My Gluten Free Food List 1/10/08...please Add Yours

[Respira]

I know that companies change their formulas often and we still have to read the labels. But I thought if we just have a basic list to start with it would make shopping easier. I am located in Texas. There is no guarantee my list is totally accurate but I did my best. This list does not address the CC issue either. Please add your list... I will edit this list with the source in [ brackets ] as time permits.

Beverages:

Arizona Beverages [Website]

Carnation Instant breakfast Powders (exception Classic Chocolate Malt contains Gluten) [website]

Del Monte 100% Fruit Juices [Website]

Folgers Coffee (all Roasts) [Website]

Gatorade [800#]

Gevalia coffees unflavored [800#] (to find out about flavored coffee call 1-800-438-2542)

Newman's Own [Website]

Ocean Spray [Website]

Pepsi [Website]

Snapple [800#]

Starbucks frappuccinos (bottled) [800#]

Tropicana 100% juice and Tropicana Pure Premium line of juices [800#]

V8 Juice [Website]

Welch's [Website]

Alcoholic Beverages:

Bailey's Irish Cream

Kahulua

Vodka:

Smirnoff Vodka

Smirnov Vodka

Polar Ice Vodka

Chopin Vodka

Grey Goose Vodka

Skyy Vodka

Candy:

Ghirardelli Chocolates (exception Classic White Chips contains Gluten) [Website]

JellyBellys [800#]

Just Born Brand Candies: [800#]

MARSHMALLOW PEEPS

MIKE AND IKE

HOT TAMALES

ZOURS

PEANUT CHEWS

EENEE BEENEE Gourmet Jelly Beans

Just Born Jelly Beans

Necco Wafers

Haviland Thin Mints

Clark Bars

Nestl

[Lisa]

That's quite a starting list. How did you compile this list? Did you contact the companies?

[Respira]

That's quite a starting list. How did you compile this list? Did you contact the companies?

most of the information I got by going to the companies websites (fact section or Q&A section) some I had to call the 800# and some I emailed.

[VioletBlue]

Great list. It might be easier to add to your list.

I don't believe I saw See's Candy on your list. With the exception of some of their decorated specalties, their chocolates are now gluten free according to their customer service. I believe they're stores are just in the western US though?

Bubbies Pickles, my very favorite pickle in the whole world is gluten free, both the dills and bread and butter chips as well as their dill relish, this from customer service.

Also M&M's candies, milk chocolate peanut almond and dark chocolate. The crunchy blue variety contails gluten.

CoffeMate creamers state they are gluten free on the container.

Many Hormel canned chili products are gluten free. I buy the chili and beans with no problem. You can find that info on other lists on this site.

Many Thai Kitchen products. They will clearly mark theirs. I love their sweet chili sauce and their rice noodles.

And Haagen Dazs vanilla and chocolate ice cream. They have about the simpliest ingredient list of any ice cream out there. For other flavors you need to check the ingredient list for obvious gluten. Their ingredients are as minimal as possible though and clearly show barley or wheat in the content list.

[blueeyedmanda]

Great Value --Walmart house brand

Wegmans-house brand for their grocery store

both label all applicable products gluten free. Makes it easier to shop and buying the store brand is cheapier. I prefer the Wegmans pasta sauces over Ragu any day.

Hormel chickens label gluten free

Starburst candies are labeled gluten free

UTZ snack products are labeled gluten free.

Hope this helps

great list by the way

[happygirl]

Canola oil is gluten free.

[Respira]

Yes, I know Canola Oil is gluten free but it seems to bother some people with Celiac disease...me being one. So I put it on at the end as a note"***Canola oil seems to be a no no…I don’t know why." But I should have said it seems to be a no no for some.

[nowheat4me]

Thank you for your list. I'm pretty new at all this. Went gluten free in Sept 2007. Didn't know about the Lay's Stax chips. I live in East Texas and there's not alot of Gluten free items that I know of in the regular grocery stores. I do shop at Walmart and love the fact that if their product is gluten free it's printed on the label. If I use anything gluten-free that's not on your list I'll post it. Right now I don't think I have anything to add. Thanks again for you help.

