Learning to Eat Gluten-Free

Did you just leave your doctor's office with the advice to eat gluten-free? Or maybe you have been doing some research on how gluten causes inflammation and you want to cut it out for a bit to see if it will make you feel better. I actually have an allergy to wheat that I found out about later in life and felt like a deer in headlights when I left the allergist's office. Here is what I discovered.

The best way to start a gluten-free plan is to start with the basics and then add foods as you get more comfortable knowing they are free of these ingredients. Spend the first week or two cooking at home if you are able. Simply make bland foods to start with and add on. Begin by grilling, baking, or cooking a meat in a pan. The plain meat itself is gluten-free, you just have to be careful what you put on the meat. Try adding rosemary, olive oil, and pepper to chicken or pork. You can eat just about any fruit or vegetable that is raw and has not been prepared with any additional ingredients that may contain gluten. Corn tortilla chips and salsa are your friend!

A Simple Gluten-Free Daily Diet to Begin Your New Plan:

• Breakfast: Grits with Bacon, egg, and cheese with some fruit like berries or banana

• Lunch: Salad with lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, apples, and shredded cheese. Create your own dressing by mixing together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and pepper.

• Dinner: Plain pork chops with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a sprig of rosemary, and pepper cooked at 350 degrees for 40 mins or until ready; a side of baked carrots with butter or margarine; half a baked apple with brown sugar and butter cooked into it.

The hardest part of being gluten-free is eating out, but several restaurants are catching on so it is getting easier to find more options when you are in a hurry and on the go. Here are some possibilities for eating out:

• Domino's Pizza with a gluten-free crust

• Any restaurant offering make-your-own salad (Subway included): no croutons or bread and only use oil & vinegar dressing, unless you are confident about the dressing ingredients

• Greek Food such as a Dolmades Combo or a Gyros Salad- hold the pita bread

• Mexican food such as fajitas with corn tortillas

• Twisted Root and Grub Burger have gluten-free buns for their burgers along with many other restaurants

Whether you have a gluten allergy, gluten intolerance, celiac disease, or just want to eat healthier, there are many options available to help you consume only foods that will keep you feeling great so you can live your life to the fullest.