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wheat intolerance - what can i eat ??

  • 20-01-2009 04:34PM
    #1
    bada_bing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭


    hi,
    Just been informed by the doctor that it is very likely that i have a wheat intolerance and have been advised to try cutting out wheat from my diet. I also had some blood drawn to see if i am coeliac sufferer so it'll be 3 weeks before i get the results.

    So in the meantime, can anyone give me some advice as to what i can eat and more importantly, what am i going to eat for lunch if i can't have bread??

    Can i eat wraps or is there a suitable alternative?? Lunch is the biggest concern for me so any tips or suggestions would be much appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    Attol
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,385 ✭✭✭Attol


    If you buy a thermos you can bring in warm food, or if you have a microwave at work you can heat things up there.

    What about potatoes, vegetables, meats, soups...? There's loads you can do with those. Maybe make a salad with lettuce, potatoes, ham, tomatoes and sauce? Or get your fave veg and make a soup or stew.


  • #3
    EileenG
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,775 ✭✭✭EileenG


    Go for a salad, whatever filling you normally put in your sandwich but served with a big green salad (you can buy bags of washed salad and baby spinach, so no extra work) instead of eating it with bread.

    Wraps are out, they are definitely all wheat, usually white flour at that.

    If you don't fancy a green salad (not really the weather for it), then there's always rice. My children often go to school with a tub of tuna, rice and sweetcorn.

    Many people who are allergic to wheat have to avoid rye and oats and other grains, but rice is almost never a problem. Not a fan of rice-cakes, but you might need to get used to them until you know exactly what you can eat. If rye is ok, then Ryvita is an option.

    You can also buy rice flour or combinations of rice and potato and other stuff, to make your own bread.

    I've got quite a nice recipe for flaxmeal bread, which is close enough to chocolate cake to stop you feeling too deprived.

    Biscuits and cakes are out, but chocolate should still be ok.


  • #4
    bada_bing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭bada_bing


    thanks for the suggestions, looks like i'm going to have to start making soups and salads. I believe it's okay for me to eat other grains such as oats, barley and rye as the doctor mentioned porridge is okay to eat which is mostly oats. But i found a cereal called Oatiflakes which contains no wheat or flour!! so that's one problem solved.

    i tried a rice cake, it wasn't too bad but i can imagine getting sick of them after a while so i'll mix it all up with ryvita, spelt bread and other things.

    never was a fan of pasta anyway but pizzas will be sorely missed.


  • #5
    EileenG
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,775 ✭✭✭EileenG


    There was someone else posting here who seemed to make some sort of pizza with Ryvita.

    I normally don't eat wheat at all, so if I go for a pizza, I'll order a lot of toppings, eat the toppings and cheese and just leave the base. If I'm having quick burger with my children, I'll order the 2 euro special and eat the burger and cheese and leave the bun. Ask for a knife and fork so you don't look like a savage.


  • #6
    rubadub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,387 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    bada_bing wrote: »
    what am i going to eat for lunch if i can't have bread??
    This is a common question, it is like asking veggies "what do you eat on christmas day!". There is no need for bread in a diet at all. I try to eat none at all, people are always commenting in work and used to offer slices if they had a sliced pan, as though I forgot it, or somehow it is essential.

    I use iceberg lettuce leaves to make wraps with meats, burgers etc. Watch out for soups they often have wheat as thickeners. You will have to start reading labels carefully or make your own food.
    EileenG wrote: »
    If rye is ok, then Ryvita is an option.
    Just check the labels here too, I think they have one mulitgrain version with wheatflour in it.
    bada_bing wrote: »
    I believe it's okay for me to eat other grains such as oats, barley and rye as the doctor mentioned porridge is okay to eat which is mostly oats. But i found a cereal called Oatiflakes which contains no wheat or flour!!
    Porridge oats are just oats, no flour, nothing added at all, best breakfast cereal out there. I make oat pancakes with porridge flakes, the egg adds some protein to the breakfast. More info here

    Those oat flakes are probably overpriced, overprocessed and have too much sugar. I am guessing it is these http://www.weetabix.co.uk/brands/oatibix-flakes/oatiflakes/
    EileenG wrote: »
    There was someone else posting here who seemed to make some sort of pizza with Ryvita.
    That was me, I get tubes of tomato puree and just squeeze it on, then spread it out and top with cheese and other stuff, then grill or microwave for a few seconds until it melts. I think somebody else got non-wheat pizza bases in a health store.

    I expect you could substitute oat or other flour in most recipes easily.


