Struggling To Live The Gluten Free Life

[Sweetfudge]

So, here it is, the end of the month, and I find myself checking my winter coat pockets and under the couch cushions, desperately searching for extra cash, because once again I have long since spent my sparse allotment of greens for groceries.

Here are my thoughts which I present to the group:

How do you manage your money on a gluten-free diet?

Where do you shop?

Do you shop online, and if so, where?

Does anyone make coupons for gluten-free products?

Is Costco shopping really that much cheaper than Wal-mart shopping?

Is it possible to eat good gluten-free food and still lose weight?

(That last question is in reference to Jax Peters Lowell's recipe for Goat Cheese Cake with Nut Crust and Lemon Curd...which I made a couple of nights ago and have been binging on ever since...oh sweet glorious cheesecake! I never thought I'd taste you again....I can't get enough!!!)

Glad to be here with all of you, and thankful for all the advice!

[lovegrov]

The only way I know to eat more cheaply on a gluten-free diet is to eat foods that are naturally gluten-free. Meats, veggies, fruit, beans, various candies and ice creams and so on. Don't buy $5 loaves of bread or make ones with expensive flours. If you must have cookies or muffins or whatever, make your own. I don't like gluten-free bread anyway, so I use corn tortillas for sandwiches and even for mini pizzas.

I rarely buy gluten-free specialty food other than pasta and an occasional treat. Everything else I eat is a "normal" gluten-free food and therefore doesn't cost as much.

richard

[ArtGirl]

The only way I know to eat more cheaply on a gluten-free diet is to eat foods that are naturally gluten-free.

I agree. When first going gluten-free I wanted to buy all the "goodies" to replace what I couldn't eat anymore. Some are very good, but many are only a poor immitation, and all of them are full of starch and fat - not what I need to be eating since I'm overweight. Not to mention that the gluten-free junk food is expensive and has little nutritional value.

As time passes I'm tempted less and less by the starchy foods and more and more content to eat a well balanced healthy diet. My weight is slowing going down - hurrah!

[evie]

I agree. When first going gluten-free I wanted to buy all the "goodies" to replace what I couldn't eat anymore. Some are very good, but many are only a poor immitation, and all of them are full of starch and fat - not what I need to be eating since I'm overweight. Not to mention that the gluten-free junk food is expensive and has little nutritional value.

As time passes I'm tempted less and less by the starchy foods and more and more content to eat a well balanced healthy diet. My weight is slowing going down - hurrah!

I also agree on the expensive gluten free foods. Best to stick to meats, veggies & fruits and leave the homemade gluten free bars, muffins or whatever you choose for an occasional treat. If you make it yourself from flour you tolerate you know exactly what is in it. I was not up to do even that for my first several months after DX, have only recently been having a 'treat' about 2 x a week. Also I am gainig some of my 25 lbs back slowly but plan to not gain all back. So best of luck to you!! evie

[tarnalberry]

Ditto. I stick to the whole, naturally gluten-free stuff. Rice, beans, and lentils are cheap, and a good base for many dishes. (There, you don't even have to find rice noodles, which, in the asian markets, are actually quite cheap, but not as nutritious as beans, as it's refined rice flour.) I have a large food budget (by choice), but don't splurge on the specialty gluten-free stuff, because it's not worth it. I'd rather splurge on extravagant chocolates, and half-flats of early season berries, but if we're over budget for the month, those go out the window, and it's back to stretching small quantities of meats (which tend to be more expensive) over rice and vegetables, and picking out the fruits that are on sale.

[justjane]

I think you can definatly eat well gluten-free on a budget. Grill a hamburger in a frying pan on the stove and serve it with a sprinkle of salt and new potatoes and broccoli with natural, unsalted butter. Make chicken and have yams. These vegetables will fill you up and because they are carbs will keep you full longer. For breakfast have some fruit or yougurt. Have some pineapple and cottage cheese, it's really good! For lunch, make a wrap on a corn tortilla - those are really cheap. You can loose weight on the diet. I actually think it's easier to loose weight because if people around you are eating say cookies or cakes made with real flour, then you simply cannot have it. Do not waste your hard earned money on imitations of cookies and bread, instead invest in good quality items and reserve them only as treats. Remember that you can get your sweet tooth fix with fruit or a peice of gum too. It is hard at first but you really learn to live without it.

Good luck, I hope this helps!

[Sweetfudge]

Thanks for the advice. That's been my biggest struggle...making my own stuff rather than buying it premade. I have the time right now to experiment with recipes, I'll have to do some research to find the best ones, but I'm hopeful. Do you all buy your flours in bulk, and if so, from where?

Thanks again!

[happygirl]

You can definitely do it! It takes awhile to get used to it, but once it is habit, it makes life a lot easier. I was dx in grad school (i.e., no money and no time!) and managed to do ok and still eat well.

Something I made a conscious decision to do was really look for "normal" foods on sale. This was new to me as I was a young adult getting started---before, I just went out and bought whatever I wanted. Now, I am more likely to watch the sales and plan my meals around the sales. Buy meats when they are on sale and freeze them. Coupon clipping! Things like that alone really helped me and let me have more 'room' for certain gluten free items. That may not be applicable to you as you are prob already doing that!

Many of my meals are still the same....tacos, chicken and veggies, stir fries, casseroles. lunchmeat and cheese roll-ups, or I eat sandwiches/wraps in lettuce wraps. Eat more salads, which I swear I actually like now. I buy the bob's red mill flour but I don't really bake a lot of bread. Occassionally I'll make a dessert with it in it. I think about all the crap that I don't buy now....all the frozen foods and pizzas, eating out, boxes of cookies, cakes, the list goes on and on and on (I apparently ate a lot of junk before, can you tell!). Just the savings on those things alone leaves me more room. And if gluten free stuff goes on sale, definitely stock up! Tinkyada pasta was on sale at a local co-op, and I bought like 6 bags! I'm set!!!!!!!

What types of recipes are you looking for? There are some great cooks on here that I know would be happy to share. Hope this helps!

[dionnek]

amazon - they have a lot of gluten-free food under the grocery section (just type in "gluten free") and it is A LOT cheaper (plus it's free shipping right now). The only possible downside is it's all in bulk, so you want to make sure you actually like it before you order it. They have pasta, cereal, snacks, etc. It's great!

[floridanative]

lovegrove gave some great advice. None us need bread, cakes, cookies or muffins to eat a healthy diet. In fact, we're better off watching how much of the gluten-free treats we take in since they are higher in fat, calories and sugar then most of their glutenous counterparts. Before going gluten free I rarely ate much in the way of baked goods. Now that I have had to learn to cook I find I enjoy it and am pretty good at it. I have found way too many gluten-free treats that I enjoy but they are so pricy, I wish I'd never tried them.

Good luck to you - it will get easier in time as others above have said.