[ThatlldoGyp]

Hi, I called Gevalia and they said only the unflavored coffee was gluten-free, but the flavored could have trace gluten d/t cc or where they get their flavorings or chocolate. I NEVER risk their flavored coffee. I would double check or ammend the Gevalia to check on flavored coffees.

Ghirardeli coffee is reportedly safe as their flavored version just has their chocolate in it, and they have full control over the process. (That info is from November 07).

Best bet? Buy the plain and add your own organic spices! (cinnamon, nutmeg, ground hazlenuts, cardamom, cocoa powder, etc.)

Newman's own is fine, even the flavored.. the almond biscotti is just almond oil and almonds... listed as tree nut allergy)

and all of Starbuck's coffee is Gluten free.

Could not get a straight answer from Seattle's best about their flavored coffees, but the plain "should be fine" and that is not good enough for me, lol! I like a straight up, honest answer!

Hope this helps, I just did all my coffee info updating in November 2007.

I personally get my coffe from a local roaster who checks everything before he roasts and keeps allergans in 1 roaster and plain in the the other. So far he has been FABULOUS and has never "glutened" me! He washes the beans before he roasts, so I don't even worry about cc. I would urge everyone to check if there is a local roaster in your area, it is such a relief to know I am not risking my health to have a cup of coffee!

(and yes I do bring my own coffe to my friend's homes when I visit, it is just too easy to get glutened via cc via their grinder or coffee pot!)

Edit: almost forgot, ALL of Annie's Organics are clearly marked as being gluten-free, if they are gluten-free. If you don't see the gluten-free, don't eat it. It makes it so easy to buy thier products.

All of the Wegman's products are clearly marked with allergens, including gluten.

Here is the list to Burt's Bee's products... not really food, but the stuff does go on our hands, and faces so they become unintentional food at times, so I thought this would "count" Open Original Shared Link

Add taste of Thai products: Chicken and Rice seasoning,Fish sauce,Peanut salad dressing,Spicy peanut bake, Pad Tai for 2,Pad Thai sauce,ALL their Rice noodles, Coconut ginger soup, Peanut Noodles, Red Curry Noodles,Coconut Ginger noodles.

A taste of India: Masala Rice and Lentils, Spiced Rice with raisins,

Taste of China, ironically, not ok (microwave boxes). per website.

[Stacey52783]

Hi, I called Gevalia and they said only the unflavored coffee was gluten-free, but the flavored could have trace gluten d/t cc or where they get their flavorings or chocolate. I NEVER risk their flavored coffee. I would double check or ammend the Gevalia to check on flavored coffees.

Ghirardeli coffee is reportedly safe as their flavored version just has their chocolate in it, and they have full control over the process. (That info is from November 07).

Best bet? Buy the plain and add your own organic spices! (cinnamon, nutmeg, ground hazlenuts, cardamom, cocoa powder, etc.)

Newman's own is fine, even the flavored.. the almond biscotti is just almond oil and almonds... listed as tree nut allergy)

and all of Starbuck's coffee is Gluten free.

Could not get a straight answer from Seattle's best about their flavored coffees, but the plain "should be fine" and that is not good enough for me, lol! I like a straight up, honest answer!

Hope this helps, I just did all my coffee info updating in November 2007.

I personally get my coffe from a local roaster who checks everything before he roasts and keeps allergans in 1 roaster and plain in the the other. So far he has been FABULOUS and has never "glutened" me in 8 years! He washes the beans before he roasts, so I don't even worry about cc. I would urge everyone to check if there is a local roaster in your area, it is such a relief to know I am not risking my health to have a cup of coffee!

(and yes I do bring my own coffe to my friend's homes when I visit, it is just too easy to get glutened via cc via their grinder or coffee pot!)

Edit: almost forgot, ALL of Annie's Organics are clearly marked as being gluten-free, if they are gluten-free. If you don't see the gluten-free, don't eat it. It makes it so easy to buy thier products.