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  • #7
    stewie01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 258 ✭✭stewie01


    check out coeliacs dot ie message boards a real help for food ideas and they have a booklet of the food you can eat


  • #8
    Searlait
    Closed Accounts Posts: 59 ✭✭Searlait


    I've been a coeliac for years, so no wheat for me!!

    Lunch is the hardest meal to cater for, as breakfast I usually have cereal (organic cornflakes, which has no gluten in it), dinner is easier as I'm usually at home.

    Lunch I usually have one of the avonmore soups, they're labelled quite well. If you wanted to have some bread, the Tesco Free-From range does nice sliced pan, the slices are small, and need to be toasted, they can be crumbly, but you can make a small sandwich out of them. Actually, the Free-From range does great pasta and bagels also. I wouldn't bother with most other gluten free/wheat rolls, they usually crumble to breadcrumbs!

    Marks and Spencer risottos are good, and a few of the asian/indian dishes they have. They also do good gluten free sausages - be careful of things like sausages, they can contain rusk, which is usually wheat or the likes, filler foods!

    Due to new labelling laws, it will always now say on the packaging of food if it contains an allergen, so always check the labels, after a while you'll get used to what you can eat. PM me if you need a few suggestions etc!!


  • #9
    jdivision
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,260 ✭✭✭jdivision


    Rye is generally out so don't gor for that.

    I have porridge for breakfast
    Then fruit about 11
    Then I have some sort of curry with veg twice a week with red rice if possible (can get it in Marks), might have a wrap but very limited, at most twice a week. Then salad in the evening or if I've had salad at lunchtime I'll have some steak or something like that with green veg. I like boiling fine beans and then putting them in unsalted butter with garlic in a frying pan. Other easy ones are something like lamb shanks with roasted veg, a bean stew or else a chilli with kidney beans - I use rubadub's suggestion of iceberg lettuce leaves instead of wraps to go with the chilli. No sour cream or anything like that.
    Occasionally I'll eat hummous too, maybe with oak cakes.
    Omelettes are always a good option
    Most of the Cully & Sully soups are good to use too if you can't be bothered making them yourself

    Be careful of the sugar content in Oatiflakes: http://www.weetabix.co.uk/brands/oatibix-flakes/oatiflakes/ suggests more than 20% of it is sugar (as the ingredients are listed by content and maltodextrin is sugar essentially)
    I've taken to buying the single serving Quick Oats from Flahavans, make sure to go for the organic one as the others have sugar. They're really handy as I struggle to get up in the morning.


  • #10
    jdivision
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,260 ✭✭✭jdivision


    EileenG wrote: »
    If I'm having quick burger with my children, I'll order the 2 euro special and eat the burger and cheese and leave the bun. Ask for a knife and fork so you don't look like a savage.

    Haha, i do get funny looks from staff the odd time I succumb to a Burger King desire and ask for a knife and fork.


  • #11
    BJJDUB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 58 ✭✭BJJDUB


    Coeliacs need to avoid all products containing oat(s), barley, malt(s), wheat, gluten, spelt etc.

    Read the ingredients labels on all foods and look for allergy advice labels.

    Check out Tesco's for there Free From range. There are several manufacturers off Gluten Free / Wheat Free food such as Livwell, Glutafin, Dietary Specials etc. which are available is the specialist food shelves in most supermarkets (Tesco / Dunnes / Superquinn).

    Supervalue stocks Gluten Free Sausages and Black / White puddings from Hodgins see - www.hodginssausages.com.

    Clonakilty Gluten Free sausages are available in Dunnes Stores.

    Pataks have an extensive range of cooking sauces that are Gluten Free - available in most supermarkets.

    As always - CHECK THE LABELS to be sure the product you buy states that it is Gluten Free / Wheat Free.

    Eating a burger that has been on a bun in Burger King or any other fast food outlet can cause problems due to cross contamination - this is an absolute no-no for Coeliacs.

    I wouldn't touch the Oatiflakes neither!

    Hope this helps - if you need any more assistance post your questions and I'll respond asap


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  • #12
    BJJDUB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 58 ✭✭BJJDUB


    Coeliacs should also avoid Rye (Ryvita) and Porridge (unless its specifically Gluten Free - such as Kelkin's Gluten Free Porridge).


  • #13
    juicyjellybabe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 25 ✭juicyjellybabe


    To the OP, I'd advise you to find another doctor! They have advised you wrongly. It never ceases to amaze me how little GPs know about this disease.

