Five Tips for Coping with a Gluten Free Diet

For many people, change is a scary thing. Especially when it affects something as basic as your diet. For those diagnosed with Celiac Disease, or other health issues that require gluten free diet, accepting it can be hard. Here are five tips on coping with a Gluten Free diet, that will hopefully have you enjoying your favorite foods again.

1. Utilize health food stores. Grocery stores that specialize in health have an abundance of food specifically marked gluten free either on the price tag, or designated by a separate section of the store. While there, see if you can pick up some literature on gluten free lifestyles and recipes on the impulse buys.
2. Embrace Brands. There are several big name brands that make gluten free versions of normal folks favorites such as cake mixes, and breakfast cereals. Not to mention the multitude of brands that are specifically allergen free that produce everything from frozen waffles, to pie crusts. 
3. Get a little creative. Just because you lost a staple ingredient from your repertoire in the kitchen, doesn’t mean you can’t substitute. Instead of a burger with a bun, try a burger in a salad. Instead of eating a chocolate chip cookie, satisfy your craving with chocolate ice cream. The possibilities are endless if you get your creative juices flowing. 
4. Gain inspiration from others. For those of us who aren’t creative in the kitchen there are thousands on the web, and on book shelves who write up gluten free recipes, swaps, and tips. From gluten free cook books, to blogs, there isn’t a shortage of creative gluten free folks sharing their insight on the topic.
5. Don’t be shy in restaurants. A restaurant is still a business looking to please the customer, and bring them back. Just because nothing on the menu is directly classified as gluten free, don’t be shy to ask the waiter if there’s something that can be fixed. Even if there isn’t an designated gluten free food, drawing the attention to your allergy will alert the kitchen to take extra precaution to not cross contaminate.

So there you have it. A gluten free diet doesn’t have to be a death sentence to your taste buds, and well being. All it takes is an open mind, and the willingness to cope with your new diet, and soon you’ll be saying, “Bread? Bread who?”.