Gluten/wheat free?

[helsen]

I have Hashimotos (raised antibodies) and various mineral deficiencies, is it easy to go wheat and gluten free and keep costs to a minimum? Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It’s essential to do so for very high percentage of us

Gluten free food is more expensive

But you don’t need to buy much (or any)

Choose something different

And more & more food outlets are gluten aware

It’s easier than you might think

I was dreading it. But you soon get used to it

Easier than diabetic or dairy free

[LadyBarb]

Yes! It's easy. You eat good proteins, lots of fresh Veg (or freshly frozen Veg) and fresh Fruit.

You eat absolutely no rubbish food.

You'll find that when you cut out the rubbish convenience foods, over-processed foods, tinned food, tinned veg and even tinned fruit and sweets/ chocolate/ biscuits etc. ~ you "suddenly" have the money for fresh meat, fresh fish, fresh chicken, fresh veg and fresh fruit!

And with the good food you're not going to miss the *garbage*, you won't have sugar or salt 'cravings', and will be doing your body a power of good.

You'll never be hungry ~ and, you'll lose weight.

Hope that helps? B xx

[Rmichelle]

Yes i think ladybarb and slowdragon have said it all really you cant go wrong on meat, fish, veg, fruit. I do buy gluten free biccies,pasta and bread etc and ready meals and i do think they are reasonably priced, asda, morrisons, sainsburys etc. And you dont have to buy all gluten free brands, it just means you have to check all ingredients on tins and packaging and for cross contamination.

I do find eating out alot harder as you have to put your trust in other people and hope they dont cross contaminate your food- so we dont eat out that often as im a pain in the neck, ha. Im celiac so have to be very strict.xx good luck😨

[Jodypody]

I don’t buy gluten free food necessarily. I eat corn cakes which are naturally gluten free and then base my diet around naturally gluten free food like potatoes and brown rice. If I want pasta Morrison’s do brown rice pasta but I try and keep my carbs low anyway

[LucyKearn]

Hi Helsen I have Hashimotos and also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome and have had to go gluten and dairy free and also exclude various other types of foods (FODMAP diet) - I am having to take time off work to recover and am on a disability pension, so money is extremely tight. All that to clarify that I can say with certainty that it is ABSOLUTELY possible to keep costs to a minimum on a restrictive diet.

I'm not sure about you (you'd need to seek dietary/medical advice) but I find that I can tolerate sourdough fine - due to the sourdough culture having already processed the wheat gluten, leaving it more digestible. It has to be genuine sourdough made from scratch with only sourdough culture though (which is purely a fermented wheat and water mix) - not the fake sourdough that you buy in the supermarket that only has a tiny bit of actual sourdough culture in it. Here's a link to the recipe that got me started on my sourdough journey:

thekitchn.com/how-to-make-s...

It's quite a full on article - just pull out the bits that are helpful for you!

Other ingredients that I find helpful on a gluten free diet are:

- Tamari sauce (substitute for Soy sauce - soy sauce has wheat product in it, but Tamari has the soy without the wheat product)

- arrowroot powder (for thickening sauces/substitute for wheat flour in pancakes): I buy it direct from a health food shop which I thought would be expensive, but it's actually much cheaper than from the supermarket

- I personally don't like processed foods that are marketed as 'gluten free'. They often have a lot of 'filler' ingredients packed into them (that aren't nutrient rich and are pretty much full of crap - excuse the language). I prefer to either make bread from scratch using purely sourdough, or 'wrap' fresh veges/protein in gut friendly carbohydrates such as rice paper wraps, or to make sushi or other healthy alternatives to sandwiches and other 'gluten centred' meals.

As others have commented, when you stop buying processed and 'ingredient heavy' foods, you definitely do suddenly have much more to spend on fresh, whole foods.

Sorry for the essay!! I got a bit excited I think The wellness and joy that comes with eating more mindfully (which you're pretty much 'forced' to do on a restrictive diet) is just so precious. All the best with your health

[Debsoxford]

As usual all good advice from people. Did anybody mention batch cooking and freezing which is one way I get around it especially with soups/bone broth if veg is on offer or reduced I beg bones from butcher or buy chicken joints use the meat for a meal or then in the soup with plenty of good filling veg carrots celeriac etc fresh or dried herbs blend it all in you have really nutritional filling soup some of mine I even put on top of rice or various GF pasta as a sauce

Good luck

[mgh348]

I'm hypothyroid and hypoglycemic, have been on a very low carb, moderate protein, high fat (ketogenic) diet for about 6 months. I eat meat, chicken, sea food, lamb, full fat dairy, pastured eggs, non-starchy veggies and some berries, and lots of butter, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado. It's easy once you get used to it. I don't get hypoglycemic symptoms and don't have to eat every three hours anymore. Stopped gaining and lost about 6 lbs. There are lots of recipes for keto breads, pizza crust, etc. using almond flour, coconut flour. Cauliflower rice is my new base for lots of things. I love eating this way. No more sluggishness from carbs.