Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

I'm New And I'm Completely Lost

stevehappens

Recommended Posts

stevehappens Newbie
stevehappens
Posted

So I'm new to this whole world of Gluten-free. I'm still very much in the depressed stage, I guess.

I'm sure it'll get better with time, but for now, I'm struggling to know just what I can and cannot eat. Most specifically, stuff I can just buy from the store. I understand I can get Gluten-free baking ingredients and all that but I travel a lot for my work so I'm most interested in what I can eat on the go (from the grocery store/restaurants).

What brand name cold cereals can I eat?

Any restaurants that have a large gluten-free menu?

Is there a gluten-free loaf of bread that exists that isn't the size of a small hoagie? (seriously, the smallest loaf of bread I've ever seen.)

Any other tips for a newbie glutard?

Thx in advance.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


missy'smom Collaborator
missy'smom
Posted

Welcome. There's alot of learning to be done at first and it can seem like you have so few options but it does get much better and you will eventually realize that there are alot of choices available to us. Rice Chex is gluten-free now. It's been reformulated so make sure you get the box that says gluten-free right on it. I haven't seen any of the old stock with the old formulation lately but check just to be sure.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

Welcome.

There are a number of companies/brands that have a policy that they will always clearly disclose any gluten in any ingredient in a product. Along with many others here, I prefer to deal with such suppliers

Open Original Shared Link

Here is my own list, which may not be as complete:

Arrowhead Mills, Aunt Nelly's, Balance, Baskin Robbins, Ben & Jerry, Bertoli, Betty Crocker, Blue Bunny, Breyers, Campbells, Cascadian Farms, Celestial Seasonings, ConAgra, Country Crock, Edy's, General Mills, Good Humor, Green Giant, Haagen Daz, Hellman's, Hormel, Hungry Jack, Jiffy, Knorr, Kozy Shack, Kraft, Lawry's, Libby's, Lipton, Martha White, Maxwell House, McCormick, Nabisco, Nestle, Old El Paso, Ortega, Pillsbury, Popsicle, Post, Progresso, Ragu, Russell Stover, Seneca Foods, Skippy, Smucker, Stokely's, Sunny Delight, T Marzetti, Tyson, Unilever, Wishbone, Yoplait, Zatarain's.

The list covers a lot of brands that you can find at "normal" prices at your local grocery store, without having to pay through the nose for specialty brands.

Not every product by these brands is gluten-free. You must read the label carefully. But if you do, and none of the words wheat, rye, barley or oat appear, then I consider it safe.

Gluten-free bread loaves are generally smaller than wheat-based ones in physical dimensions, but they are typically much denser and may have a comparable weight. We use mostly Glutino bread products, including bagels and English muffins. We also like their brown rice pasta.

I hope this has helped. Ask questions here, there are many of us who have been at this for years and can help with answers.

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

Welcome!

Not knowing your financial situation, if you can afford it, there are many ready to go options. This bakery ships. The bread is super yummy and some better than gluten breads. The sandwich bread is regular size. They bake to order and ship. It will be fresh when it arrives. They put wax paper between the slices so you can freeze them and use as needed. Their french loaf rivals gluten. :)

Open Original Shared Link

There are companies like this:

Open Original Shared Link

Comes frozen. You just microwave and eat.

Open Original Shared Link

Restaurants that have established gluten-free menus:

PF Chang's

Outback

Carabbas

Bone Fish

Chipotle

Q-Doba

Pei Wei

There may be others. These options are for the "dont even want to think about it" and "luckily I can afford it" people. If I was single, I would be opting at least for some of these.

stevehappens Newbie
stevehappens
Posted
  • Author

Awesome. It really makes me feel better to know there are other people like you out there who are making it work. I'm glad I found this forum.

cyberprof Enthusiast
cyberprof
Posted
Awesome. It really makes me feel better to know there are other people like you out there who are making it work. I'm glad I found this forum.

I made a reply and "poof" it was gone during the system crash.

Here are some ideas for you that I use for business/personal travel.

Rice Chex cereal is the only mainstream adult cereal that is gluten-free. It says Gluten-free right on the front of the box. There are some others but for kids (Dora Explora Stars etc.).

Thai Kitchen has some single-serve meals that are gluten-free. Just add boiling water or microwave. Says gluten-free on label.

Tasty Bite has some curries in single-serve pouches, some with a rice pouce already cooked. Says gluten-free on label.

