Beyond the GF Basics

If you have been living gluten free for a while, you have probably already mastered the basics of the diet and have already learned that you have to read every label, every time to check for gluten.

Depending on when you started eating gluten free, you may have a long list of questionable ingredients including caramel color, maltodextrin, distilled alcohol, vinegar, mono and di-glycerides, and natural flavors. You may be confused about whether oats are really OK for you to eat. You may even have become dependent on a product list, limiting what you buy to the ingredients listed in that list.

What you will find is a lot of articles about ingredients and processes and food labeling. I’ve reviewed what many of the celiac experts in the field have to say. I have also looked at information from food scientists and commercial production experts. I share these articles on my web site and in my newsletter.

Here are my suggestions for you.

1. Read The 6 key ingredients you need to look for on a product label using the sign up box on the right. Reading ingredient labels can seem overwhelming at first, but there are 6 key gluten-containing ingredients that show up most often on mainstream product labels.

 

2. Check out some of the articles on the Articles page.

 

3. Find a local support group that can help you out locally, even if you used to belong to one and don’t belong any more. I know that a lot of people are not into going to meetings, but these groups offer some services that are really helpful for someone new to the gluten free diet. For example:
   • Find out where to buy gluten free foods locally, and which local restaurants are celiac-friendly
   • Sample gluten free products so that you know what you like and don’t like before you spend $6.00
   • Get recipes and baking tips from experienced gluten free bakers
   • Learn about food production and health concerns that can directly affect your immediate and long-term health at meetings and in newsletters
   • Save money with discounts arranged with local chapters – with some chapters you can save more than the cost of your membership

If you need some help finding a local support group, send me an email and I’ll help you find one.

Once you have taken these three steps, you will be feeling more comfortable in your gluten free journey and ready to learn more.