New to this and so so clueless!

[KTgoesGF]

Hello,

I was diagnosed about two years ago with severe gluten and lactose intolerance. I did not listen for the last year and a half and caused myself a bunch of other health issues. For the last 6 months I have tried to stay away from gluten, but I have cheated. This last week I have tried to be completely gluten free, but I am struggling. I can't find anything good to eat. I have never been big on vegetables (raised by picky parents) and most of the gluten free foods I have tried just aren't good. Can anyone suggest any brands of foods that are actually good? I miss bagels the most  I also do not have any support from family, friends, boyfriend, or my roommates so it's been a struggle. Any advice would be great. I'm not even sure how to research things to help, somehow luckily stumbled on this website. Also, I'm a college student with a job so I don't have a whole lot of time to spend cooking and I don't have a whole lot of money to spend on expensive gluten free food. Also, do I have to pay attention to shampoo's and make up? So clueless about how to even begin and survive on this diet. Depression of missing all my favorite foods is hitting hard and spending an hour in the grocery store crying is not making it any easier. Can't say enough that I need help!

Thanks

[tessa25]

Here's what I found out regarding food:

Note: insert the words "gluten free" in every item mentioned as some of the companies also sell non gluten free stuff. It's tedious to write that phrase all the time.

Get a chest freezer to store all of your frozen gluten-free foods. Makes things easier.

Bread:
  - Canyon bakehouse without question is the most realistic tasting bread. They have white, fake rye, multigrain and bagels (the bagels are fantastic).
  - Schar baguettes are decent.
  - Katz makes an English muffin that, after toasted, reminds me of a real one provided it has stuff on it like butter. I think that's the brand.
  - Etalia has a good boule if you prefer artisan bread. (Colorado)

Pizza crust:
    - Schar makes a good thick and chewy crust.
    - Udis makes a good thin and crispy crust.
    - Etalia makes a great New York crust. (Colorado)

Pasta:
    - Barilla makes the best pasta. Tastes like normal pasta. Spaghetti cooks the best.
    
Flour:
    - Pamelas all-purpose flour is great for making gravy and batter for fried foods.

Cereal:
    - Envirokidz Gorilla Munch cereal is a yummy equivalent to corn Pops.

Cookies:
    - Goodie Girl mint slims - fantastic girl scout mint cookie equivalent
    - Kinnikinnik makes a decent Oreo equivalent.
    - Kinnikinnik makes a good nilla wafer
    - Mi Del makes a great ginger snap.

Cake:
    - Betty Crocker chocolate cake mix tastes the same, but you have to get the cooking time exactly right. It is a very small window of time. Too long and it's too dry.

Frozen meals:
    - Udi's Chicken Florentine is addictive and Broccoli Kale lasagna is a good white lasagna.

Restaurants (not from personal experience, just from research)
    - Chinese – PF Changs. Employees are supposedly trained in gluten free.
    - Burgers – In N Out. The only thing here that is not gluten free are the buns so it is very easy for them to do gluten free. They are also trained in it. They are only out west. Road Trip!
    - Outback steakhouse. Employees are supposedly trained in gluten free. How good they are depends on where you live.

 

If you are willing to cook from scratch it's fairly easy to make a good gluten free equivalent to your favorite foods.

Sorry I don't know anything about lactose intolerance so some of the above items might not be ok for you.

 

 

[Jssmith]

It WILL get easier as you begin to find some staples. Clearly, fruits, vegetables, and meat you have prepared are healthy and safe. When you are just starting and on the run, you need a few things you know are gluten free that you can grab. Cinnamon Chex wit blueberries, or banana and Almond milk have been a life saver. Eggs and bacon and grits are great as long as you have Gluten free bacon. (Boar’s Head meats are gluten-free) Find a ready made gluten-free spaghetti sauce you like  Barilla  makes gluten-free pasta, so some ground beef or ground turkey with a big jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce over pasta is pretty quick and easy. Baked potatoes, Think Thin or Pure Protein protein bars are good when you’re crashing and no time to stop. Google is your friend. We found an app that helps at the grocery. ipiit allows you to input what you’re allergic to or avoiding; then you scan an item’s bar code and it tells you if it’s safe. They are still building their data base so still have to look it up often. Just be sure you check salad dressings, sauces, and seasonings. These are often hidden sources of gluten. Some people are more sensitive to shampoos and topical products. Lipstick and chapstick are huge hidden sources and we definitely ingest those! All ELF products are gluten free and VERY affordable.   Bite and Tarte have good gluten-free lipsticks. Hope some of this helps you!  Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s book, the G- Free diet is very helpful too. Don’t panic. You will feel so much better soon! Will remember you in my prayers  (One more thing- be sure you ask the deli dept to clean the machine before they slice your Boar’s Head deli meats. (I often have their turkey with Nut Thin crackers and a bite of cheese for lunch, along with an apple or grapes.) Go easy on the dairy at first, however, to let your gut heal. . All the best and remember, just baby steps. Slowly you will expand what works for you.. 