All of the Wegman's products are clearly marked with allergens, including gluten.

Here is the list to Burt's Bee's products... not really food, but the stuff does go on our hands, and faces so they become unintentional food at times, so I thought this would "count" Open Original Shared Link

Add taste of Thai products: Chicken and Rice seasoning,Fish sauce,Peanut salad dressing,Spicy peanut bake, Pad Tai for 2,Pad Thai sauce,ALL their Rice noodles, Coconut ginger soup, Peanut Noodles, Red Curry Noodles,Coconut Ginger noodles.

A taste of India: Masala Rice and Lentils, Spiced Rice with raisins,

Taste of China, ironically, not ok (microwave boxes). per website.

I add freshly ground cinnamon to the coffee grinds when grinding my coffee. It makes a wonderful flavored coffee! I honestly think pre flavored coffees are nasty, so it works for me

[SqueakLAG]

I love your list. Please feel free to add this one. I just got an e-mail from HuyFong regarding their Sambal Olek chili sauce. They said they contacted their vinegar supplier who assured them that the vinegar used is gluten free. They offered me the supplier's number for independent verification.

[Loey]

That's quite a starting list. How did you compile this list? Did you contact the companies?

Hi Lisa (and everyone else).

I just joined today and have already gained so much insight. Thank you so much for sharing all of your legwork Lisa. I was diagnosed with Celiac in the Spring after spending 6 weeks in bed due to the illness. I didn't think I'd even make it to my son's high school graduation but the diet had improved my health quite a bit by then. My old G.I. wanted a capsule endoscopy because she felt I suffered from Celiac a very long time before I was undiagnosed. I was one of those people who also put off my colonoscopy far too long (don't do it!!!).

Right after my son graduated we moved to a new State - my husband was transferred. I was doing very well when I first saw my new G.I. (I was more concerned about getting my son genetically tested before he left for college). Recently I have taken a nosedive and am in constant pain. I researched canola oil and found that it was part of the problem. When I saw him the first time he ordered blood work. I saw him again yesterday and he told me my blood work came back still showing a high amount of gluten (or the markers for it - I'm still learning the terms). I told him I really wanted the capsule endoscopy and I'm going to have it as soon as my insurance clears it.

I had purchased the Triumph Dining gluten-free Trio (Grocery, Restaurant, and Dining Cards). I recommend the books but Lisa's list is just as good (if not better) and won't weigh down my pocketbook. Thank you all for sharing and helping a newcomer to this illness and these forums.

Loey

[GFinDC]

Hi Loey,

Welcome to our online world! This is a nice list for starters for sure. It doesn't hurt to double check things on the list though just in case things have changed since 2008. There are also safe food lists on the main site here, and lists of non-safe ingredients too.

I think you will like it here. There are lots of helpful people and advice around.

[Loey]

Hi Loey,

Welcome to our online world! This is a nice list for starters for sure. It doesn't hurt to double check things on the list though just in case things have changed since 2008. There are also safe food lists on the main site here, and lists of non-safe ingredients too.

I think you will like it here. There are lots of helpful people and advice around.

Thanks for the reply and warm welcome!

I was only diagnosed in the spring, started feeling well a few weeks after eliminating gluten and then had a major setback about three weeks ago. My G.I. in NJ thought I had it for a very long time and was surprised I hadn't been diagnosed earlier. I moved to another state the day after she told me my test results. I took my son in to be genetically tested by my new G.I. in before he left for college (phew, he doesn't have it) and the new doctor felt I was all right. When I saw him yesterday he told me that my blood work showed high markers (is that the correct term) for gluten (even though I've been following it religiously). I'm taking a proactive approach and told him I felt I should have the capsule endoscopy. I'm going for it in two weeks. Right now I'm playing detective. It's hard to be sick in a new state where I don't know anyone. I can't wait to feel better so I can look for a teaching job. I'm an optimist and I think this forum is going to be really helpful. I'm also a resource geek (I wanted to be a librarian before I went back to Grad School for teaching) so hopefully I'll be able to give back as much as I get.

