When I became gluten-free I noticed a few things. There have been a couple of struggles and some tips I've picked up, and here are a few tips to make going gluten-free stress-free too:
1. Potatoes are still your best friend.
I love potatoes and have always been a huge potato fan. One thing that didn't change when I became gluten-free was my consumption of potatoes. If anything, I began to eat more. So you are still able to eat fries, tots, hash browns, mashed potatoes, loaded potatoes, etc.. I've noticed that at restaurants if they don't have much for gluten-free eaters they always have some potato creation that one can order. They also serve as a great source of energy instead of pasta.
2. There is more than just pasta.
One of the first things I learned when going gluten-free was the abundance of substitutes for pasta. Rice, quinoa, black bean pasta, shirataki noodles, spaghetti squash, any vegetable in noodle form, or rice noodles. This opened up a whole new world to me, I didn't realize how many different forms of noodles I was missing out on. A lot of the substitutes are a healthier alternative than pasta, offering different nutrients.
3. "Didn't know that had gluten."
I was shocked at how much I could eat. I thought I would have to eliminate more food from my diet. But there were a couple of foods I was shocked had gluten. If you are gluten-free stay away from Twizzlers, soy sauce, salad dressings, and beer.
4. Be careful of cross contamination.
Gluten is everywhere, so you have to be careful. Especially in restaurants where food is flying everywhere, cross contamination happens all the time.
5. Reading labels becomes a hobby.
When you go gluten-free, reading labels becomes a force of habit because you never know what secret ingredients are in your food. It is important to read the ingredients and look for a gluten-free symbol.
6. Eat at home.
Cooking your own meals is easier than finding food you can eat. By preparing your own meals you also eliminate cross contamination. I found it is the easiest and cheapest way to be gluten-free.
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