Gluten free - how did you succeed?

HardyEustace

Hi
just wondering if there were people that have made the successful change to a gluten free diet.

If so, are there any useful tips or advice you could give someone starting the process?

Thanks

Red Cortina

I presume that you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease and that's the reason that you are asking? I have not been diagnosed with coeliac disease but have found that a good 90% of my IBS symptoms have gone by adhering to a gluten free diet.

From a practical point of view I eat meat, fish, veg, fruit, potatoes, rice and eggs plus butter and cream, and yogurts sometimes. In our kitchen there is a gluten free prep area and a 'bread' area and we have separate butter dishes too.

I generally have some eggs for breakfast, my canteen in work offers GF hot dishes most days or else I will get some plain salads for lunch. Then dinner is usually some kind of meat or fish with some veg or potatoes. Snacks are usually fruit and nuts and I tend to eat a lot of those GF Cully and Sully soups.

Eating out in Ireland is generally is ok, I love to go to places that have GF menus. The real problems start when you go on holidays and also when you are invited for dinner to friends houses.....

So if I were you I'd eat real food that you have made at home as much as possible. If you don't intend to do this then you should really join the Coeliac Society of Ireland to get their full and comprehensive list of GF foods.

Mack_1111

There's a coeliac sticky on this forum!

coffee to go

This blog might be a good place to start. Tips on recipes, restaurants and what's available in shops.

HardyEustace

Mack_1111 wrote: »

There's a coeliac sticky on this forum!

Yes, but that's for food recommendations. I was more looking for how people made the adjustments to a gluten free diet. In terms of food prep, how they handled canteen eating etc.

Tiriel

It's not so bad, I had to make the switch about 2 months ago now and I thought it would be impossible. It's not.

I agree with what was said above - eat natural, wholesome food rather than processed gluten free alternatives where possible, purely because it is a lot healthier and often after eating something that said gluten free, I haven't felt very well.

Always mention when ordering in restaurants that you cannot eat gluten/are coeliac - because what may seem ok could come out in breadcrumbs or have croutons in it.

Being organised is the best way to make it work - prepare food at home and bring it in. In the canteen in work, I have the veg and boiled potatoes - can't have sauces/etc. Salads are best really and it's easy to bring a breast of chicken or tuna etc. with you.

Corn pasta is also great!

alexjk

My advice is to be prepared, it's a bit harder to be spontaneous with regards to eating out or eating with friends and we often don't get very inspiring options on menus either.

I've often brought gluten free bread to cafes and never had a problem. One place offered to keep a loaf behind the counter if I bought it myself. Maybe you might be allowed to do something like that at a work canteen?