I had purchased the Triumph Dining Trio and out of the the three products I found the laminated restaurant cards to be really useful. They have the language of the cuisine you're eating on one side and then they have it in English on the other. How long have you been gluten free?

Loey

P.S. I read that the FDA doesn't acknowledge barley, oats and rye as gluten so some companies can be saying something is gluten free when it's not.

[Britt26]

I got so excited when I read that Carnation Instant Breakfast was gluten-free, but after checking on their website it states that the mixes are "Made on equipment that also processes wheat and soy". As for the drinks, they all contain barley So sad...

[Lisa]

I had purchased the Triumph Dining Trio and out of the the three products I found the laminated restaurant cards to be really useful. They have the language of the cuisine you're eating on one side and then they have it in English on the other. How long have you been gluten free?

Loey

P.S. I read that the FDA doesn't acknowledge barley, oats and rye as gluten so some companies can be saying something is gluten free when it's not.

Hi Loey! And Welcome to the Forum!!!!

This list was not compiled by me, but someone else. And as GFinDC mentioned, it is not a reliable listing because it is dated (2008). Ingredients change frequently and the best was to keep yourself safe is to become an expert label reader.

Your Triumph Grocery guide is super in the beginning, but as I said, learning to read labels is the key. The dining cards will also help you in foreign restaurants where language is an issue.

Sounds like gluten is finding it's way in somewhere,as result of your tests indicate.

By law barley, malt, rye do not need to be declared. And also, a standard had not been set in the US for guidelines, in which companies can claim that their products are gluten free. It is voluntary at this point, without the law to back it up.

There is a list of companies who will always disclose all forms of gluten and I will post that. Many of us like to support those companies:

Open Original Shared Link

It takes time to learn the ins and outs. But stick with this forum and you'll be an expert in no time.

[Loey]

Hi Loey! And Welcome to the Forum!!!!

This list was not compiled by me, but someone else. And as GFinDC mentioned, it is not a reliable listing because it is dated (2008). Ingredients change frequently and the best was to keep yourself safe is to become an expert label reader.

Your Triumph Grocery guide is super in the beginning, but as I said, learning to read labels is the key. The dining cards will also help you in foreign restaurants where language is an issue.

Sounds like gluten is finding it's way in somewhere,as result of your tests indicate.

By law barley, malt, rye do not need to be declared. And also, a standard had not been set in the US for guidelines, in which companies can claim that their products are gluten free. It is voluntary at this point, without the law to back it up.

There is a list of companies who will always disclose all forms of gluten and I will post that. Many of us like to support those companies:

Open Original Shared Link

It takes time to learn the ins and outs. But stick with this forum and you'll be an expert in no time.

Hi Lisa,

Thank you for your welcome, sharing your knowledge and the link. Initially I was just sticking to basics. I think when I first moved, because I was feeling so well, I wasn't as cautious as I should have been. I may not have recognized some of my trigger foods or those additives that I don't know the meaning of and should just stay away from. Tomorrow I start a 4 week course of prednisone (I wean down tablet a week - I know a lot of people are opposed to the drug) which I hope will help with this really painful flare. I'll be playing detective and also feel confident Ill learn a lot from this site. It's good not to feel alone. I will definitely check out the link you posted.

Loey

[GFinDC]

Thanks for the reply and warm welcome!

I was only diagnosed in the spring, started feeling well a few weeks after eliminating gluten and then had a major setback about three weeks ago. My G.I. in NJ thought I had it for a very long time and was surprised I hadn't been diagnosed earlier. I moved to another state the day after she told me my test results. I took my son in to be genetically tested by my new G.I. in before he left for college (phew, he doesn't have it) and the new doctor felt I was all right. When I saw him yesterday he told me that my blood work showed high markers (is that the correct term) for gluten (even though I've been following it religiously). I'm taking a proactive approach and told him I felt I should have the capsule endoscopy. I'm going for it in two weeks. Right now I'm playing detective. It's hard to be sick in a new state where I don't know anyone. I can't wait to feel better so I can look for a teaching job. I'm an optimist and I think this forum is going to be really helpful. I'm also a resource geek (I wanted to be a librarian before I went back to Grad School for teaching) so hopefully I'll be able to give back as much as I get.