    You should CONTINUE TO EAT GLUTEN CONTAINING FOODS. Because- if your blood tests show you have the antibodies for this disease, you will then have to undergo a gastroscopy, where the gastroenterologist will take samples from the small intestine for a biopsy. This is the gold standard for determining coeliac disease.
    IF YOU INGEST NO GLUTEN FOR A WHILE PRIOR TO THIS PROCEDURE YOU WILL GET A FALSE RESULT.
    As someone else suggests- coeliac.ie has more info.

    Also, OATS ARE NOT SAFE! There is a very high risk of cross-contamination.


  • #14
    Quirky90xx
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭Quirky90xx


    Just of curiosity cause im not 100% sure..
    I have a wheat-intolerance and want to know if i can eat food from Subway?
    Its just that everytime ive been there ive been avoiding getting food cause i wasnt sure if i could have it or not..
    So if anyone knows let me know:)


  • #15
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    Subway make a salad out of everything they make subs out of sans the bread.

    This is a great gluten free bread recipe, completely free from grains and easy to make, never mind quick:

    50g ground flaxseed (keep it in the freezer after opening, it goes rancid quickly)
    50g ground almonds
    2 egg whites
    1tbsp of olive oil or 1tbsp of melted butter
    1/2 teaspoon baking powder

    Mix all the ingredients together and spread in a square plastic microwave container.

    Nuke in a microwave for 2 minutes.

    Turn out on a plate and leave to dry and cut into slices.

    Tastes sort of like mccambridges stoneground bread and is delicious topped with cream cheese and ham. Gave a slice to one of my co-workers today and they couldn't tell the difference. It's also packed with protein, fiber, omega 3 and vitamin E.


  • #16
    metamorphosis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭metamorphosis


    Temple_Grandin wrote: »
    Subway make a salad out of everything they make subs out of sans the bread.

    This is a great gluten free bread recipe, completely free from grains and easy to make, never mind quick:

    50g ground flaxseed (keep it in the freezer after opening, it goes rancid quickly)
    50g ground almonds
    2 egg whites
    1tbsp of olive oil or 1tbsp of melted butter
    1/2 teaspoon baking powder

    Mix all the ingredients together and spread in a square plastic microwave container.

    Nuke in a microwave for 2 minutes.

    Turn out on a plate and leave to dry and cut into slices.

    Tastes sort of like mccambridges stoneground bread and is delicious topped with cream cheese and ham. Gave a slice to one of my co-workers today and they couldn't tell the difference. It's also packed with protein, fiber, omega 3 and vitamin E.

    I love you for that!
    Question: can you buy ground almonds? If not how would you ground yours - blender?


  • #17
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    You can get ground almonds in Dunnes or tesco in the baking section.

    One caveat, they are REALLY high in fibre so don't eat more than half of that recipe in a short space of time IYKWIM..:P


  • #18
    RubyTuesday
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19 ✭RubyTuesday


    I have been told I am wheat intolerant and the doctor I am attending said not to eat porridge cos of the gluten content. For breakfast I make a smoothie with a piece of fruit, natural yogurt and nets and seeds. I have a hand blender so its very quick and easy. I just buy the bags of milled seeds and throw in a handful of linseed. Its all very good for the digestive system and the yogurt means I get calcium too. You wont miss bread after a while, no more heartburn and bloating convinced me! I also take a chromium supplement that I get in the health shop, its just one tablet a day and its famous for keeping cravings away, it definately works.:)


  • #19
    Gummy Panda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,919 ✭✭✭✭Gummy Panda


    Temple_Grandin wrote: »
    Subway make a salad out of everything they make subs out of sans the bread.

    This is a great gluten free bread recipe, completely free from grains and easy to make, never mind quick:

    50g ground flaxseed (keep it in the freezer after opening, it goes rancid quickly)
    50g ground almonds
    2 egg whites
    1tbsp of olive oil or 1tbsp of melted butter
    1/2 teaspoon baking powder

    Mix all the ingredients together and spread in a square plastic microwave container.

    Nuke in a microwave for 2 minutes.

    Turn out on a plate and leave to dry and cut into slices.

    Tastes sort of like mccambridges stoneground bread and is delicious topped with cream cheese and ham. Gave a slice to one of my co-workers today and they couldn't tell the difference. It's also packed with protein, fiber, omega 3 and vitamin E.

    gonna make this tomorrow. Sounds nice like the protein bar/cake that Eileen linked to before.

    How long does it usually last (as in best before)?


  • #20
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    I wouldn't eat it more than two days after making it as the fats in the flaxseed go rancid quite easily.


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