Hard boiled eggs, mozzarella cheese sticks and cheddar cheese sticks are good options at delis and convenience stores. Oberto Regular Beef Jerky (NOT teriyaki) is gluten-free.

Hormel lunchmeat. Hormel is a company (along with Kraft) that will NOT hide gluten in their ingredient list...which is to say that if there is wheat it will say it. Hormel chili is gluten-free too.

Newman's Own popcorn is gluten-free - 94%, butter and several others. They should say if there is gluten or not.

Doritos Toasted Corn flavor is gluten-free: some other flavors may not be so read the label. Add some Old El Paso refried beans and cheddar cheese for quick nachos.

Canned tuna- never found one yet that has gluten.

LARA bars - find in the section with protein bars

Amy's frozen meals- some are gluten-free and will say so.

I've heard that a baked potato and chili at Wendy's is gluten-free.

Chipotle and Taco Del Mar burrito bowls (no tortilla) are good too. That is the only fast food I ever get. The extra hot salsa at Chipotle and the flour tortillas are the only things not gluten-free, but I don't get a tortilla at either place to lessen problems. I also have them change their gloves and don't use the cheese- the cheese is the only thing that they use their hands for on the serving line.

Travelling is hard, but you can always eat fruit and salads. I know that I end up eating less junk.

Good luck!

~Laura

Phyllis28 Apprentice
Phyllis28
Posted

I travel some on business. I usually go one place for a week. I rent a hotel room with a kitchen. If a kitchen is unavailable I will look for a room with a microwave and a refrigerator. I premake and freeze most of my meals in single servings. I pack them in a softsided can cooler/lunch box and wrap them is blue ice mats, put the put the cooler/lunch box in my suitcase and check it. Examples of some of the food I have brought with me are spegetti sauce over rice or rice pasta, chili over rice or rice pasta, gluten free pizza, gluten free muffins, gluten free pancakes, cold grilled chicken, a half a loaf of gluten free bread, peanut butter and jelly.

I locate a grocery store at my destination with gluten free food before i go. First I look to see if there is a WholeFoods within a reasonable driving distance. If not, I search the sites of companies that make specialty gluten free food (Enjoy Life, Glutino are examples) using their store locator. When I arrive I buy the rest of my food.

I bring or buy ziploc sandwich bags, a few large ziploc bages, plastic forks, spoons, and knives, plastic/paper cups, plastic/paper bowls and plastic/paper plates. Most of the items I uses to make a lunch. I ask before I leave home if there is a microwave available.

I suggest you browse through the Travel section of the board for more coping strategies.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


gfpaperdoll Rookie
gfpaperdoll
Posted

Boars Head Deli meats are gluten-free & you can buy as many slices as you need. pick up some baby carrots, a small piece of broccoli, some salsa (almost all are gluten-free, read label), some Mission Brand Corn Chips & a couple of pieces of fruit & you have lunch. I just eat my deli meat rolled up & dip in any salsa or dip. I do not attempt bread because of my many allergies & I was already used to not eating bread before I was gluten-free.

Check the fast food and chain restaurants on line, most have gluten-free menus under the nutritional or speical diet needs. I print out all gluten-free menus & keep them in a notebook in my car.

Contact your local support group, they will have a lot of local information for you & most of them also do a great job of investigating area restaurants. If you are headed to Houston, just PM me!! :)

At hotels, for breakfast I never have a problem with the bacon, hash browns, eggs, or boiled eggs, & fresh fruit. But if you do go for the scrambled eggs ask- because some people add pancake batter to them - to make them fluffier :)

kateg1 Newbie
kateg1
Posted

I'm not new, but I'm depressed, too. I just found out that the Bayer aspirin I just washed down with an Arizona Tea will probably make me sick for the next 3 days (at least.)

Whole Foods has wonderful bread. I use both the sandwich bread and their Prarie Loaf, but both hold together better if they are toasted. Lucky me, I love toasted sandwiches!

Look for KIND bars as well as LARA bars. KIND bars come in a myriad of flavors and are all delicious. I alwys take a couple of boxes with me when I travel, and I don't mind having to skip a meal when I know I can have that treat.

Meleficent Rookie
Meleficent
Posted

Welcome! I have only been at this for 4 weeks, and I hear you on the not knowing what to buy. I find it helps to look at things like it is not the end of the world, just a new way of looking at it. The more positive you are, the easier the change is (at least for me.....)