I had purchased the Triumph Dining Trio and out of the the three products I found the laminated restaurant cards to be really useful. They have the language of the cuisine you're eating on one side and then they have it in English on the other. How long have you been gluten free?

Loey

P.S. I read that the FDA doesn't acknowledge barley, oats and rye as gluten so some companies can be saying something is gluten free when it's not.

Hi loey,

I went deep into the gluten-free world shortly after Thanksgiving 2007. Duhn duhn duh. Sorry, watching a silly spooky movie now. Anyway, my first 2 years were a rollercoaster ride of feeling better sometmes and worse more times. I was happy when I got to where I felt better for 5 days in a row. That was a neat trick. Anyway, I had lots to learn and took the slow road to do the learning part. I eventually got to where I hardly ever eat at restaraunts, and I make all my meals at home from scratch, using whole ingredients. I found several additional food intolerances along the way that were making me feel almost as bad as the gluten did. Not as bad, but defintely not well, and almost as miserable as this silly movie. Duhn duhn duh!

But, after eliminating my other food intolerances I find myself feeling almost like a human being sometimes. Kinda nice that. Anyway, dairy, soy, nightshades, carrots, turnips, garbanzo beans, them things in my sig are what get me. Others have other intolerances like eggs, corn, rice etc.

There are some processed foods I can eat ok. Like Enjoy Life brand brown rice wraps, Mission corn tortillas, Planters peanuts, Pepsi (regular not diet), Food for Life gluten-free bread, Baker's Secret 100% cocao unsweetened chocolate squares, True North nut clusters, some Frito Lay NUT HARVEST

[Loey]

Hi GFinDC,

Thank you so much forthe informative reply. My new doctor acted as if I was not following the basicgluten free diet when I knew I was and then I realized I had to be my owndetective and look for trigger foods. Do you know how the elimination dietworks? I think you eliminate one food at a time. My breakfast today didn't sitwell. I would hate to have to eliminate eggs and am hoping the canola oil inthe mayonnaise I used (egg salad) was the culprit. For now I'm going to go backto a very strict regimen. I was able to tolerate a lot ofgluten-free foods for the two months following my diagnosis. I love (and havebeen eating) a lot of foods on your trigger list and will try to eliminatethem. Hopefully I will be able to tolerate some of them.

We had recently moved toa new state and my old G.I. wanted me to have the capsule endoscopy when Ifound a new G.I. She felt that this had gone undiagnosed for a long time andwanted to make sure there was no organ damage. My new doctor didn't think thatwas necessary because I was doing well when I brought my son in for genetictesting (in August). I was diagnosed in June - moved the day after I got mytest results and slowly improved before seeing him - two and a half months).Then I started going downhill. When I saw him this week he told me my bloodwork showed high levels of gluten and there was gluten in something I waseating (as I mentioned above). I decided to be proactive and told him I wantedthe capsule endoscopy. It's scheduled pending authorization from my insurance.In the mean time he put me on a 4 wk course of prednisone (weaning down aweekly dose - starting at a week of 40 mg tablet a day for a week, then 30 aday for a week, etc). I've taken prednisone for respiratory problems in the pastand haven't had bad side effects. I need to feel better for next Saturday. We have reallygood seats at the Roger Water's The Wall concert and it will be the first timewe see our son since he left for college at the end of August. I'm hoping acombination of the prednisone and eliminating more foods from my diet will helpme do that. Even if it's jut for a day. I also want and need to be able tostart looking for a job but right now it's not possible. As a teacher I'll beable to start out by subbing and not take a job if it's a bad day but right nowI haven't felt well enough to submit the paperwork.

