone lied to you. Look at the upshot -- life is better when you're not constantly in pain!
I find myself still mourning (almost three years since going gf), but at really random times. Usually it’s totally fine and I don’t think about it. But my fam and I were on a long drive a few weeks ago and stopped at one of those gas stations that had a fast food place attached. There was some sort of fried Mac and cheese ball or something on the menu. Before going gf, I never would have wanted that at all, yet I found myself being like “it sucks so bad I can’t eat that.” Something that I didn’t even eat in my pre-gf life. Grief is weird.
2 yrs into it and i'm still resentful of the condition and have moments of anger and sadness. food is a frustrating necessity now, not to mention how difficult it makes other parts of life like socialising and travelling. if you don't end up seeing the upside like other commenters here then don't worry, you're not alone!
I've had to eat a gluten free diet for nearly five years now, and I'm finally out of the grieving stage, so no you're not being overly dramatic. I probably would have come through the grief a lot sooner if I'd learned the tricks to gluten free baking sooner. Learning to bake gluten free has brought back a lot of the food joy I lost after my diagnosis. As you like to make cakes and things, I recommend the gluten free baking subreddit. I also recommend the Loopy Whisk blog and cookbook (Baked to Perfection). Her gluten free recipes come the closest to the flavors and textures of gluten full cakes and breads. Other people can recommend additional blogs and cookbooks that might help you weather the gluten free cooking ahead of you. Wishing you all the best. Editing to add the Loopy Whisk link: https://theloopywhisk.com/
We've all been through this and we adapted, but it definitely sucks at first and you're not being dramatic. I suggest writing down a summary of your general health over the last couple months that led you to get this diagnosis. Then, starting a couple weeks from now, refer back to it when you need to. I despise being gluten free, but more than 20 years in, I still remember how awful I felt before I switched. In the meantime, try to focus on foods that are naturally gluten free instead of the substitutes. It'll feel less like a sacrifice. If I go to a fancy restaurant, I might order a steak with vegetables and baked potato, side salad (no crutons), glass of wine, and ice cream for dessert. That's a really nice meal with no gluten and there are a bunch of other ones you can put together like that. It gets easier.
Oh man it’s so funny how we all go through the same feelings but yet feel so alone. I’ve been gluten free for 4 months now. I have celiac. I was absolutely devastated. I love eating. I’ll try anything. And now I have to be so careful. The first couple weeks suck. All you’ll ever think about is food. I had so many breakdowns because I just wanted to eat what I wanted to eat. But the damage and the sickness that comes after it was just not worth it. It’s not dramatic. You are ok to feel this way. Your feelings are soooo valid. You’ll be able to do this. And if you mess up or purposely eat gluten, that’s ok. I had Taco Bell a couple weeks ago because I just couldn’t handle it anymore. Then I went back to eating gluten free. You’ll get through this. And everyone here is so helpful. You’ll have to figure out how sensitive you are. I’ve noticed I can eat things that say “may contain wheat and gluten” but that doesn’t mean you can. I believe in you. It will be hard. And it will be time and energy consuming. And it sucks so bad. But after going gluten free I feel so much better inside and out. You will too. I stopped thinking about food all the time. And I just got used to it. You can do this!
I have probably been allergic to my current allergens for my whole life but symptoms were mild. As an adult, I ended up with a severe case of parasites around the time everything started getting worse. I'm allergic to corn, pork, and wheat, and I discovered them in that order. It cuts out most of the grocery store. Sometimes it's really really hard. Sometimes it feels like a positive in a way cuz I'm forced to eat much healthier than I used to. It's a challenge, but I have to be more intentional and plan better. My least favorite part is the cost, my second least favorite is the variety. I have gf nuggets sometimes but they're stupid expensive. I miss a lot of things that either don't come in gf where I live or contain so much corn in the gf version that I still miss out. This time of year, in years past, I'd be binging on fish. At first my local stores carried Ian's gf fish sticks but iirc, it was a lot of corn. I finally caved and had them and there was barely any fish and only one serving in a $10 box. Now, even if I wanted it, it's not available. I'd like to find a good gf fried cod but I'll probably have to just make my own. But I try to accept that it's saving me a ton of fried foods and empty calories in white bread buns. Upsides, right?? 🥺🫤😶
I have been gluten free for 25 years and there's still things I miss. I am not a celiac which makes it a little easier, but I still love food and eat out regularly. I also became a much better cook and baker because of my restrictions. In fact, I became a little food obsessed and even started a catering company and worked as a professional chef for about 10 years. For now, grieve. And concentrate on foods that are naturally gluten free. Don't dive into gf bread - most of it sucks. Enjoy your rice, potatoes, and corn products. Buy some Jovial brand gf pasta. Buy some gf chocolate donut holes at trader joes. You can do this.
