Helpfull Tips On How To Remember What Is And Isn't gluten-free, Please!

[Sandyo]

What is the best way it remember all the foods that are gluten free and not gluten free. How do you all do it?

I'm at the store and I can't remember if it's safe or not. I've been trying to be gluten-free for a month now and I'm learning a lot......but there's got to be an easier way than reading every single list of ingredients on every product every time I go to the store. And what about the hidden gluten. I thought Maltodextrin had gluten in it...but a post I read today said it didn't.

I'm sooooo confused. Any suggestions on how you guys keep it straight would be helpful!!! Thanks

[penguin]

Take a cheat sheet with legal and illegal ingredients, edited with those you know for a fact are safe or unsafe. I had a list that said inulin had gluten, it doesn't, it's from chickory root.

Your brain eventually becomes programmed to see unsafe ingredients. Just takes time.

[Lisa]

When I find something that I know is gluten free, I buy two. Use one and you have another. I also put a green sticky dot on what I know is safe. It helps my family know not to double dip into the peanut butter cause they know that mom eats it too.

[VydorScope]

Print this:

https://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodi...-14106330658.da

And bring with you everywhere you might get food...it helps to get youstarted in learning what to look for.

[Mango04]

If you're totally stumped about what to eat, remember the foods that are naturally gluten-free: fruit, veggies, meat (unless of course it's already been marinated and/or cooked - then you would have to check), fish, eggs, beans, lentils, rice, quinoa, buckwheat, teff, millett, corn....

If you're shopping for packaged food, it helps to buy things that actually say "gluten-free" on the package. You'll find more of those types of things at natural foods stores.

Finally, print out the safe and forbidden ingredient lists Vydorscope posted and bring those with you when you shop. Some people use the Delphi lists to know which mainstream products are safe in regualar grocery stores.

You'll get the hang of it. As a rule of thumb, if you're unsure of something....don't eat it. Come here first and ask or call the company to verify...and in the meantime eat something else instead that you know for sure is safe.

[Nantzie]

I have a Blackberry that I got really cheap - refurbished. It really helps to have it on hand all the time. I always know where my phone is, so I'm not searching through a bunch of papers. I don't have the big lists on there. Just things I've researched that are gluten-free that I want to buy, and the not-so-obvious forbidden ingredients. I also keep a list of my reviews of products I've tried, so I don't have to remember what I thought was gross. Like the Glutano Chocolate Breakfast Bars that were the worst thing I've tried so far. LOL!

In the kitchen, I have certain upper shelves that I have designated as gluten-free only. I like the dot stickers idea. My husband probably wouldn't even notice them though...

[lorka150]

I make most things from scratch, but I have about 5 fridge items that I just always buy because I know they are safe. If I see something new (and interesting), I give it a call, always... And I always call whenever I have anything new (like makeup). Otherwise, I stick to my now known basics.

[Sandyo]

Thanks everyone!! Some great ideas. I like the idea of keeping a list of the stuff I thought was gross!! I had a brownie mix first thing that was so bad!!! But then I had a chocolate cake that was very good. So I knew there was hope. I have adopted the shelf idea and my husband and son are very good about not eating "my stuff". I don't think I'm doing a good job of finding the hidden gluten yet...but hopefully, I'll get there. BTW, what about Marshmallows? If it has modified food starch do I always have to call the company?? And I thought Maltodextrin had gluten? Does it?

Thanks every...you are sooo helpful!!

[lorka150]

I know Kraft Marshmallows are gluten-free. Most maltodextrin is from corn, sometimes rice. But I would check to make sure.

[natalunia]

I try to buy some gluten free items in the organic/health food part of my Kroger. They have a pretty good selection and will try to get anything you make them aware of.

I am wondering how do you keep your spouse and child from eating your gluten free items.... My husband has gone along with all the gluten free cooking I have been doing and helped himself to more than 2/3 of a box of gluten free cookies (there were regular ones in the house, so that isn't an excuse). I guess my household is going to end up going gluten free because of how much he likes it! I don't mind though. After reading Dangerous Grains I am happy he is choosing to follow my lead.

[ladyx]

I try to buy some gluten free items in the organic/health food part of my Kroger. They have a pretty good selection and will try to get anything you make them aware of.

I am wondering how do you keep your spouse and child from eating your gluten free items.... My husband has gone along with all the gluten free cooking I have been doing and helped himself to more than 2/3 of a box of gluten free cookies (there were regular ones in the house, so that isn't an excuse). I guess my household is going to end up going gluten free because of how much he likes it! I don't mind though. After reading Dangerous Grains I am happy he is choosing to follow my lead.

I'd like to know what kind of food your eatting that your gluten eatting husband likes it over whole wheat bread and real oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies. I would love to get my husband to go gluten free it would make my life easier since we are all gluten free except him...I make seperate meals for him and for me because I have gained so much weight since going gluten free...I exchanged my thin andbad health for fat and healthy. I make low fat gluten free for me. regular gluten free for kids and gluten food for husband. I spend close to two hours making every meal...it's lots of fun.

[jenvan]

I was also going to recommend printing off the lists that Vincent mentioned. They are a great help. Clan Thompson also has palm pilot software which lists mainstream products and whether they are gluten-free or not...with contact info, so it is very portable. I can give you more info if you are interested in it.

[Sandyo]

I try to buy some gluten free items in the organic/health food part of my Kroger. They have a pretty good selection and will try to get anything you make them aware of.