This recent flare hasreally made me homesick. Close friends in our neighborhood had two familymembers suffering from Celiac and I could always walk over for a chat and whenthey had us for dinner it was home cooked and gluten free. We email but it wasnice having them around the corner. I had lived there for 20 years and in NJ myentire life.

I'm sorry if this replyis long. I feel a connection to this forum and I think I need that right now.I'm a very positive person and don't want the Celiac to change that. I am goingto look into the Celiac Support Group in my state and see when and where theymeet. Right now driving too far can be an issue.

BTW, my hubby and I arebig fans of horror movies. What were you watching when you posted? We went tosee Let Me In last weekend. Really enjoyed it but felt that theoriginal was better. We also like subtle horror. After watching the entire runof Lost on Netflix we decidedto revisit The Stepfather withTerry O'Quinn. Right now we'rewatching Heroes and on theweekends we either go to the movies or watch something from Netflix. Dealingwith empty nest syndrome on top of moving and Celiac. I have to admit to coveringmy eyes during parts of some of the horror movies we watch but the sound getsme. He was trying to get me to watch Drag Me To ... (not sure of posting rules with language yet).

Thanks again for you support and for lending your ear.

Loey

[Loey]

Hi Britt26,

That's why GFinDC's post was a great cautionary P.S. to the list of foods that was compiled. We all need to read the labels carefully and become our own detectives. I'm also learning that all foods that are legitimately gluten free can still trigger an attack for me. I hope this Forum helps you as much as it has helped me in the few short days that I've been here.

Loey

P.S. You've actually been a member longer than I have

[GFinDC]

Hi Loey,

The elimination diets have about as many variants as there are people doing them. Eliminating one food at a time is not going to work well unless you already know that one food is bothering you. In which case why would you be eating it anyway, eh? :-) The way I do them, and it's not the only way, is to pare down to five foods for a week. And then add one new food every 3 days. With this approach, if you are still sick after the first week, then you know it is one of those 5 foods. So you would rotate out one of those 5 foods with something else for 3 days until you got to a stable place. Then you could add one food every 3 days.

The thing is to pick a good starting list of 5 foods that you can tolerate for a week. Pick foods that you believe are safe for you to eat. I am talking about whole foods only, no processed foods at all. So a possible starting list would be rice, apples, parsley, chicken, salt and pepper. Salt and pepper are not often triggers foods though. You want to check out the top 8 food allergens and avoid any of them.

Mayo Clinic lists these top 8:

Open Original Shared Link

* Milk

* Eggs

* Peanuts

* Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)

* Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder)

* Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)

* Soy

* Wheat

None of these should be in your starting list of 5 foods.

You would want to consider grains as possible category of trigger foods. For instance some people react to corn and rice or other non-gluten grains. So although rice is in the list I suggested, it might not work for you. You could do some other non-gluten grain instead.

Nightshades are another group of foods that cause reactions in some of us. Tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant are some common nightshades that cause problems for some people.

Some people avoid lectins, I don't know much about them though.

When doing an elimination diet, everything counts. That includes vitamins and medicines you are taking and drinks like coffee, tea, soda, wine, etc. So, if you wanted to add these things you would treat them just like a food and add once every 3 days, or every 4th day. Some people suggest adding a new food every 5 days or a week. If you have obvious reactions once every 3 days is probably going to work. If you have slower less obvious reactions then a longer time is probably better. If you are on prednisone then it would be one of the 5 food items for your starting diet.

So, this is not a hard process really, though it can get a little boring at first. But the idea is to simplify your diet to the point where you can recognize what is bothering you. It would be a good idea to do a food diary each day listing how you felt and what you ate.

You really are in control of what goes into your body, so with this process you can detect what the problem food/drink/other is and eliminate it. When a person is eating 50 or 60 food ingredients or more each week it can be pretty dang hard to figure out which is causing a problem. With most processed foods of course there are often multiple ingredients some of which are not even food but are chemicals or colorings to make it look edible. This process also eliminates all those additives that could also cause problems for some of us.