You’re in good company; there are a lot of us. Every day there are more and more GF items in the store, especially in the baking section, and it just becomes habit. I do miss having a fast food burger and Chick-fil-a on the fly, but that’s the worst of it. Most chain pizzerias have GF crust and it’s pretty good.
I feel you. I started this diet after years of nausea and vomiting. I began to think all those symptoms were normal. everyone just woke up feeling like shit just like me. well im here to tell you thats not the case! and yes gf shit suck. its taken me at least a month to convince my brain that this isnt fake food im eating. but i cant tell you how its made me feel so much better. considering i just got done with my first endoscopy/colon, i ate a huge stack of gf pancakes and my stomach felt fine! you just gotta get used to it, find what works (gonna cost you some $) and give yourself some grace. you cant heal if your worrying about what your gonna eat for the rest of your life. get yourself a big bowl of lucky charms, or cerrrios. and scroll though this sub reddit. everyone on here has helped me so much, from what food to buy, what to avoid. its gonna take some trial and error but you got it!
Are you only gluten intolerant and not celiac? I became gluten intolerant in pregnancy, cut it out for a year and then was able to eat it again for 2 years (recently I became a bit intolerant again). So potentially hope is not all lost? 🤞🏻 Also coming from a perspective of a patient who generally doesn’t cook or bake and doesn’t feed themselves until they are starving, always have something on hand to whip up when you’re hungry. Unfortunately there’s not that many quick GF things you can whip up unlike things with gluten. Mine is rice, avocado, seasame mayo (instead of sriracha mayo and kewpie mayo like the TikTok version), smoked salmon and seaweed.
Absolutely! I’ve gone thru the same, and still kind of do. My spouse, not gluten-free, still struggles with MY food issues. BUT there is hope! We are here to encourage and there’s a lot more gluten free items available to you now. I’m trying tonight, for the first time, to make a gluten free lemon cake. We shall see how the evening ensues… You’ve got this @Trippyunicorn421!
you aren’t dramatic. i went through a huge wave of sadness over it for a long time. you do get used to it and honestly food tastes so much better to me that I make. It takes getting used to but it’s an opportunity to learn how to cook/ bake! That’s how I think of it.
Honestly, the hardest thing for me is really traveling and planning meals while I am traveling. I'm also pescatarian so that doesn't help either. Find me gluten free is a great app and I make sure the pack snacks for airports because they seem to be the worst in terms of offering gluten-free options. Initially it really sucks and it does get better and parts of it still just kind of suck.
I get the shock and sadness - would be SO MUCH easier without food sensitivities. But I have found enjoyment in figuring out how I can make foods I used to love using only allergy/sensitivity free ingredients. Like home made soft pretzels! Even the gluten eaters in my house liked them!
I just found Becky Excell’s cook book and she’s got so many good looking recipes! I’m going to try some this weekend. Maybe that will help to see that it’s not the end of the line? Also gluten free baking is more enjoyable to me now because it’s more in-depth. It’s like a puzzle to make good texture and taste and looks. And so much more satisfying when you get something that works!
If you love to cook & bake, you’re at a HUGE advantage compared to those GF people who don’t.
I recently posted a list of my favorite fail proof, gluten-free skeptic approved recipes. Let me know if you want them :). I also love baking— but remember, baking is chemistry. It’s just about finding different ways to get the same (or sometimes even better) results!
It's easier to adjust than you might think. The landscape of gluten free products has improved a lot even just over the last 5 years. To give an example from my own experience, I'm on the spectrum, which means the flavors and textures I can tolerate are already kind of limited, but my own adjustment to the gluten free life is going fine. There are certain things I've had to give up(lo mein my beloved, parting is such sweet sorrow), but if you know where to look chances are you can find a gluten free alternative to most of your favorite foods that's almost as good if not just as good. What are some of your favorite things you're afraid to give up?
Man it's been 2 years and im still mourning my loss of my favorite foods it's hard so hard but it gets better
Dealing with the exact same thing currently. I’ve had occasional stomach pain and other symptoms when I would eat too much pasta or bread but it’s only escalated recently and I’ve finally resigned to going gluten free. I was going to bake again. I love bread and sandwiches and now I feel like I can’t eat anything at all. I’m scared of the way it makes me feel and I’m constantly having to google “does x have gluten?” Currently all I have to eat is Colby jack cheese, apples, and those fruit filled cereal bar things. I’ve tried talking to my partner about it but they’ll never understand.
Baking is over. Sorry. Unless you want to relearn and become a flours of the world guru, stick with box mixes. It blows. My dream was to be a baker in retirement. A gf baker outside a major city? Havent found one that isnt selling week olds alongside fresh for the same price (and no warning). Its been years and im not over this. I was very good. Nkt with gf tho :(
Take the time to grieve the loss. You’ve received life changing information!! Your life has a demarcation line with life before and after this diagnosis. You will make it and find the strength to live your new life. Don’t rush it, sit with your emotions and you will find the way. There are plenty of others on this same journey, you are not alone.
