Need to eat lots of gluten but have no appetite!

[HelloVeritas]

Consultant wants me to have a blood test for Coeliacs. They are doing a ton of other tests too due to weight loss and loss of appetite over the past year.

He has said I need 15g of gluten a day for 4 weeks before having the test, equivalent to 4 slices of bread a day.

The problem is, I will really struggle to manage that. I barely touch bread now or pasta, or anything bulky at all.

I know I may just have to face it somehow but does anyone know of an alternate food I can try that is high in gluten but not 'bulky' and filling?

How about biscuits? I struggle with my appetite and find things like digestive biscuits easy to nibble on. I'm not sure how they compare to bread gluten wise but sure you could find out. Also things like wheat based crackers.

Gluten is in so much, this should be do-able!

Cereal? Not hugely filling, but a bowl in the morning will start you off.
Things like soy sauce has gluten - so do a stir fry or other dish with lots of soy, maybe some stock cubes, and that helps add it up. Most ready meals have gluten, not just obvious ones like pasta based dishes.

Not hugely healthy, but even lots of sweets have gluten - graze on a pack of Haribo or those sherbety pencils. Chocolate? Crisps, nuts..

I'd look around at the normal things you'd eat, even at times when you've no appetite, and there'll be something that tickles your fancy! It doesn't have to be bread - this was likely suggested because it's the easiest thing to quantify!

Apple pie? I think you are very brave. Having cut out the gluten, I couldn’t go back in it if you paid me.

Thank you, some good ideas here, especially soy sauce as I can manage vegetables, chicken etc. In all probability, I am already having 15g per day anyway looking at some of the things suggested above. It's just the thought of bread is making me feel very panicky!

Haribo you say? 😁

Get yourself some seitan, usually sold as mock duck. It's pretty much pure gluten

Failing that, some of the other fake meats are pretty much gluten based

I actually very rarely eat bread and I had no trouble eating enough gluten in my normal diet to be tested. Bit of pasta here and there. Biscuits and crackers. Cake and pie. You don't have to go mad. Just don't eliminate these things from your diet.

Soy sauce does have gluten in but in v small amounts. It's not going to be equivalent to 4 slices of bread!

Croutons on salad?
Pastry/ fairy cakes / muffins?
Polenta?

Couscous is made from wheat, or semolina pudding?

It does need to be wheat based gluten for the most accurate result, which is why the recommendation is given to eat 2 slices of bread twice a day.

It should also be for 6 weeks prior to testing, not 4 as your consultant has said. Unfortunately GPs and even consultants who should know better are notorious for getting this information wrong.

Lots of good information about this on the Coeliac UK website. They also have a phone line, and are by all accounts very good, so it might be worth giving them a ring to discuss any possible alternatives for bread.

Rich tea biscuits
Hardly can eat either and live on plain biscuits

There's a gluten powder you can sprinkle on anything you eat designed precisely for this purpose, ask your dr about prescribing it. It means you can see accurately how much gluten you are having in the run up to the test.

All the best OP, I hope you get to the bottom of your current weight loss and appetite issues

As the Granma of a very newly diagnosed Coeliac I can assure you that you will be surprised at how much food has gluten in it !! Even marmite. Google and then you will see what I mean.

@Toasticles Er, not polenta. That’s corn on the cob. Might you be thinking of cous cous?

Yes, I meant couscous. Sorry OP!