The movie I was watching wasn't all that scary. It is called "The Other Side" and I was watching it on HULU. I did see another one that was called "The Discovery of Heaven" that was ok, not scary but interesting in it's own way. I have gotten kind of hooked on Hulu's science fiction channel. you might like "LEXX" on HULU, kind of fun for Halloweeen.

The celiac groups can be real nice. We have a couple here in DC that have regular meetings and often have free samples of gluten-free foods. The CSA has local chapters and others do too but I forget which ones.

[MelindaLee]

Thank you for your list. I'm pretty new at all this. Went gluten free in Sept 2007. Didn't know about the Lay's Stax chips. I live in East Texas and there's not alot of Gluten free items that I know of in the regular grocery stores. I do shop at Walmart and love the fact that if their product is gluten free it's printed on the label. If I use anything gluten-free that's not on your list I'll post it. Right now I don't think I have anything to add. Thanks again for you help.

I was at Walmart and asked the other day...they didn't know their products are labled! Now I know. I left and spent my money at a different store!

[Loey]

Hi Loey,

The elimination diets have about as many variants as there are people doing them. Eliminating one food at a time is not going to work well unless you already know that one food is bothering you. In which case why would you be eating it anyway, eh? :-) The way I do them, and it's not the only way, is to pare down to five foods for a week. And then add one new food every 3 days. With this approach, if you are still sick after the first week, then you know it is one of those 5 foods. So you would rotate out one of those 5 foods with something else for 3 days until you got to a stable place. Then you could add one food every 3 days.

The thing is to pick a good starting list of 5 foods that you can tolerate for a week. Pick foods that you believe are safe for you to eat. I am talking about whole foods only, no processed foods at all. So a possible starting list would be rice, apples, parsley, chicken, salt and pepper. Salt and pepper are not often triggers foods though. You want to check out the top 8 food allergens and avoid any of them.

Mayo Clinic lists these top 8:

Open Original Shared Link

* Milk

* Eggs

* Peanuts

* Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)

* Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder)

* Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)

* Soy

* Wheat

None of these should be in your starting list of 5 foods.

You would want to consider grains as possible category of trigger foods. For instance some people react to corn and rice or other non-gluten grains. So although rice is in the list I suggested, it might not work for you. You could do some other non-gluten grain instead.

Nightshades are another group of foods that cause reactions in some of us. Tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant are some common nightshades that cause problems for some people.

Some people avoid lectins, I don't know much about them though.

When doing an elimination diet, everything counts. That includes vitamins and medicines you are taking and drinks like coffee, tea, soda, wine, etc. So, if you wanted to add these things you would treat them just like a food and add once every 3 days, or every 4th day. Some people suggest adding a new food every 5 days or a week. If you have obvious reactions once every 3 days is probably going to work. If you have slower less obvious reactions then a longer time is probably better. If you are on prednisone then it would be one of the 5 food items for your starting diet.

So, this is not a hard process really, though it can get a little boring at first. But the idea is to simplify your diet to the point where you can recognize what is bothering you. It would be a good idea to do a food diary each day listing how you felt and what you ate.

You really are in control of what goes into your body, so with this process you can detect what the problem food/drink/other is and eliminate it. When a person is eating 50 or 60 food ingredients or more each week it can be pretty dang hard to figure out which is causing a problem. With most processed foods of course there are often multiple ingredients some of which are not even food but are chemicals or colorings to make it look edible. This process also eliminates all those additives that could also cause problems for some of us.

The movie I was watching wasn't all that scary. It is called "The Other Side" and I was watching it on HULU. I did see another one that was called "The Discovery of Heaven" that was ok, not scary but interesting in it's own way. I have gotten kind of hooked on Hulu's science fiction channel. you might like "LEXX" on HULU, kind of fun for Halloweeen.

The celiac groups can be real nice. We have a couple here in DC that have regular meetings and often have free samples of gluten-free foods. The CSA has local chapters and others do too but I forget which ones.

