Friday, April 18, 2008

Gluten Free Friday

(I'm starting a Gluten Free Basics series today. As I mentioned yesterday, this is just my advice based on research and experience. Of course, check with your physician before drastically altering your diet.)

Be a Label Reader.

The obvious food to aviod is wheat. But there is gluten in other grains as well: rye, barley, triticale, and bran (which I think makes a cool boy's name). Don't eat anything that is made from these grains, such as most breads, pastas, and baked goods.

A few no-no's that aren't so obvious are malt and pretty much all premade soups, whether a dry mix or canned. Be sure to check broth and boullion ingredients as well. Also be careful with processed meats and sauces, including soy sauce and marinades.

Some ingredients that may contain gluten are:

  • hydrolyzed vegetable protein
  • mono- and di-glycerides
  • modified food starch
  • caramel color

I read labels all the time at the store. After a while I just know which products I can eat and which I can't, but I still check from time to time since ingredients can change. If an ingredient seems iffy, call the manufacturer to be sure. Please be careful; it's better to be safe than sorry.

Don't be discouaged about *all the foods* you can't eat; focus on everything you can! There really is so much more you can eat that it makes the "list" of avoidables pale in comparison.

Next Friday I'll post the second installment of Gluten Free Friday. See ya there!

1 comment:

Jen D said...

Hi Sarah!
I had fun reading through some of your blog posts. Ben's cousin has celiacs, so I've had to cook a few gluten-free dinners before and I found it pretty challenging. I didn't realize how many things had gluten in them until I began reading labels!
It is really neat that you are able to play percussion in the local symphony-that sounds like a lot of fun! I do still teach flute, but don't play or practice as often as I would like. Those days often seem like another lifetime ago :) Hmmm...that sounds like a good future posting! Good to hear from you!