To say eating gluten free food sucks

[Stickseas0n]

It's been a month since I was diagnosed and I'm so miserable as I'm so hungry.
Not to mention how expensive it is for much smaller portions.
I've gained so much weight in the month, my iron is low as shit, I'm struggling at work because as soon as I eat any foods I'm on the toilet.
I'm just so fed up

But for somebody who is new to it, they'll see

Bisto Gluten free - £6.50
Rice contaminated in the factory
Sauces containing gluten
Lentils contaminated in the factory
The price of gluten free tempura batter or having to buy GF flour/GF cornflour
The price of Tamari instead of soy sauce
The price of GF sausages compared to Richmond
Having to search for oven chips not covered in wheatflour

etc.

It is stupidly expensive once you get past the jacket potato (watch out for the beans and sausages because they've changed the recipe) and GF labelled rice with everything, never mind the emotional impact of finding out that 90% of the supermarket is off limits with what's left being raw vegetables or stupid prices if they just want to have a biscuit. I eat a fair amount of GF pasta because I like it (just as well, really), but the difference between 75p for a packet of linguine and £3+ adds up very quickly when it's practically everything that passes your lips.

Once you get the hang of it, all you have to worry about is the product recalls two months after you've been doubled up, the cost and never being able to think 'oh, I'll just grab something whilst I'm out'.

Exactly. There is no reason why being gluten free should bring down your iron levels. If anything all the healthy food you are now eating should bring them up.

I'm sorry WHAT?????!!! MALTEASERS?!?!?! NOOOOO. Explain. I've an allergy/intolerance rather than celiac but I really need to stay away from the stuff. You are breaking my heart. My heart has broken several times over (pringles was one, but they apparently changed the recipe anyway and are now shit. Garlic bread is a major)

Could you give us some idea of your preferred meals, pre diagnosis, and maybe we can come up with some suggestions or work arounds?

My daughter was diagnosed as coeliac when she was four, and we came over here six years ago - to be honest, one of the pro's which influenced our move was how good the gf offerings were over here!

The M&S free from flours are next level, as are their pastas.

ASDA

If you tell us what you like we might be able to suggest safe alternatives or easy recipes. It’s a massive change but if you concentrate on what you can eat instead of what you can’t it makes the transition easier.

ive had a chicken tikka masala ready meal tonight with chips - processed but it’s Friday and it’s been a long week! Followed by a slice of m&s Victoria sponge.

i find the m&s brown bloomer the best for sandwich’s, its expensive so I only use it for work a couple of days a week.

there are lots of easy swaps you can make at first as you get used to it, have a look at Becky Excell, she’s got loads of recipes online, she replicates almost everything. You might feel overwhelmed just now but keep researching and reading and you’ll find inspiration.

theres loads of people on here who will help too.

it gets easier, i promise 💐

That sounds rotten. A month in you should be feeling better, not worse.

Possibly unhelpful but I gave up dairy for a couple of months in the beginning, which I think helped the digestives symptoms a tonne. I can eat it fine now my system has adjusted.

Generally I don't think too much about main meals. Pasta I swap for GF pasta, rice and potatoes are obviously fine. Tamari, GF Worcestershire sauce, wine vinegar instead of the usual versions. I always keep GF biscuits and some crisps in so I am not tempted to cheat. Sausages are usually GF, especially if you go for the premium range.

Lunches have been trickier for me. I have never really liked GF bread so finding non-bread lunches that I positively look forward to has been key. I can't ever look forward to a GF sandwich. At the moment I'm in a soup phase which I have with a little pack of GF crackers. Domino's for takeaway.

I've been gf for about 13 years, an intolerance rather then full blown coeliac. Bread has improved considerably over the years, promise bread is lovely but pricey and its a treat for me. I tried sourdough for a while recently as its a low gluten bread but eventually the stomach pains and ibs put a stop to it. You get used to being gf. As someone upthread said sainsburys do a good gf aisle and m&s have some nice offerings

My DD was diagnosed with Coeliac disease several years ago and found it very difficult in the beginning.

You have to look at your diet OP and need to be prepared to make a lot of changes.

There are several quite tasty breads she buys, and yes, they are expensive unfortunately. But the cheap ones are pretty awful.

Tbh the gluten free biscuits are mainly really good, and it's difficult to tell the difference between those with gluten and those without, except that the price is ridiculous.

My DD cooks most of her main meals from scratch and eats really interesting, healthy meals.

Get in touch with Coeliac UK.

If you haven't heard of them, they're a charity for Coeliacs and gluten intolerants.
They can offer a lot of helpful advice.

Lidl,and other places do gluten free sausages, all fresh, ( lots frozen is too), pulses ok hopefully

My recommendations:

Warburtons GF Tiger Loaf and the Farmhouse Loaf are very good.

