Healthy Vs. Replacement

[majicbunnies]

Before I was diagnosed as being gluten intolerant, I used to eat very crappy, unhealthy foods. I was over weight, too. When I went gluten free, I was eating more of the crappy/unhealthy gluten free foods. Like cookies and candies and things. That was the staple in my diet, haha. Now I'm more aware of things I eat and nutrients I need to feel my best and eat right. I'm more into organic foods, and fruits and veggies. There are even some gluten free yummies I try to stay away from because the ingredients aren't the best (health wise, not gluten wise). Anyway, my questions are:

1) do you try to eat healthy, or do you find yourself replacing junky foods? maybe you ate healthy to begin with though...

2) what kinds of foods do you cook?

[ShayFL]

I have been eating healthy for the last 15 years. I do indulge in the rare cookie or slice of cake, but mostly I eat organic meats, organic eggs, organic nuts & seeds, organic veggies and organic fruits.

I cook a lot of soups, stir-frys and simple things like baked chicken or pot roast. I make a yummy grain free pound cake that I will eat now and again.

I stay completely away from packed gluten-free stuff!! It really isnt healthy (most of it) and I prefer my own cooking and baking anyway.

[MNBeth]

We're not health food purists, but I am pretty conscious of what I'm eating. Before going gluten-free, I had a grain mill and we ate lots of homemade whole wheat bread products (bread, muffins, tortillas, pancakes - I made it all whole wheat.)

So when my son and I were diagnosed gluten intolerant, I really balked at all the bare starch baked goods available as substitutes. My biggest challenge going gluten-free was finding a way to make more healthful gluten-free breads. Almost all the gluten-free cookbooks rely heavily on things like white rice flour and lots and lots of starch. I'm trying to use much more whole grain flours (sorghum is my favorite so far), with a much smaller proportion of starch mixed in. And, we eat a LOT less bread, now.

I only very rarely eat any packaged gluten-free foods; my 16 yo likes pretzels and some of the bars, but I'm put off by the thought of all those empty carbs most of the time.

Cooking dinners really hasn't changed that much, except that we don't eat bread w/meals anymore, and tortillas aren't so good anymore!

[majicbunnies]

We're not health food purists, but I am pretty conscious of what I'm eating. Before going gluten-free, I had a grain mill and we ate lots of homemade whole wheat bread products (bread, muffins, tortillas, pancakes - I made it all whole wheat.)

So when my son and I were diagnosed gluten intolerant, I really balked at all the bare starch baked goods available as substitutes. My biggest challenge going gluten-free was finding a way to make more healthful gluten-free breads. Almost all the gluten-free cookbooks rely heavily on things like white rice flour and lots and lots of starch. I'm trying to use much more whole grain flours (sorghum is my favorite so far), with a much smaller proportion of starch mixed in. And, we eat a LOT less bread, now.

I only very rarely eat any packaged gluten-free foods; my 16 yo likes pretzels and some of the bars, but I'm put off by the thought of all those empty carbs most of the time.

Cooking dinners really hasn't changed that much, except that we don't eat bread w/meals anymore, and tortillas aren't so good anymore!

very interesting. I'm trying to get into cooking more so that I have more options. A friend came over a few times and we made an eggplant dish that was delicious. I'm pretty sure that was the first time I'd had eggplant!

[majicbunnies]

I have been eating healthy for the last 15 years. I do indulge in the rare cookie or slice of cake, but mostly I eat organic meats, organic eggs, organic nuts & seeds, organic veggies and organic fruits.

I cook a lot of soups, stir-frys and simple things like baked chicken or pot roast. I make a yummy grain free pound cake that I will eat now and again.

I stay completely away from packed gluten-free stuff!! It really isnt healthy (most of it) and I prefer my own cooking and baking anyway.

ah! you have so many restrictions on foods! How did you find out you couldn't eat..nightshades?...I don't know what those are. Is it an intolerance or allergy?

[Amyleigh0007]

My family used to be junk food junkies. I can't cook so I always bought frozen, prepackaged stuff. A typical dinner for us would be Tyson chicken nuggets, Velveeta mac and cheese, and canned carrots or pizza delivery. We used to eat out all the time. Since my son's dx that has all changed. I am learning to cook. We still eat chicken nuggets and mac and cheese but I make them. I do buy gluten free junk food like cookies and crackers but only because my son likes them. But, now they are considered a treat, not the norm. He knows that it's difficult to get those special treats (our small town doesn't carry many gluten free items) so he will save them for when he really wants them. Cookies and crackers were mindless snacks before. My husband actually had a salad for lunch the other day. Before he would have had a HotPocket or something.