That being said -- Triumph Dining (Open Original Shared Link) publishes 2 books. 1 is on gluten free items available in grocery stores (including store brand medicines) and the other is a list of restaurants that offer gluten free items. It also has information regarding some fast food type places. There are even some of the gluten-free menus in the back. Oh -- and they publish dining cards in several languages, so you can give one in Thai if you go to a Thai restaurant. I just found these and am ordering my copy next week (pay day), but it looks like a good travel reference.

As for going into the grocery store - I have found that Jewel-Osco and Meijers do a good job of labeling their gluten-free products and some even have a seperate section. Grocery shopping is going to take longer, but it is worth it. I also have a list of gluten-free products put out by Heinz floating around and another from lays. A good starting point with that is going to the companies website. Also, Whole Foods and Trader Joes are national stores that have lists of their gluten-free products.

See if you can get ahold of any support groups in your area. I live in Chicago and I have found 3 in my area. They can provide you with resources to help you out, or put you in touch with someone to talk to.

Food tastes a bit difference, passing up on the office cakes/donuts/buffets can stink (my biggest challenge) but I remember how I felt before and that helps.

Good luck and let me know if I can help with anything!

ericajones80 Newbie
ericajones80
Posted

I recommend the Triumph Dining books as well...they've saved me

loco-ladi Contributor
loco-ladi
Posted

Steve....

I know exactly what you are going thru.... I am a railroad engineer and my job requires overnight stays with either non-exsistant or gluten filled kitchens.

my "plan of attack" is as follows:

I take my own meals made at home and are packed in microwaveable containers (special for my use no-one else in the house uses them), leftovers work great for this and I pack a cooler with me. However I make sure to cover my food in the micro's and clean them well beforehand as well, I wont say I have never gotten glutened this way but it sure helps cut it down alot!

I also pack a couple "emergency meals" normally Hormels beef stew,, they store easy in my bag and are gluten-free and work well for those times I need an extra meal or 2.

