Gf Brands, Mainstream Products, Or Pure Foods?

[quantumsugar]

Hi all,

I've been having a heck of a time with this whole thing, especially with what to eat. I was doing a lot of mainstream "safe" products about a month ago... and still getting sick. Now I've cut back to only eating whole foods--I only eat meat, rice, fruits, veggies, and salt/pepper/olive oil. The good news is that I'm not getting sick anymore. But it can seem so limiting sometimes. I wanted to know what the rest of you (especially those who've been doing this longer) eat. And do you ever get glutened from mainstream products that were supposed to be safe? (I'm super-sensitive, too).

Thanks!

[KaitiUSA]

I am also super sensitive. I even react when I breathe it in.

Anyways, I do eat gluten free specialty items as well as fruits and veggies and I do mainstream brands that won't hide anything too. I have been on the diet for almost 2 years and so far I have not had a problem with the brands that won't hide anything.

Could you be reacting to something else in those foods?

[tarnalberry]

The VAST majority of what I eat is naturally gluten-free stuff, not packaged products (hence, no brands). But, because I cook, I don't find it too limiting. Or, if I'm finding it limiting, it just means it's time to go pick up a new cookbook or a new recipe or two. You can make almost anything you want - what are you finding your limitations to be and what are you trying to expand?

[aikiducky]

I eat mostly natural stuff, not packaged. I've been gluten-free for a year now, and I wanted to start out really careful. Now I'm beginning to experiment a little bit, but I only try one product at a time.

I use different kinds of vegetables for variation. Now I've started to use more herbs as well. And when I crave something really sweet, I buy some fresh pineapple.

I must say, it's been a bit dull foodwise sometimes, but I feel great! Especially in the last three weeks or so, I've started to feel really just healthy and well. I'm having a bad cold right now, and I still feel great, it's funny.

Pauliina

[Carriefaith]

I do almost all my own cooking and I use a lot of fresh and frozen veggies and fresh meat in my cooking. Here are some of my favorites all modified for the gluten-free diet. Feel free to ask for a recipe if you see something that you like.

Stir fries (I make chinese, pepper steak, thai, sweet and sour, and regular)

Recipe's from Thai Kitchen Open Original Shared Link

Spaghetti with rice noodles or Spaghetti Squash

Baked Salmon in BBQ sauce

Vegetable and rice caserole

Tuna salad sandwiches

Stuffing for big dinners

Blueberry smoothies

Lemon chicken

Potato salad

Pasta salad

Enchilada's

Omlette's

Tacos

Pizza

Chili

I do eat mainstream products such as Thai kitchen's gluten free products, canned vegetables and fruits, Imagine gluten-free soups, Cambell's gluten-free soup, peanut butter, jam, french fries, soy milk, rice crisps, ect.

[jenvan]

i eat mostly fresh, natural stuff. but i do go for mainline brands on condiments etc. desserts or mixes are all the gluten free brands of course. i rarely buy processed foods anymore from mainline brands. when i do i try to get organic.

[bluelotus]

I too am supersensitive. I eat mostly natural (non-packaged) foods - rice, meat, potatoes, veggies, fruit. For snacks/sweets, I buy gluten-free brands (ex. Enjoy Life is great, Nana's has a few good products, EnviroKids gluten-free cereal). I buy very few mainstream products - too many bad experiences, maybe from contamination on their lines? I now check with companies about their risk of contamination.

[quantumsugar]

Thanks everyone! It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who is eating mostly whole foods, my friends seem to think I'm kinda crazy lately. I think part of my problem is that I cut out so much pre-made, processed food, and.... I don't really know how to cook! I should probably start finding more recipies so my options aren't so limited.

KaitiUSA-- Yes, there could be something else I was reacting to... I don't seem to do that well with dairy or soy (which I didn't realize until I cut them out). I have more confidence to try some mainstream products now, thanks.

aikiducky-- Thanks for the fresh pineapple suggestion, I had been having mad cookie cravings all week, and the pineapple worked like a dream!

Carriefaith-- Those all sound fantastic! Can you pass along the recipie for: the stuffing, blueberry smoothies, taco's, and lemon chicken? Thanks so much.