My hidden gluten problems...

So instead of a food post today, I thought I might give you some tips.  My husband and I just took our son out to eat for his birthday to a really nice steak house in our city.  (I do NOT miss children's birthday parties, party bags or bringing home more presents than a sugar- high child needs)  Anyway, I had NO BREAD, CRACKERS, or CROUTONS.  I instead had a wonderful steak, a baked sweet potato, and a salad with balsamic vinegar dressing.  NO GLUTEN.  Within 20 minutes I was sick.  I did not finish eating, and took the remainder of my meal home in a box for the 17 year old to devour as a late-night $30 snack.

I could not imagine what in the world I could have eaten to set off the roaring mass exodus of food in my stomach? It's like being in the first trimester of pregnancy all over again.  Who needs that?  NO ONE


There are a few things it could have been, and this is why you need to be great friends with your server. Always let them know you are gluten free!  Some will look at you with the the most puzzling look, like you just asked them to bring you a live monkey with a hat. Just say, "I can't eat wheat". You and I know there is more to it than that; but come on....they're young and confused. 




So, the bacon bits in my salad could have had gluten, they could have forgotten and picked off the croutons, or the steak could have been cooked on a grill that had previously cooked a gluten coated meat or vegetable.  (That is known as cross contamination)  Either way, don't let it get you down and let situations like this increase your love for healthy cooking at home!   Like this beautiful loaf of gluten free bread I made earlier in the day...Amazing right?






Well I go to eat a piece for my pity party of one and wouldn't you know it.  I open the butter and THERE, in the NEW tub of butter, finger marks.  Teenagers!!!! UGH We have knives.  Sharp knives, serrated knives, butcher knives, cutting knives, peeling knives, we even have a carving knife, a salmon knife, and a cleaner knife.

But I guess you have to go inside a drawer, use it and put it in the sink in order to butter bread.  God gave you fingers for that right?  WRONG  Remember, I'm a mom, a clean freak, I just had a gluten induced 'moment' and there are KNIVES in my house.  Use one! (or I might)

What Can't You Have? (NOTHING)

So we have talked about JUST finding out you can't have (or have decided to not have) gluten.  Well.... here is the opposite but NOT EQUAL reaction.  By that I mean, you may not have the regular wheat version but you can have a substitute version.  So really, there is NO limit to what you can have.  It's just different than what you are used to having and cooking.  

And BONUS, it's healthier ! 

Wheat, barley, rye "OH MY!"

But there are gluten free options, different but still options....

 This is so rudimentary I know, but it is just meant as an encouragement to you.  I know how you feel, I was there not long ago.  But chin up buttercup!  We only need food to live, we don't live to have food.  


Just google ANY recipe and add the words "gluten free" to it;
and you WILL FIND a substitute!  

 

Just found out you're gluten intolerant?

So, you just found out you are Gluten Intolerant, or you have Celiac Disease, or you just want to be more healthy and take gluten out of your diet.  Which ever it is, DON'T PANIC!  There are plenty of books, internet information and websites you can check out.  But, until then, congratulations you have ME :)

This is important....Gluten free is NOT about living without it is instead about living healthy and changing the way you eat and cook.  Here is a quick list about what you CAN eat...you will be amazed! 

So right off the bat, don't freak out!  You can eat rice, corn, beans, nuts, fruits, meats, cheeses, potatoes, eggs, fresh vegtables, and if you think about it....many of the things you already make, you still can!  If you do need flour you can go get a bag of all purpose flour at the Health Food Store.  Or make your own bread from a prepackaged box from GF Pantry.  (It's really good) Or if you feel really sorry for yourself, Betty Crocker will be your friend!

Most importantly, you can have...wait for it...wait...

CHOCOLATE!!!!

If you care after being seduced by the above picture...

You can also have the following

 

These are just a few of the things you CAN have, now  you just have to be careful about going out to eat.  That is where things can get crazy!  There is an app for your smart phone called:  Find Me Gluten Free.  It will help you locate restaurants with gluten free menu items and options.  VERY HELPFUL!  More later about what you do not want to eat....I'm going to go have a snack of peanut butter and apples and bananas and nutella