Help Please?

[Short-Core]

Hey im bex, im 18 iv just been told i have a wheat intolerance. i am going for a blood test tomorrow to see if it is gluten aswell. Does anyone have any advice or tips on what i can do to get into a good diet/routine. ive already been out and bought a lot of wheat free things from the supermarket. i am a really fussy eater and i don't like most of the wheat free foods you can buy. im finding it really hard to get used to. please write back anyone, i'd really appreciate it! xx

[RiceGuy]

I think you'll find, that as you expand the scope of foods you eat, you'll come to appreciate all the flavors and variety available. Plus, gluten does have a way of making us want nothing else.

If you are gluten intolerant, a "wheat-free" label may not be enough, so keep that in mind. However, when you say you don't like most wheat-free foods you can buy, that sounds like prepackaged wheat-free items which are traditionally made with wheat. Like breads and cereals. In general, most foods are naturally wheat-free and gluten-free.

It can really help to start out with whole, natural foods. Fresh veggies, fruits, and so forth. Also meats if you eat them. Avoid the processed foods, and you'll be avoiding most of the wheat/gluten. The more you can prepare from scratch, the better.

And it does take some time to get accustomed to the diet. Before long it'll be second nature.

[ang1e0251]

Welcome! You can find a wealth of information you'll need here. Be careful that your foods are Gluten Free, wheat free may not be enough for you. There could be other grains that are harmful to you there. In Indiana, we have grocery store called Martin's. They have a Gluten Free foods list on their website, martins-supermarkets.com. Click on "School of Cooking" then ckick on "view our Gluten Free Shopping Guide here". It may not be a store that's availble in your area, but it's a good list of what foods are ok for you to buy. You can take this list to any large market and do your food shopping.

Take it slow as you learn and soon you'll be an old hand, advising the rest of us on great foods!

[Knightley]

Hey there,

I'm young as well, and began my gluten free lifestyle when I was 20...let me tell you, the most difficulties come from just being in life with other people who can eat anything! Young people eat lots of pizza and donuts...and so you will feel left out of some social situations. Most restaurants are hard to order wheat/gluten free too. Waiters just don't get it, and you can't trust that things are fine, you really have to KNOW what you're putting in your body! Salad dressings, sauces, and even drinks can have wheat in them. You have to be really careful about where you eat out at. So here are some gluten free safe places I enjoy:

Starbucks: any drink (but without added toppings like sprinkles), they also have a new granola bar that doesn't bother me and I am really intolerant to gluten and my stomach knows when I eat it, and I have been fine with them! Yay!

Cafes: Any cafe will put your sandwich insides on a plate for you...and you can roll your deli meat and cheeses together like finger foods and enjoy the lettuce, tomato, and pickle along with that kind of salad style I guess. I'm not big on salads...but if you are...just order big salads with lots of cheeses and meat in them for the protein!

If you go out to eat for dinner just stick to the basic MEAT & POTATOES thing. Like, steak and chicken and veggies will not hurt you. Just be SURE to tell them not to add gravies or sauces to anything and ALWAYS tell your waiter/waitress that you are wheat intolerant...they must at least be aware. Even though most people are kind of clueless...they don't want to get sued so they will try very hard to be sure your food is safe.

I know I've gotten WAY healthier eating gluten free. I now realize I use to just eat wheat all day whenever I was hungry. We need to actually be eating MOSTLY fruits and vegetables throughout our day...and if you do this, you are preventing all kinds of cancers and diseases! Your foods will save your life! Get into fruits and veggies. I eat lots of bananas, oranges, apples, grapes, pineapple....you will be surprised how full you will feel from eating FRESH foods from the earth! I enjoy dipping my raw veggies into a yummy dressing or dip (I just make sure it has NO wheat in it).

I recommend getting off of your typical wheat based foods. Gluten free baked goods just do NOT taste good for the most part. I have completely lost my desire to eat bready foods...they will never compare. I have enjoyed getting to know the rest of the food world...WHOLE foods! Foods that come from the earth and that have not been baked or altered by man...these foods are the foods your body will come to love and crave. It just takes time and lots of creativity to put together snacks and meals...but it gets easier over time.

Biggest recommendation: EAT! There are MORE foods without gluten than there are with it....don't feel like food is the enemy now. ENJOY the foods God has given us, it is a gift to eat and a gift to enjoy these flavors!

<3