I am wondering how do you keep your spouse and child from eating your gluten free items.... My husband has gone along with all the gluten free cooking I have been doing and helped himself to more than 2/3 of a box of gluten free cookies (there were regular ones in the house, so that isn't an excuse). I guess my household is going to end up going gluten free because of how much he likes it! I don't mind though. After reading Dangerous Grains I am happy he is choosing to follow my lead.

It's probably because I haven't really found any "good" tasting gluten-free foods yet. He'll eat it if that's the only thing I make but he'll pick something with gluten over gluten-free anyday. But, it is very respectful to not eat some of the naturally gluten-free foods I have purchased if he knows that's all I have to eat. Overall, he's just a great husband. My 18 year old is never home....you know kids at that age...so it's not really an issue but he doesn't touch anything on my shelf.

Tell me what these great tasting cookies are......cause the ones I've tried aren't worth the calories!!

[natalunia]

So far, the Pamela's Chocolate Chocolate Chunk cookies are what he begs for. I know others have said there is a chance of CC with Pamela's products but I have been fine so far (ask me in 3 months once I've been gluten free longer if that is still the case!). I also like Pamela's Spicy Ginger and Lemon Shortbread cookies. My husband will eat pretty much anything I cook for him and I only have one child (3.5 yrs), so I just cook the same thing for all of us. My 3.5 year old is not picky at all, so even she has handled it well. Of course she is still getting gluten at school, but she is adopted from Russia, so I don't see her having the same problems as me.

[Sandyo]

So far, the Pamela's Chocolate Chocolate Chunk cookies are what he begs for. I know others have said there is a chance of CC with Pamela's products but I have been fine so far (ask me in 3 months once I've been gluten free longer if that is still the case!). I also like Pamela's Spicy Ginger and Lemon Shortbread cookies. My husband will eat pretty much anything I cook for him and I only have one child (3.5 yrs), so I just cook the same thing for all of us. My 3.5 year old is not picky at all, so even she has handled it well. Of course she is still getting gluten at school, but she is adopted from Russia, so I don't see her having the same problems as me.

You got me thinking about cookies today so at Krogers I bought some...Lemon Shortbread actually. And then I read your response and I checked....they are Pamela's.....and they are very good. So I'll have to try the chocolate Chunk one now and I love Ginger Snaps so I'll check out those also.

Thanks!!

[artmeg55]

The ideas presented on carrying lists are great, but I tend to double-check, so I like to read the labels on everything. Someone posted here about a year ago to look for single-ingredient foods especially when eating out. That's really helped me alot!

In the ongoing attempt to try to stay healthy, I started eating Stoneyfield yogurt. It seemed like a good thing to do to eat the 5 active yogurt cultures, but what happened was that for some reason it made me very bloated, uncomfortably. It took a while for this reaction to happen, but as soon as I stopped eating yogurt, I felt much better. Any ideas???? Yogurt is such a quick and healthy food I'd like to re-add back to my "diet" to keep the weight on.

[LKelly8]

I check the label for a 1-800 number and call the company on my cell right there in the store. Easier than lugging the Wheaton Group gluten-free bible around.

[evie]

You got me thinking about cookies today so at Krogers I bought some...Lemon Shortbread actually. And then I read your response and I checked....they are Pamela's.....and they are very good. So I'll have to try the chocolate Chunk one now and I love Ginger Snaps so I'll check out those also.

Thanks!!

[evie]

I am new at this very helpful forum and saw 'CC' used, can anyone tell me what that means? probably very simple!! I have gained so much info here about celiacs, gotten so much help. I just read a sumarry of a gastroenterologist speech where I learned so much too.

he suggested that 1st blood relation of a person with celiac disease should have blood tested for that posibility. he also said many people go from dr. to Dr for as long as 28 years before they are found celiac. i am telling our daughters they should get tested before they get as far along/ it as I have...lots of problems. just 2 months ago Dr. said "presumed celiac" since blood tests positive but biopsy negative. trying to be gluten free but still having problems....

Excuse my poor tyyping, joint problems...including wrists. thank you so much for your help. evie

[ladyx]

The ideas presented on carrying lists are great, but I tend to double-check, so I like to read the labels on everything. Someone posted here about a year ago to look for single-ingredient foods especially when eating out. That's really helped me alot!

In the ongoing attempt to try to stay healthy, I started eating Stoneyfield yogurt. It seemed like a good thing to do to eat the 5 active yogurt cultures, but what happened was that for some reason it made me very bloated, uncomfortably. It took a while for this reaction to happen, but as soon as I stopped eating yogurt, I felt much better. Any ideas???? Yogurt is such a quick and healthy food I'd like to re-add back to my "diet" to keep the weight on.

I use yoplet...there is this new creamy youplet (with live cultures) that comes in a bigger carton I cut up fruit in it usually strawberries and bananas or I use it to dip apples in I don't know for sure if it has gluten in it or not but if my son has gluten he usually throws up for days and he hasn't loves it and probably eats it every other day. Also, maybe you had a reaction to a specific flavor...did you add a different flavor when you had the reaction?

I am new at this very helpful forum and saw 'CC' used, can anyone tell me what that means? probably very simple!! I have gained so much info here about celiacs, gotten so much help. I just read a sumarry of a gastroenterologist speech where I learned so much too.

Cross Contamination...when they make wheat products in the same plant or on the same line as the product you may be using