Schar chocolate fingers, pretzels and maltesers (called Delishios) are great. They’ve just brought out mini-cheddars as well. McVities GF HobNobs are as good as the real thing.

Juvela White Mix is the only gluten free flour I’ve found works for baking cakes. It’s available on prescription or on eBay and Amazon. Expensive but it works.

Rummo gf pasta is the best, Sainsbury’s a close second.

All Sainsbury’s sausages are GF. Bird’s Eye do GF fish fingers. Hash browns and potato waffles are GF. Read the back of oven chips packets, though, as they often have a coating these days.

Standard meat or fish, potatoes, two veg are dead easy. Bisto Best gravy is gf.

Rice is gluten free - I often have a stir fry, with gf soy sauce, lazy ginger, chilli and garlic and sesame oil, whatever protein I fancy and a packet of Tilda brown microwave rice.

Baked potatoes, baked beans, cheese, eggs, shakshuka, fajitas (Warburtons do gf wraps), risottos, chilli, casseroles - all gf as long as you check your stock cubes.

It’ll become second nature, OP. Good luck.

You find some random wins over time too. Bizarrely I recently discovered that hash browns are often non gluten containing (though do check, I am not coeliac) and I found some lovely Leon potato lattice things.

M&S Oaty loaf. Gorgeous.

Easiest Victoria sponge cake ever: https://glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk/2019/05/24/gluten-free-victoria-sponge-cake-recipe-dairy-free/

My local Chinese uses potato starch as thickener, so loads of their dishes are gluten free! They're great with knowing what contains gluten too.

I tried some pasta that was made from oats. It's by a company called Suma Wholefoods, and it tastes exactly like durham wheat pasta.

also if you bake, I have always had great success with just swapping out the flour for the easy all in one cake method (1 egg = 50g self raising GF flour, 50g sugar, 50g butter - multiplied depending on how big the cake you want to make is)

I normally do 4 eggs and 200g of everything else!

You can add flavourings etc to suit - and Pinterest is great for ideas as well!

Aren't there loads of "chicken and rice" alternatives without buying specifically gluten free things. Any other meat with potatoes (cooked half a dozen different ways)?. Even chicken and rice can be different everyday by cooking it differently or using different sauces

I'm sure it is hard to get used to the change but you'll find lots to eat once you settle into it.

I've been veggie gluten free for over a decade and it's not too bad. I always eat GF bread and pasta. I have every supermarket with walking distance so I can get the best from each store.
There's even a GF marmite in health food shops.
The gluten free hobnobs are addictive.....

Yes agree, if you eat protein + veggies + a carb such as potatoes etc it's really easy to follow - as long as you check the sauces!

I’ve been GF for about 15 years and very rarely have any issues - you just find what you like and make swaps
Last year due to new issues I had to go dairy free and that was harder still
Now I’m doing FODMAP and that has me the most depressed - hopefully I will find out what my triggers are and be able to reintroduce a few things

Steer clear of the budget sausages and you'll find that most supermarket sausages are gluten free.

Base more meals around potatoes so you don't get bored of rice.

If you miss stir fry, some of the jarred Lee kum Lee sauces are gluten free. They're proper concentrated ones, though, rather than the overly syrupy versions that the likes of sharwoods and blue dragon sell, so you can get a bit of a shock if you use too much but a little does go a long way and they keep on the fridge for a couple of weeks.

Most soy sauce and many other Chinese seasonings are made with wheat.

I see you are missing processed stuff. I get it.
Anything in particular?

Larger shops do carry gf versions of some snacks.

Once you get use to the taste of stuff it does become normal.

Are you a coeliac? How strict are you?
I ask because I know of a few people who risk the 'may contain' warnings, which open up options, but really are a risk for coeliacs.

Are you open to making your own version of things?

The variety is better than it was 20+ years ago when I was diagnosed, but it still sucks.

Hi OP, Tesco and M&S are best for lots of biscuits, bread etc. you have to check everything before you buy it but you will get used to it and should start feeling better! It’s been 8 years for me and I’m used to it now. You will feel so much better soon but it takes a while for your villi to heal. Also dairy can really irritate at this stage, so maybe avoid it for a few months.

@Stickseas0n DM if you like. My son is coeliac and has been for just about a year now so it has been a big adjustment but he loves my home made cake, flapjack, waffles, pancakes.
Ready made stuff I use a lot are Tesco pasta (his fave) and their carbonara sauce , Aldi tempura chicken with rice and jarred curry sauce like a chicken katsu. Ready made korma from there is GF too and quick and easy for him to microwave.
The Schar part baked rolls are nice done in air fryer until warm and then filled with cheese and salami and melted.
It's hard at first but there's tonnes of stuff you can eat and treats too. Aldi hula hoop dupes I got today and he loves those. Halloumi cheese griddled in a corn El Paso wrap instead of the free from ones.