How to Begin Living Gluten-Free

Whether you have Celiac disease or you're simply looking for a healthier lifestyle, eating a gluten free diet can be a challenge. However, it's not quite as difficult as you'd expect. Finding a gluten free lifestyle doesn't have to be limiting. It can, in fact, open you up to a whole new style of eating! Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Find a rice based bread. This is probably one of the most important things to do early on, since bread is everywhere you turn these days. Toast rice bread or tapioca based bread for a more tolerable consistency.
2. Get a rice cooker! Living without wheat can be especially difficult if you don't replace your basic starch with something else. Brown rice is a very healthy alternative to bread.
3. Make a list of all of the foods that you like that may give you problems because of their gluten contents. Then go online and do a search for gluten free versions of these foods. Often things like gluten free cupcakes can be spiced up with your original frostings and toppings for a more familiar taste.
4. Fill your diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Include dairy in your diet as well, like cheese, milk, and yogurt. Use starches as supplementary items instead of the staple of your diet. You'll find that your diet is actually more balanced this way, even though it may not line up with typical diet norms.
5. Shop at higher end grocery stores for gluten free pasta. Rice based pastas are often delicious and similar in consistency to regular pasta. My favorite is the PastaJoy animal shaped pasta--for some reason their shapes allow them to keep a great consistency!