I also started bringing bleach wipes with me to wipe down the control stand of the loco's and also the desk area in my room. I also after seeing the roll of paper towels in the kitchen sitting on the toaster started bringing my own paper towels as well.... I do carry more weight than others of my profession but I figure the extra weight lifting will help keep off the extra pounds I get from carbs ;)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,979
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    volivier
    Newest Member
    volivier
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @tiffanygosci, Hello.  I apologize for your thread being hijacked.   I recognize your symptoms as being similar to what I experienced, the migraines, food and chemical sensitivities, hives, nausea, the numbness and tingling, joint pain, tummy problems, sleep problems, emotional lability, and the mom brain.  My cycle returned early after I had my son, and I became pregnant again with all my symptoms worsening.  Unfortunately, I lost that baby.  In hindsight, I recognized that I was suffering so much from Thiamine deficiency and other nutritional deficiencies that I was not able to carry it.   Celiac Disease affects the absorption of nutrients from our food.  There's eight B vitamins that must be replenished every day.  Thiamine Vitamin B1 becomes depleted first because it cannot be stored very long, less than two weeks.  Other B vitamins can be stored for two months or so.  But Thiamine can get low enough to produce symptoms in as little as three days.  As the thiamine level gets lower, symptoms worsen.  Early symptoms like fatigue and anxiety are often attributed to life situations, and so frequently go unrecognized by medical professionals who "have a pill for that".   I used to get severe migraines and vomiting after gluten consumption.  Thiamine and the other B vitamins are needed to turn carbohydrates, fats and proteins into fuel for our bodies.  With a large influx of carbohydrates from gluten containing foods, the demand for Thiamine increases greatly.  Available thiamine can be depleted quickly, resulting in suddenly worsening symptoms.  Emotional stress or trauma, physical activity (athletes and laborers) and physiological stresses like pregnancy or injury (even surgery or infection) increase the need for Thiamine and can precipitate a thiamine insufficiency. Pregnancy requires more thiamine, not just for the mother, but for the child as well.  The mother's Thiamine stores are often depleted trying to meet the higher demand of a growing fetus.  Thiamine insufficiency can affect babies in utero and after birth (autism, ADHD).  Having babies close together doesn't allow time for the mother to replenish thiamine stores sufficiently.   Thiamine insufficiency can cause migraines, pins and needles (paresthesia), and gastrointestinal Beriberi (gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, back pain).   Thiamine deficiency can cause blurry vision, difficulty focusing, and affect the eyes in other ways.  Thiamine deficiency can damage the optic nerves.  I have permanent vision problems.  High histamine levels can make your brain feel like it's on fire or swelling inside your cranium.  High histamine levels can affect behavior and mood.  Histamine is released by Mast Cells as part of the immune system response to gluten.  Mast Cells need Thiamine to regulate histamine release.  Mast Cells without sufficient thiamine release histamine at the slightest provocation.  This shows up as sensitivities to foods, smelly chemicals, plants, and dust mites.  Thiamine and the other B vitamins are needed to lower histamine levels.  Vitamin D is needed to calm the immune system and to regulate our hormones.  Menstrual irregularities can be caused by low Vitamin D.   Celiac Disease is a disease if Malabsorption of Nutrients.  We must take great care to eat a nutritionally dense diet.  Our bodies cannot make vitamins.  We must get them from what we eat.  Supplementation with essential vitamins and minerals is warranted while we are healing and to ensure we don't become deficient over time.  Our bodies will not function properly without essential vitamins and minerals.  Doctors have swept their importance under the rug in favor of a pill that covers the symptoms but doesn't resolve the underlying issue of malnutrition. Do talk to your doctor and dietician about checking for nutritional deficiencies.  Most blood tests for the eight B vitamins do not reflect how much is available or stored inside cells.  Blood tests reflect how much is circulating in the blood stream, the transportation system.  Blood levels can be "normal" while a deficiency exists inside cells where the vitamins are actually used.  The best way to see if you're low in B vitamins is to take a B Complex, and additional Thiamine and look for improvement.   Most vitamin supplements contain Thiamine Mononitrate, which is not easily absorbed nor utilized by the body.  Only thirty percent of thiamine mononitrate listed on the label is absorbed, less is actually utilized.  This is because thiamine mononitrate is shelf stable, it won't breakdown sitting on a shelf in the grocery store.  It's so hard to breakdown, our bodies don't absorb it and can't turn it into a form the body can use.  Take Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine or TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) which the body can utilize much better.  (Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test for Thiamine level.  Though not accurate, this test does better picking up on a thiamine deficiency than a blood test.) Are you keeping your babies on a gluten free diet?  This can prevent genetically susceptible children from developing Celiac Disease.   P. S. Interesting Reading  Thiamine deficiency in pregnancy and lactation: implications and present perspectives https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10158844/ Descriptive spectrum of thiamine deficiency in pregnancy: A potentially preventable condition https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37458305/ B vitamins and their combination could reduce migraine headaches: A randomized double-blind controlled trial https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9860208/
    • trents
      Outgrow celiac?

      By trents · Posted

      @Riley, on this forum we sometimes get reports from people with similar experiences as you. That is, their celiac disease seems to go into remission. Typically, that doesn't last. At age 18 you are at your physical-biological peek in life where your body is stronger than it will ever be and it is able to fight well against many threats and abuses. As Wheatwacked pointed out, absence of symptoms is not always a reliable indicator that no damage is being done to the body. I was one of those "silent" celiacs with no symptoms, or at least very minor symptoms, whose body was being slowly damaged for many years before the damage became pronounced enough to warrant investigation, leading to a diagnosis. By that time I had suffered significant bone demineralization and now I suffer with back and neck problems. Please, if you choose to continue consuming gluten, which I do not recommend, at least get tested regularly so that you won't get caught in the silent celiac trap down the road like I did. You really do not outgrow celiac disease. It is baked into the genes. Once the genes get triggered, as far as we know, they are turned on for good. Social rejection is something most celiacs struggle with. Being compliant with the gluten free diet places restrictions on what we can eat and where we can eat. Our friends usually try to work with us at first but then it gets to be a drag and we begin to get left out. We often lose some friends in the process but we also find out who really are our true friends. I think the hardest hits come at those times when friends spontaneously say, "Hey, let's go get some burgers and fries" and you know you can't safely do that. One way to cope in these situations is to have some ready made gluten-free meals packed in the fridge that you can take with you on the spot and still join them but eat safely. Most "real" friends will get used to this and so will you. Perhaps this little video will be helpful to you.  
    • Wheatwacked
      Outgrow celiac?