Hi GFinDC,

Thank you SO much for the information. I was eating a lot of the products on the list because they were gluten-free. Today I eliminated milk (before I read your post about just eating 5 foods to try the elimination diet). Also when I saw my new GI last week he said there was still gluten in my system so it had to mean that I was still eating something with gluten in it. I reread everything I had in my pantry and after going on another thread here saw I could have been glutenized by my husband when he ate bread at a restaurant we went to (or by any number of things in the supermarket like bakery samples if I got too close). I seem to be in a super sensitive state right now. I'm seeing that there are so many variables to this diet and it's different for everyone. I will start the basic diet today and see how that goes. I seemed to tolerate a rice omelette for breakfast but will cut out eggs for now. I've been trying to avoid pain killers for a lot of reasons but yesterday it got so bad I almost took one. I decided to bite the bullet. Today isn't as bad so hopefully if I stick to your suggestions and I'll see a difference. As I've mentioned in previous posts to you we're going to a rock concert with my son this Friday night and it will be the first time I see him since he left for college. I need to be able to be in a car and at a concert for about 6 hours and it was looking bleak. You've given me hope.

I'm also taking medication that I can't go off so i hope the foods will be enough initially. I've posted a liink to a list of gluten-free medications in other forums but will post it here as well. Please still read all labels with a magnifying glass!

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Everyone here has been so helpful. I met someone who lives in my state (I just moved here) and she's going to take me to a gluten-free store and also to my first Celiac Support Group meeting here. We also share a lot of common interests outside of the disease.

Again, thank you for all you've done since I joined. I was in a downward spiral before that and I see (a distant) light at the end of the tunnel.

Loey

P.S. I still highly recommend renting the original version of Let Me In and then seeing the remake. Chilling but it also has a moral message. My son went to high school with the boy who webcamed his roommate at Rutgers. I'll look into LEXX. I don't know if we have HULLA here. We have CHILLER in RI

[Loey]

I was at Walmart and asked the other day...they didn't know their products are labled! Now I know. I left and spent my money at a different store!

I purchased the Triumph Dining Trio (not cheap but if you buy it on thier website it's affordable). It includes two books (grocery guide and restaurant guide) and laminated dining cards. The grocery guide lists products that are gluten-free (and specific Walmart products are listed in there) and the restaurant guide lists restaurants in every state (and most big cities) that offer a gluten-free menu. The dining cards are very cool. They're laminated and can fold up and fit into your wallet. Each one has the language of the cuisine (i.e. Asian) on one side and then it is in English on the other side. It lists all of the things we can't eat and discusses cross contamination. The grocery book is heavy and cumbersome. For the store so I've been bringing "My Gluten Free Food List 1/10/08" (Thank you again!!!) to the market and making my shopping list using the book at home as well. Obviously all labels still need to be checked regardless of the products being on any list.

I'm going to try the elimination diet so I'll just be buying the basics suggested by GFinDC. I do still need baggy sweatpants because any pressure on my abdomen is excruciating (and I have to feed my husband) so I'm hoping to get to Walmart's today.

I hope this helps. It's my turn to give back to this awesome forum!

Loey

P.S. Right now I'm unemployed and I love doing research so if anyone has something they want looked up, get in touch. Again, I want to give back!

[GFinDC]

Hi Loey,

One more thing you might want to try. I was having some bloating for a while and wasn't sure what the cause was. I took a betaine HCL for a few days and it cleared up. I am thinking the extra stomach acid maybe killed off some nasty bacterias. Not sure, but it helped. I don't take them often though.

Betaine HCL turns into hydrocloric acid in the stomach so it can be helpful if there is low stomach acid for some reason. They say that h.pylori bacteria interfere with stomach acid production. Don't take more than recommended though, and make sure to wash them down with a good gulp of water. They aren't the kind of pills you want to chew or dissolve in your mouth!

That's not a replacement for the elimination diet though. Just a possible help with getting past some initial bloating.

Good to hear things may be turning for the better already.

This Ask a patient website might be helpful also. It has patients reports of their reactions to various drugs.

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Ok saw the trailer. Yep I remember those commericials. Looks like a good one!

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