Just Starting The Diet

[sherie]

This is more than a little overwhelming to me. Im just not sure where to start. I am not sure what I can and cannot eat other than meats and veggies but not sure about my cooking pans, bowls, plates and utensils! I'll put my iron skillets in the oven on the self cleaning cycle today. I guess my stainless steele pans are ok? and metal spoons? How did everyone else start this? What are the safe bars to get when I can't get home to cook for myself? I'm already feeling bloated today and all I have put into my mouth is coffee with splenda! Please tell me I can have splenda!! What about soft drinks? I mostly drink water but sometimes I like a Coke. HELP!!

Sheri

[happygirl]

It will all be ok. Welcome to the board!

Unsafe ingredients: https://www.celiac.com/articles/182/1/Unsaf...ents/Page1.html

Safe ingredients: https://www.celiac.com/articles/181/1/Safe-...ents/Page1.html

List of companies that will clearly disclose any gluten source on its label. If you don't see wheat, rye, barley, barley malt, or oats, then it isn't "hidden". Open Original Shared Link

Use these lists when you go grocery shopping---especially the "good company" list. It will make life much easier.

Splenda is safe. Coke is safe. However, you are still healing, so your body needs time to adjust and repair damage that has been done. You may be eating 100% gluten free, but still having symptoms until your body fully heals.

Learning to effectively read food labels is the BEST thing you can learn to do.

If you have other questions, please ask.

[GlutenGalAZ]

I don't drink coffee but I have read that some do contain gluten, so be careful. Same thing with tea some are not gluten free.

When I first started eating gluten free, it was scary trying to figure out what you could eat and couldn't. Kraft, Unilever, Hormel for example are companies that will list gluten ingredients if present. Once you get the hang of reading labels it does get somewhat easier. In the beginning I would look up foods on here and see what others said then I would read the label when I went to the store and started to learn that was how to read labels (sometime even read labels of things you know that have gluten in then so you can see what those types of labels look like).

If there are items that you really like you can call their 800 line or e-mail them. Sometimes when you e-mail you will get a generic message about reading the label and they will disclose gluten so I find it easier to call.

A lot of people when they go gluten free they have a problem with Milk or Soy (or both) where they didn't before. After your body has healed you can re-introduce milk if you are having a problem with it now.

Coca Cola Company has a lot of soda that is gluten free (I can't remember if it is on their website or if you have to e-mail then for the list).

Be careful of CC in your home, especially if you live with people who eat gluten. Butter, Peanut Butter -- things in containers can get CC (I put stickers or gluten-free on things that are mine that we have two of). Counters make sure they do not have bread crumbs on them. Even lotions, soaps, shampoos etc be careful of.

GOOD LUCK!

[Ursa Major]

Putting your iron skillets in the oven will NOT get rid of gluten. Gluten isn't a living organism you can kill with heat. You need to scrub it off.

Stainless steel is okay if you scrub it to a shine. The same goes for glass. Anything that has tight corners isn't safe, because you can't get in there and scrub those.

Gluten is very, very sticky and hard to get off.

You will need a new toaster, as you absolutely cannot clean the old one well enough to be safe. The same goes for plastic colanders that have been used for gluten pasta, and you also need to replace wooden cooking spoons and cutting boards.

Any scratched non-stick cook and bakeware and plastic containers need replacing, you won't be able to get the gluten out.

Splenda doesn't have gluten, but is terrible for you.

To heal, the best diet is a very simple diet of naturally gluten-free foods. Once you feel better you can add the specialty gluten-free foods. But those are very hard to digest and may make you sick at this point.

I second cutting out dairy and soy at least for now. You can try to reintroduce them in a few months to see if they cause symptoms.

[sherie]

Thanks for all the great advice. I really hadn't thought about cutting out dairy. I've never had a problem with it before. I don't like milk but love cheese, yogurt...really all dairy products other than milk. What are the protein bars/snack bars that are ok or anything else besides carrot sticks that I could keep on hand for emergencies? What about plastic spoons? Not worried about the toaster because I can't afford $5 for a loaf of bread. Also I have indoor dogs. What dogfood is ok? Might be good for her anyway because she seems to be alergic to everything. Seems like my biggest problem is going to be cooking utensils and pots. Thanks..I'm sure you all have answered these questions a million times.

Sheri

[curlyfries]

Before I went gluten free I couldn't handle coffee. I don't drink it very often anyway. I assumed it had gluten, but after I had been gluten free awhile I saw on this forum that my brand was safe, so I tried it again---no problems

Lisa

[GFJo]

Hi Sheri!

I'm also fairly new to this and it definitely is very overwhelming at first.

I was reading on here yesterday about Lara bars, everyone was raving about them. I'm going to be looking for them the next time I go shopping.

For a snack I like Smartfood popcorn, I usually have a baggy full in my purse. Or mixed nuts. And I always have the fixings for quesadillas so if I come home from work starving I can have something ready in 10 minutes.

As for the pots and pans...we did buy a new set of pots, but for cookie sheets and baking pans I just line them with tin foil. And I toast my bread in the oven, again on tinfoil (not the best environmentally, I know!).

A side note on the Splenda...I had some the other day, they're new Splenda Flavor Crystals, after two glasses (where I only used half as much as I was supposed to) my lips were peeling as if they'd been severely sunburned. Makes me wonder what it was doing to my insides. No more Splenda for me!!

[Ursa Major]

Right, I meant to mention Lara bars. All they have is fruit and nuts. Most of them are really nice, but my daughter and I hate the cherry and coconut/chocolate bars. But somebody must like them, otherwise they would stop making them, I guess.