Category: Gluten-Free Living

Gluten-Free Race Training

A year after I went gluten free, I completed a marathon. I’ve never been much of an athlete, so the fact I even considered a marathon was a shock to me. What made me think it was possible was incredible change in my energy level. Where once I could barely drag myself out of bed, now I was rising early, full of energy.

Training for that marathon required many months of dedication. Getting up early during the week for my regular walks (I, after much consideration, realized I couldn’t run the distance, but I could walk, and to be honest, my walking pace at that point was on par with some runners!). Getting up early on Saturday mornings for my long walks; since some of my training took part during the hottest part of the summer, I knew I needed to get those long miles done before the sun started baking me. Continue reading “Gluten-Free Race Training”

Gluten-Free Travel: Safe Foods

Last week, I mentioned that the one thing I do when I’m recovering from an accidental glutening is a retreat into my favorite comfort foods (the risotto was fantastic!). Having an out-of-town trip mid-process makes the entire recovery process a bit challenging.

Or so I grumbled to myself as I got up early to make gluten-free sandwiches for the trip. As my husband reviewed my stash of “safe” foods for the journey, he noted we weren’t leaving the country. As I reviewed the stash, I had to agree: I’d gone overbooard. After all, we were headed to San Diego, a place gluten-free options are plentiful…as is great Mexican food! Continue reading “Gluten-Free Travel: Safe Foods”

Recovering from an Accidental Glutening

99.999% of the times when I get glutened, it’s because of my own stupidity. I jump to conclusions. I make assumptions. I don’t ask questions. And I pay the price.

Today, as I write this, I am waiting for the full impact of yesterday’s accidental glutening to hit me. As my waistline expanded about four sizes — my first big symptom is bloating — I knew I had a fun couple of days ahead of me. Usually, my body takes three to five days to recover from ingesting a small amount of gluten. Continue reading “Recovering from an Accidental Glutening”

Lunch Misadventures

“So, is anyone here a picky eater?”

The question from a co-worker came as our department sat down at a dim sum restaurant. The restaurant was busy with a lunchtime crowd, and our group took up two large round tables in a private dining room. Already the lazy Susan was laden with dumplings, and another cart filled with delicious food was being wheeled into the room. Everyone was grabbing steamer dishes and exclaiming over flavors.

“Because,” my co-worker continued, “this is not a place for picky eaters.” Then he looked directly at me, like he’d found a picky eater. “Aren’t you going to eat anything?” Continue reading “Lunch Misadventures”

Eating Real Food While Remaining Gluten Free

Gluten-free grocery shopping involves reading a lot of labels with laser-like intensity. And, frankly, it only took me a few minutes to discover that much of the food on store shelves was filled with ingredients I couldn’t pronounce, much less spell. That was when I started focusing on buying foods with simple, clear, understandable ingredients.

(The exception being, sigh, the occasional gluten-free bread or cracker item.)

The thing about eating real foods is they are, by and large, gluten free. Fruits, vegetables, dairy and eggs, meats, gluten-free grains. Depending on how you buy these foods, they can be quite economical. In my opinion, they taste much better than highly processed foods. I believe my taste buds have evolved since I eliminated gluten, and packaged foods, even though they’re gluten free, tend to taste like they’re designed to mask the flavor of the food. Continue reading “Eating Real Food While Remaining Gluten Free”

Budget Gluten-Free Grocery Shopping

As I read an article on the very real challenges of buying healthy foods while while on a budget, a comment made by the author gave me pause. She noted that organic or gluten-free designations increased the price of food. And on one hand, this is is true. On the other…

If you’re gluten free and you’re on a tight budget, there are so many great options for you beyond the specialty food section. I think it’s common for the newly diagnosed celiac or person who is concerned gluten is a problem to hit the grocery store and buy everything labelled “gluten free”. It’s also expensive.

The following ten tips will help you find ways to save money while enjoying great meals. And, of course, if you have any ideas I haven’t listed here, please share them! I’m always looking to save money. Continue reading “Budget Gluten-Free Grocery Shopping”

Can You Trust Gluten-Free Food Labels?

It’s hard to walk through a grocery store these days without encountering foods labeled “gluten free”. For those of us who must follow a GF diet, this is fantastic news. As much as I applaud companies like Pillsbury and General Mills creating gluten-free versions of popular items, I appreciate that companies whose foods are naturally gluten free and made in safe environments are labeling their products clearly.

Even though I can tell from the ingredients that a particular bag of potato chips is safe for me to consume, having it labeled gluten free helps my peace of mind. And I admit it: I buy those products simply because I want to encourage continued development of convenience foods that are gluten free. For me, this isn’t a marketing gimmick; it’s how I’m going to eat for the rest of my life. Continue reading “Can You Trust Gluten-Free Food Labels?”