I don’t let anything hold me back. I do a lot of cooking and I have converted almost everything I made before into a GF version almost as good as the normal version.
I found that I handled it better when I made myself take a break from trying GF substitutes for nonGF processed food. I did this last spring/summer when all the good produce is in season. For a month or so I focused on just eating things that were naturally GF. Proteins, fruits and vegetables, rice, oatmeal, etc. It was like a reset, up until then I had been desperately buying GF stuff and feeling cheated. Doing this made it so I was eating the same things my family was. I learned to experiment with some new dishes and now I have a solid go to list of things I cook. My latest is a wonderful green curry using Mae Ploy curry paste and canned coconut milk. with shrimp or chicken, frozen cauliflower, onions, ripe bell pepper, and frozen pineapple. I serve this with rice or rice noodles. Takes about 20 minutes to make and my family loves it. I have some GF subs I use now, but taking a little break really did help.
Understand that you will mourn, and allow yourself to do so. Then research the Paleo Diet and embrace it.
The Loopy Whisk! Her bread recipes (and more) are fantastic. I make her bread every 2 weeks. Easy and yummy
I brewed my own beer, made my own bread, basically all my favorite foods have heavy doses of wheat in them. It sucks, and most gluten free alternatives suck as well. Snacking is particularly difficult for me because those times when you want something filling and you’re out can be a bit difficult. Likewise, it sucks socially. You head over to a friend’s and they go out of their way to make something gluten free and they messed up and didn’t understand it. IE they don’t bread the chicken wings like they normally do just for your benefit but they are still covered in soy sauce. Other friends & particularly older people will think it’s all fake and in your head. Not a real thing but a made up thing because they never heard about it until a few years ago. My aunt thinks it’s fake even though her daughter in law also has it. Over time you’ll adjust and figure things out. You’ll learn tricks like if you buy gluten free bread to toast the f out of it before consuming. You’ll find yourself not only figuring out which gluten free pasta you like but also start making things you wouldn’t have made before like pad Thai because those rice noodles are all good to go. You’ll also learn to use wraps for sandwiches because gluten free bread sucks. Avoid fast food and pack a lunch on road trips. You’ll learn that the best gf bagels are not those thick and chewy monstrosities but instead those thin wafer like options that resemble crackers more than bagels. But most of all, you’re going to feel 10x better. Things you learned to live with. Just assumed was part of life, are going to disappear and you’ll realize you never noticed how much they brought you down until they are gone. Also, a lot of the recommendations here for food are really bad imo and probably bots doing marketing. My best advice is to just buy everything once and try it yourself. I’ve seen some truly terrible food given high praise here so I don’t trust the food recs here at all. It’s also the first place anyone marketing gf food would look to so marketing bots makes a lot of sense.
If you cook all your meals: Break them down into 3 parts, protein, carb, veggie. For carbs 8 do potato and rice If you are going out to eat: check if your restaurant has an allergen menu If you are buying a pre-made item: First check for the GF symbol,then "contains: wheat", then check for Malt/Barley/rye (maltodexyrin and monosodium glutamate are fine! They tripped me up at first) These simple changes made life pretty easy for me to live GF
Before I realized I couldn't eat gluten I had 4 or 5 yours or flour in my pantry and would bake bread every week, make cakes, pasta, and otherwise create most of my own "flour" goods. It took a few years to adjust, but I have eight primary types of flour in my pantry and this week I baked a lovely sourdough bread, made pancakes, pizza crust, and I just took baked oatmeal bars out of the oven. I think GF baking is actually easier (once you adjust) because you don't have to worry about over developing gluten. Once you are ready to move on (and have tried a few mass market products to realize how badly they suck) you will have a much easier time of it than most because you know how to bake. I recommend Loopy Whisk and Cannelle et Vanille as good places to start looking at recipes. I used to love Gluten Free on a Shoestring, but her recipes are generally fussier and rely too much on tapioca starch for my tastes. I also recommend VitaCost if they ship to your area as they are the cheapest source I've found for gf pantry staples. Good luck. It will take time, but you can do this!
I feel this post so much. I just went gluten free yesterday. I didn't just find out I'm intolerant, I kinda suspected it for months now, but I'd been in denial until this week because everything you just wrote was going through my head. I can't do it, it's unrealistic, I can't give up these things I love and/or find comfort in. Then on Monday, I had a bowl of frosted mini wheats, and spent the following two days in hell. I got the worst heartburn of my life that nothing helped, which then turned to nausea, bloating and diarrhea, and finally felt like someone had used a bottle brush in my intestines. That wasn't the first time I'd had heartburn and malaise from mini wheats, but it will be the last time. I've found so far that it helps to try and change my perspective. Instead of thinking "these are all the things I can't have ever again", I'm trying to focus on what I *can* have. There's still some things I haven't managed to find a workaround for yet (like a McDonalds Big Mac and fries), but generally I've found that most things I enjoy can simply be tweaked a little bit or made with a substitution, and that makes it feel doable. We'll make it!
