Gluten free newbie

[Goingtobeawesome]

I'm waiting for confirmation but it is looking very likely that I will have to follow a gluten free diet. My lovely pharmacist printed me off some information so I have a long list of what I can and can't eat but I'm just back from a trip to the shop and came away a bit fed up as all they had in their GF section was bread, cakes, chicken kievs, nuggets and a few other bits I didn't fancy.

I'm hoping it will become easier and second nature but right now I just see a long list of food I can't eat which of course my house is full of and no one else wants.

I would be very grateful for any helpful tips. Thank you.

I thought it was just a blood test. I think it will be okay as I have had something most days I will eventually have to forgo. I'll see what the doctor says and try and eat a bit until then, not stress too much if I get it wrong.

Don't be so hard on yourself, it takes time to get used to it.

As others have said, don't focus on special GF foods, they are expansive and often not great. Just make meals from all the foods that are naturally GF - meat, fish, dairy ,pulses and GF grains, fruit and veg.

I think the list that someone gave you is a bit misleading. It's a bit silly to say you can't have cauliflower cheese. Unless you are in a restaurant of course, where the sauce will be made with wheat flour. At home it's fine - just use GF flour or cornflour.

Same with mac cheese - GF pasta and GF flour in sauce. Or pizza with Gf base.

You can get GF flour ( plain and SR) and GF baking powder in any large supermarket, they usually have their own brand . I prefer doves farm flour baking .

I am only GF not coeliac so just make normal meals for the family and eg make a separate pot of GF pasta ( it's not great so I don't inflict it on everyone ) or use one of these handy bags for microwave rice .

Though I'm trying to lose weight so usually have caulflower rice or courgette ribbons with whatever sauce they are having.

The only time I had a completely seperate meal is if they are having steak pie ( too hard to make Gf ).

Dominos do a gf pizza, we've had these from at least 10 different outlets and never been glutened and I am classed as very severe

Jacket potatoes naturally gf
Never met a gluten containing mayo yet but have met the odd lipstick from Estée Lauder (l have DH)

Newburn bread from Sainsbury's and Morrisons, pizza express do a boxed pizza in Sainsbury's that will shortly be available at Tesco and Waitrose

If you can, get to the allergy show it's in London soon, Liverpool in November a fab place for all things gf

Lots of sandwich thins in most supermarket ranges as well as wraps to increase your range

Making cheese sauce is easier with cornflour than wheat flour: 3/4 pt milk plus generous knob of butter plus 3 tbspn cornflour. Blend the cornflour with about an inch of milk in bottom of cup. Put into pan with the rest of the milk and butter. Warm gently while whisking til thick.

Buy some gf flour to bake cakes. Gf pasta and gf bread. If you are lucky and cuts have not hit you may get the basics on prescription.

Forget about the rest of the free-from section it is unhealthy rip-off.

Buy a good gluten free recipe book from coeliac uk.

In the supermarket, check ingredients for wheat barley rye and oats. Anything else you can eat.

Your kids can eat the same. Pasta falls apart if you over cook it!-

Use tamari instead of regular soy sauce.

Thank you again everyone. That's all very very helpful. Doctor is testing me for coeliac disease which I thought was gluten intolerance so now I'm more confused .

Results Update

Doctor says I don't have coeliac disease but may have an intolerance.

How do you feel about that result ?

Pleased I don't have have coeliac disease but a bit unsure as to where I go from here. Doctor said if I feel better eating GF then to carry on.

I'm not long back from the hospital where I was sent for blood tests for something else and I'm also having routine blood tests, urine and bowel movement tests and she's referring me to to a gastroenterologist, so all in, I'm feeling a bit worried. one test is for the menopause which I'm not worried about if I've started it, one is for cancer which I am worried about, she mentioned I may have pancreas issues as well and so I'm a bit eek.

Id do what they doctor says then and eat GF for while and see if it helps your symptoms. As long as you eat abalanced diet it can't do any harm.

I can see why you are worried about the others tests and wonder if you have anyone in RL to confide in?

I've just remembered she is testing for Crohn's disease as well.

I had a cheese topped bread roll for lunch to see how I went and I'm okay. There's no real set pattern. Same food, different day can have different results.

I have dh but I'm trying not to rely on him too much.