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      @Riley., Welcome to the forum.   It was once believed that Celiac Disease was only a childhood disease and it can be outgrown.  That was before 1951, before gluten was discovered to be cause of Celiac Disease, also called Infantilism.  Back then Cileac Disease was thought to be only a gastro intestinal disease, once you  "outgrew" the colicky phase, you were cured. You were so lucky to be diagnosed at 5 years old so your developing years were normal.  Gluten can affect multiple systems.  The nervous system, your intellegence. The muscules, skeleton. It can cause neurological issues like brain fog, anxiety, and peripheral neuropathy.  It can cause joint pain, muscle weakness, and skin rashes. Epilepsy is 1.8 times more prevalent in patients with celiac disease, compared to the general population. Because through malabsorption and food avoidances, it causes vitamin D and numerouus other essential nutrient deficiencies, it allows allergies, infections, poor growth, stuffy sinuses and eustacian tubes. There is even a catagory of celiac disease called "Silent Celiac".  Any symptoms are explained away as this, that or the other thing. Gluten is one of the most addictive substances we consume.  Activating the Opiod receptors in our cells, it can numb us to the damage that it, and other foods are causing.  It has become socially acceptable to eat foods that make us feel sick.  "There's a pill for that".   It is generally accepted that n fact you are weird if you don't. The hardest part is that if you don't eat gluten you will feel great and think why not.  But slowly it will effect you, you'll be diagnosed with real diseases that you don't have. You'll be more susseptable to other autoimmune diseases.  As you read through the posts here, notice how many are finally dianosed, after years of suffering at older ages.  Is it worth it? I think not. Perhaps this book will help:  Here is a list of possible symptoms:   
    • Riley.
      Outgrow celiac?

      By Riley. · Posted

      Hi! Im Riley, 18 years old and have been diagnosed for 13 years.. the testing started bc I stopped growing and didn’t gain any weight and was really small and thin for my age.  I got diagnosed when I was 5 and have been living gluten free since, in elementary and middle school it was hard for me and I kept contaminating myself bc I wanted to fit in with my friends so so badly. I ate gluten secretly at school and mostly regretted it 30 minutes later.  I’ve had symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, headaches, stomachaches, threw up a lot and was really emotional.  In 2022 I really started working on myself and tried to stay gluten free and if I did eat gluten I wouldn’t tell anyone and suffer in silence.  Last year in July I begged my mom to let me „cheat“ one day bc I just wanted to fit in… I ate a lot of different stuff, all the stuff I missed out on in my childhood like nuggets, pizza and all that.. I didn’t have symptoms that day and was doing really fine My mom and I wanted to test how far we can go and said we would test it for 12 weeks to get my blood taken after to see if I’m doing good or if symptoms start showing  As a now 18 year old girl who finally gained a normal weight and doesn’t get symptoms I’m to scared to get tested/my blood taken cuz I finally found comfort in food and it got so much easier for me and my family.  A year and 4 months later i still didn’t get any symptoms and have been eating gluten daily.  I’m scared to get tested/my blood taken cuz what if I’m actually not fine and have to go back to eating gluten free. Any tips to get over that fear and „suck it up“ cuz I know I could seriously damage my body… sorry if I seem like a idiot here… just don’t really know what to do :,)
    • Mari
      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      By Mari · Posted

      There is much helpful 'truth' posted on this forum. Truths about Celiac Disease are based on scientific research and people's experience. Celiac disease is inherited. There are 2 main Celiac 'genes' but they are variations of one gene called HLa - DQ What is inherited when a person inherits one or both of the DQ2 or the DQ8 is a predisposition to develop celiac disease after exposure to a environmental trigger. These 2 versions of the DQ gene are useful in diagnosing  celiac disease but there are about 25 other genes that are known to influence celiac disease so this food intolerance is a multigenic autoimmune disease. So with so many genes involved and each person inheriting a different array of these other genes one person's symptoms may be different than another's symptoms.  so many of these other genes.  I don't think that much research on these other genes as yet. So first I wrote something that seem to tie together celiac disease and migraines.  Then you posted that you had migraines and since you went gluten free they only come back when you are glutened. Then Scott showed an article that reported no connection between migraines and celiac disease, Then Trents wrote that it was possible that celiacs had more migraines  and some believed there was a causal effect. You are each telling the truth as you know it or experienced it.   
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.