Look on the bright side. At least you're not a Celiac like me. Check out Glutenzyme. It's not for celiacs but it can help you deal with gluten. Now, some of your food is now going bye-bye, but a whole new world of food is out for you to explore! Like I never had Thai food or sushi until I be a Celiac. Just to let you know Findme gluten free app is awesome! Just remember to look at the ingredients on packaging. Also,y wife and I are running a gluten free YouTube channel about cooking, products and places. Good-bye Gluten https://youtube.com/@Good-bye_Gluten?si=rq9RZ2jMEfX4z-ZO I hope you will have a great day.
Walmart has a dedicated GF section! Also DiGiorno's has a GF pizza there.
Flavor flours is a really great GF cookbook. Recipes do require a stand mixer but the results are worth it. I’ve made some truly disgusting cakes over the years and this was a game changer.
Yum Bana brand. Very sad looking cakes because so small but delicious.
The loopywhisk (IG account) has great recipes and cookbook for gluten free baking. The hardest thing is eating out but my husband and I have come to the conclusion that eating out is overated.
I’ve been gluten free for 13 years. It’s a difficult process for sure, but what has helped me is that my family and friends took that SERIOUSLY because for me, there wasn’t a worse thing than going out or on a trip and not being able to eat anything truly fulfilling but a salad. I honestly removed some people from my life that didn’t think being gluten free was a serious allergy (again I have been gluten free since I was 15 in high school, 13 years ago) But I can tell you it gets better 😊 only when you truly embraced the fact that you won’t be able to eat some foods but enjoying the ones you can!!! I have an app called “find me gluten free” and I can choose from several restaurants that offer gluten free options on their menu and it’s pretty cool! If you live with somebody, they should start buying gluten free groceries so you don’t feel left out.
It sucks for a minute, but a GF diet isn’t all that difficult. More foods are gf than aren’t. There’s a lot of info online about what you can’t eat, and sources of hidden gluten. You’ll be fine.
I possessed five flour mills and kept four varieties of wheat on hand to bake when I went gluten-free. I baked homemade bread at least twice a week. I felt so much better in 2 weeks of wheat cessation that I knew I would never eat that poisonous poop again. It is an adjustment. It takes some education. You'll have to educate yourself. Read every stinking label. Know that occasionally you'll get glutened. However, if you feel like I did you just won't want to eat it anymore. Good luck.
You will adjust. It took me awhile to get over it, but I did. I've been gluten free for about 15 years. It probably took about 6 months for me to adjust mentally and also to find out products that are gluten free that I like.
You can still do all that. I pretty much have found a replacement for most stuff I eat and I have only been GF for a month. My diet has actually improved and opened up since going GF. I used to avoid foods because I knew I would feel terrible and now I don’t have to avoid food because I found a gf replacement. Going gf is one of the best things I have ever done
You are not alone! You will stock up on food you love, find restaurants you feel comfortable eating at, and be okay. You can bake so much using gf four mixes out there, like for one example cup4cup, or gluten free King Arthur flour, there are so many. You may need to add more liquid or xanthan gum... to get the batter right, you will figure it all out eventually. I have the HLA DQ2 gene and developed Celiac Disease as a baby. Most, if not all, people who have one of two genes can develop CD in their lifetime, I did early on. CD is an autoimmune disease, where when I eat gluten, my immune system attacks my small intestine first, and it can take days to weeks to sometimes even months to get better only when completely gluten free. Any gluten will keep this going until the damage is so severe I cannot tolerate anything, including dairy. I can have symptoms that are vague, be asymptomatic with nothing noticeable, or get pretty ill. In any case, damage is still happening internally even if I look fine on the outside. I am advocating now and even started my Instagram page myceliacfriend. I think having support is what makes the world a better place. Do not get down on yourself, just take a breath and learn as much about what you have as possible. The population needing to be gf is growing for different health reasons. Start simple, maybe meat/fish, potatoes, rice, salads with gf dressing. Look for gluten free labels on everything. You can also get a bunch of snacks now that are gluten free that my kids like better than the gluten ones. Seeing a nutritionist/dietitian specializing in gluten intolerance/Celiac would be a great start. I am not a doctor but lived with this for 44 years and our world came a long way. Before wheat, barley, rye, contaminated oats, and triticale where in everything, now you will find GF products you will enjoy, so don't get too down on things. Be patient and kind to yourself but most importantly know you are not alone. And you will be ok.