I'm Starving

[Froger850]

I was just diagnosed last week with Celiacs. I've been eating fruit, veggies, salads and stir fry up the whazoo. I'm starving and I'm getting horrible headaches. Any meal ideas to help fill me up?

[dlp252]

Potatos or rice if you don't have problems with grains or starches. A healthy dose of healthy fat also helps keep me full.

[lizard00]

Do you eat meat or fish? A piece of chicken or some shrimp on top of the stir fry keeps it healthy and does a better job at filling you up. There are also a bunch of different grains, if you can tolerate them, that will help keep you satisfied and are high in protein, like quinoa, teff or buckwheat to name a few.

[msmini14]

Peanut butter always curbed the hunger for me and carbs too. When you are making a stir fry are you using any soy sauce or spices?

[Froger850]

I've made sure to have grilled chicken on my salads and stir fry hoping that would help. I've been eating organic brown rice with the stir fry too. I've been expreimenting with different spices to change things up as well. I just don't feel like I have time to deal with this but I have to. I work 40 hours and go to school at night so it's become very trying to grab something and go as you all can surely understand. I know it takes some time to figure things out but I don't feel like I"m going to make it. Dramatic yes but pasta has always been my favorite.

[lizard00]

I've made sure to have grilled chicken on my salads and stir fry hoping that would help. I've been eating organic brown rice with the stir fry too. I've been expreimenting with different spices to change things up as well. I just don't feel like I have time to deal with this but I have to. I work 40 hours and go to school at night so it's become very trying to grab something and go as you all can surely understand. I know it takes some time to figure things out but I don't feel like I"m going to make it. Dramatic yes but pasta has always been my favorite.

Then find yourself some Tinkyada rice pasta. It's delicious!

[ravenwoodglass]

You'll make it, your quality of life depends on it. Make sure any soy sauce you use is gluten free, many have wheat. You can still have pasta, there are some good rice pastas out there and also look for Thai Kitchen Rice Noodles in your grocery store. Delmonte Pasta Sauces with the exception of the ones with meat flavoring are all gluten-free. If you get the real thin rice noodles they cook in less time than it takes to heat the sauce. Do you live in an area that has a Wegmans, if you do they make gluten free eating really easy with a circle G on the labels. Something real easy if you like fish or shrimp is just wrap it in greased foil with some fresh veggies and a some of your favorite seasonings, seal it up and then go read the paper. There are also some good pizza shells out there, Kinnikinnick is my favorite for those and bread, and a quick pizza always seems nice. If you have a sweet tooth Gluten free Pantry makes some great cake mixes. I made one yesterday, chocolate and when it was done I put gluten-free chocolate chips on top, put it back in the oven and then spread them out. Another great tool is a rice cooker, with little prep you have a good meal in little time. I love mine and find it really useful.

If it has only been a week you may also still be having a bit of withdrawl from the neurotoxic effects but this should pass soon. There is a lot to learn at first about the diet, read as much as you can here and don't be afraid to ask questions or vent if you need to. It does get easier, especially once you really start to feel better.

[ShayFL]

I had the same problem for about the first 5 weeks. Starving!!! And losing weight too. Nuts/seeds helped and I had to start baking. Bob's Red Mill has some great and easy recipes. Look for the Teff/peanut butter cookies. My family gobbles em up!! I use almond butter instead cuz I dont do peanuts. But they give a little extra to keep you full till the next meal. I think it is like 4 or 5 ingredients and only takes 5 minutes to whip up and 12 miinutes to bake. They last for 3 or 4 days before they get stale. But we usually eat them all well before then. Did wonders for me. Im not hungry anymore and the weight has stabilized.

[Welda Johnson]

I've found that yams, potatoes of any kind, and corn tortillas with refried beans & Ortega chiles helps to fill the void. I'm five feet tall, but sometimes I'll eat 4-6 tortillas with beans, chiles and salsa, and that really helps me feel better. The yams (sweet potatoes) are so good with Stevia on them. This is a natural sweetener with no calories, no carbs, no gluten (It's a plant from Paraguay and comes in little packets like Equal). I also eat Genisoy soy powder each day (you can order it online), made into a cookie dough with dark chocolate chips or chunks (no sugar or milk added), vanilla, a lot of cinnamon and a little water. I chill it and add nuts, or you can cook it in the microwave as a cookie. It is very filling. Of course I also eat corn pasta too, but I saw that that was already discussed in the posts above. Prego spaghetti sauce goes well with any of the pastas, and Vegan Gourmet makes a great cheese that melts. Have you tried Earth Balance Margarine or Vegennaise mayo? I know that it takes a lot of time to find the products that are gluten free, but if you have a health food store near you, usually that makes life easier. Ours has now started labeling foods "Gluten Free," which is great. I am hoping that you will find your health and stamina getting better each day. Welda Welda@att.net

[LuvMoosic4life]

Then find yourself some Tinkyada rice pasta. It's delicious!

Ditto!!!! this stuff is amazing, an you can barely tell the differance from regular! especially if you are eating it hot, ts basically the same!

[frec]

I used to worry about eating too much fat before I was diagnosed with celiac, but now I don't worry much about it. My diet is so healthy and there is so much less starch that I can afford some fats if they are plant-based. I eat a lot of nuts. I carry some with me most of the time for when I am stranded with nothing gluten free to eat. Avocados are a great treat. Hummus is good too.

[johnfrancis]

Both myself and my 5 year old have celiac disease, and I have found that having a pancke style mix in the fridge is really handy. It keeps for well over a week. I have a sandwich press that I use to make the pancakes on (takes about 20 seconds) then I use it like a wrap or a lebanese kebab with whatever filling I am in the mood for.

My little girl loves it with peanut butter and cheese, it's really quick and easy to make for her lunch box.

Pancake mix

1 cup flour mix (use a blend of rice flour corn flour and any others you have, or a commercially bought one like OrGran)

1 Cup of Milk

1 egg

1 teaspoon of gluten-free baking powder.

1 tablespoon of melted butter or oil (not necessary if you don't want it)

Blend all these together and store in airtight container in fridge. You may need more or less milk depending on your dinal consistency.

Don't give up, it gets easier!

[GlutenGalAZ]

I was just diagnosed last week with Celiacs. I've been eating fruit, veggies, salads and stir fry up the whazoo. I'm starving and I'm getting horrible headaches. Any meal ideas to help fill me up?

I love pasta... I have been trying some different brands this last year. I like Ancient Harvest -- they have ones that are called Veggie Curls (look like small elbow noodles) that have some flavor and their spaghetti noodles are good too. Recently I have tried Thai Kitchen which is really good -- they have small meals and their noodles come thin or regular size.

I make gluten free pasta salads or I put some pasta in my salad.

If you like pretzels -- Glutino makes really good pretzels. To be honest I did not like them at first but after not eating gluten for a while you start to forget in a way what gluten foods taste like and the pretzels are really good.

Rice I like Uncle Ben's Fast & Natural Whole Grain Instant Brown Rice (gluten free on back of box).

The first month or so I felt like I was starving all the time. It was really strange b/c I was never like that before. It did simmer down though where I was eating normal again. I was bringing (and still do sometimes) apple slices to work or carrots and dip them in peanut butter. I've made my own trail mix for work and snacks.

If you like bread -- Gluten Free Pantry has a good White Sandwich Bread Mix. I make it in the oven turns out really nice.

I agree with johnfrancis -- it does get easier. Once you start to understand it more, catch onto what foods you like and can have and go through the tuff first couple of months it does start to get better and easier.

GOOD LUCK