I'm New

[Guest SherrieD]

Hello.

I'm relatively new to the board. I've been reading a ton since the thought of Celiac Disease crossed my mind. I got the diagnosis yesterday. I've been Gluten-Free about a week now. I felt better after 24 hours!! Today...not so good. My symptom are more stomach cramps, lower back ache, chest tightness, bloated. I'm sure it takes time?

Does anyone have any advise on how to get started with this new lifestyle? I'm pretty sure my 9 year old will be diagnosed w/ Celiac as well...

Any good food recommendations? I do miss bread a ton!!

Any good books or magazines you'd recommend? There was too much to choose from....

We are a very busy family and are constantly on the go. The convenience factor is killing me! I would love suggestions on a good QUICK meal or energy bar.....

There is so much to learn and this board has already been a great help! Thanks in advance ;-)

Sherrie

[gfpaperdoll]

Books: Dangerous Grains, Gluten Free for Dummies, Check the food section for the type of cookbooks you are interested in. Eat Right for Your Blood Type (Not completely gluten-free), SuperFoods (not completely gluten-free), No grain Diet by Joseph Mercola, M.D.

Buy whole dates, raisins, dried fruits, nuts like almonds, pecans, & walnuts, make your own mix, put in baggies for your purse, if you can do chocolate & dairy thrown in some M & M's. If you cannot do dairy you can buy dairy free chocolate chips on line or at places like Whole Foods.

Keep some fruits ready to go be sure to eat a little protein with your fruit...

Keep veggies prepped & ready to bag, keep dips on hand...

It gets a lot easier, the learning curve is just steep

If you are desperate & can have corn, grab a bag of plain fritos or corn chips.

check the food threads here for quick meals. I cook on the weekend & freeze meals - good to take to the office or to a friends house etc.

Welcome to the boards - there will come a time when you have forgotten the fast food habit Although there are lists of things that you can have at fast food restaurants, check the on line menus for each place - look for the nutritional info or special diet menus etc. I keep a notebook in my car with all the gluten-free menus in it. Some restaurants have gluten-free menus in the restaurant, like Pei Wei, P F Changs, Carrabbas (in Texas) & there are others...

[kbtoyssni]

I loved the book Dangerous Grains - it details all the issues you can have due to celiac. It's not a "how do I deal with this" book. I love "The Gluten Free Gourmet" cookbook. Try the bread and cake recipes in there - they are delicious! Oh, and pizza crust!

I like Food for Life brand red and black rice bread. It's pretty common so hopefully you can find it.

I always carry some M&Ms or fruit snacks in my purse just in case. They're not the healthiest, but they'll do in a pinch.

Tacos are quick. Or tortillas (corn tortillas with melted cheese topped with lettuce, tomato, salsa, etc)

Chili is quick and you can freeze it and grab some when you need it.

What kinds of meals did you make before? We can probably help you modify them to be gluten-free. It might be easier if you're sticking to the old favorites rather than inventing all new meals.

[Guest SherrieD]

WOW! So much help already!! Thank you! I really do appreciate it. I'm sure I'll be around quite often trying to learn as much as possible. I'll need to make a lot of notes for myself. Maybe I'll set down and try to re-do some meals and also cook and freeze ahead of time. I don't like having to spend so much time planning food... but I guess it's a matter of getting use to. Plus... I really don't have a choice, do I? ;-)

Thanks again!!

Sherrie

[mamaw]

Our favorite bars are Lara Bars & Boomi Bars.......

Annalise Robert's Cookbook. & one by Mike Eberhart ....

For a bread mix our fav is Anna's mix. To buy ready to eat , Whole Foods is good......Some really good eng.muffins & NY style bagels Joan's gfgreatbakes... Yummy!

Glazed donuts from celiac specialities.. Everybody Eats is also yummy.

mamaw

[Karen B.]

WOW! So much help already!! Thank you! I really do appreciate it. I'm sure I'll be around quite often trying to learn as much as possible. I'll need to make a lot of notes for myself. Maybe I'll set down and try to re-do some meals and also cook and freeze ahead of time. I don't like having to spend so much time planning food... but I guess it's a matter of getting use to. Plus... I really don't have a choice, do I? ;-)

Thanks again!!

Sherrie

I always keep Healthy Choice soup (the gluten-free ones), Dinty Moore and Tasty Bite dishes around for those times when I just wasn't able to plan. Would you call that planning for not being able to plan? :-)

I just know that those times are going to happen so I'd better have something on hand for when it does.

[Guest j_mommy]

We do alot of mexican dishes......you can make a pound of taco meat and make many dishes with it!

I keep glutino pretzels around all the time!

I have more luck making my own breads than I do buying them...I end up throwing those out! although now that I look back I should have made bread crumbs out of them!LOL

I had the best bread today...rivals any gluten bread....from Silly Yak bakery in madison. First experience buying bread that tastes good! They do ship!

Good luck!

[little d]

Welcome,

I just got from the Library Celiac Disease a Hidden Epidimic by Dr Green, It goes over a lot of stuff that helped me out.

Donna

[Karen B.]

Your local Celiac group can help make this much easier. They can tell you where to local sources are to get the goodies you miss, what gluten-free bakeries may be in your area (and if they can be trusted to be gluten-free) and they can offer suggestions for problems you may encounter in this transition.

List of Local Celiac Disease Support Groups/Chapters

https://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodi...-49107235539.b0

[Susan-in-NC]

I am also new, and have been trying my best to stay gluten-free. Seems I wasn't successful this weekend, came home early from work with very explosive D. (Or I picked up a bug and it has nothing to do with gluten-free - still learning to tell the difference - It's only been since 6/11 after all!)

Any way, if you have an EarthFare nearby they are also a great resouce. I have Whole Foods near and it looks like EarthFare carried a better variety of things -- all clearly marked with gluten-free isle labels and grouped within the same products (gluten-free pasta with pasta etc.). They even use the labels in the freezer section.

Good luck! I am also getting my children tested. Son has a different IgA problem that my Dr. said is "likely" to be linked and Daughter has symptoms very like mine -- except the abnormally low iron (has stomach trouble, bloating, body rash . . . ).

Susan A

[Guest SherrieD]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!

You are all the best! Now I just have to have to get out there and start trying new things! I thought I was doing pretty well until I noticed ALL my make up has gluten! So that'll be next ;-)

Thanks again everyone!

Sherrie