[KTgoesGF]

Thank you both for the help and encouragement!

[love2dazzle]

Hi KTgoesGF,

Trying to figure out a diet is hard. I found out in the last month that not only do I have Diary and whey protein allergies (known this for awhile), I am extremely allergic to both chicken and duck eggs, gluten, Gliadin, wheat, rye, spelt, barley, brewers yeast, and green beans. I also have an intolerance to cane sugar and baker's yeast. This was all based on blood tests.

I have been trying really hard to figure out what this new diet will look like. I have been off of all these products for four weeks. I feel tired, irritable, hungry, emotional, and not myself. I am hungry all the time. It is really hard to go out to eat and find things that I can eat and it has been really hard eliminating all my favorite foods.

Makeup is also been hard because I love makeup it is one of my hobbies. I have to be extra cautious about what ingredients are in my makeup as well.

I've been doing a lot of recipe research and replacement research for ingredients. It does take longer but it helps you find ways to enjoy some of your favorite foods just by modifying it. Since I can't have most flours, I have been using a lot of rice flour which works pretty well and tastes good. I can definitely relate with your struggles and I am really sorry you are having to go through it alone. Thankfully my SO is being mostly supportive but that doesn't completely stop him from eating and drinkings things that I can't have.

[Ennis-TX]

Well I got a ton more issues from the damage and complications your quite lucky so far with only dairy... I can not have dairy, soy, peanuts, allergic to corn now, slight issues with olives, xantham gum heck I got another AI disease as a complication...that will not let me eat the sugars fructose or glucose and reacts to carbs in general....yeah so no grains or anything made from them for me. Then I got pancreas issues so meats and animal based fats are very limited. But I did find brands of low carb grain free breads, etc. I run a bakery and make grain free baked goods and sell them to fund my diet....I have spent years trying, sampling, and cooking for others with this disease and going to gluten free expos etc. I have composed a very comprehensive list of various things. While still growing these are ones I have seen and well trusted, I also have ones you can order from and sites on the bottom for online ordering.
https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/121148-gluten-free-food-alternative-list-2018-q2/

 

[Posterboy]

KTgoesGF,

Here is a thread that might help you.

They have all given you good advice.

Protein bars are a nice fall back until you find your new routine!

I hope this is helpful.

posterboy,

[KTgoesGF]

On 3/28/2018 at 2:24 PM, love2dazzle said:

Hi KTgoesGF,

Trying to figure out a diet is hard. I found out in the last month that not only do I have Diary and whey protein allergies (known this for awhile), I am extremely allergic to both chicken and duck eggs, gluten, Gliadin, wheat, rye, spelt, barley, brewers yeast, and green beans. I also have an intolerance to cane sugar and baker's yeast. This was all based on blood tests.

I have been trying really hard to figure out what this new diet will look like. I have been off of all these products for four weeks. I feel tired, irritable, hungry, emotional, and not myself. I am hungry all the time. It is really hard to go out to eat and find things that I can eat and it has been really hard eliminating all my favorite foods.

Makeup is also been hard because I love makeup it is one of my hobbies. I have to be extra cautious about what ingredients are in my makeup as well.

I've been doing a lot of recipe research and replacement research for ingredients. It does take longer but it helps you find ways to enjoy some of your favorite foods just by modifying it. Since I can't have most flours, I have been using a lot of rice flour which works pretty well and tastes good. I can definitely relate with your struggles and I am really sorry you are having to go through it alone. Thankfully my SO is being mostly supportive but that doesn't completely stop him from eating and drinkings things that I can't have.

I am so sorry! I can't imagine what you are going through! You will be in my prayers!

[squirmingitch]

Read this. It will help you keep yourself safe. Gives you lots of tips & info. Let's you know safe foods.