Last week, Shannon and I were at a meeting at work, and we were chatting with a few coworkers our eating habits (since it was over lunch). In the midst of our conversation, it became apparent to me just how many “diets” and “meal plans” you can put yourself on these days. And each one has a different theory of what “health” means, and how to gain and lose weight, etc. I snapped back into the conversation when someone asked me if I was still gluten free.
Interesting question…to which I can only respond with “mostly.” It’s been an interesting journey for gluten and me. About a year and a half ago I decided to eliminate it completely due to the fact that I had essentially exhausted all other means of clearing up my worsening Eczema. I turned to dietary changes and, since giving up dairy (ok, cheese) simply wasn’t an option without me becoming like one of those characters on the Snicker’s commercials, I experimented with eliminating gluten. Lo and behold, a month later, my eczema was gone, along with a few stubborn pounds and bloating around my mid section. I was hooked and dove head first into the G-Free lifestyle.
Fast forward a year and a half, and I’ve gone through many “relapses,” as I referred to them, and come to a place of “If I can, I avoid it. If I can’t, I indulge.” Skin still (mostly) clear of eczema, I’m feeling like I have found what works for my body and my lifestyle. Which is what I’ve realized it’s all about: what works for you. I have vegan friends, vegetarian friends, paleo friends, you name it. The common theme is that we have all found what works and makes us feel best.
So, if you’re interested in minimizing or eliminating gluten from your diet, I’ve put together a standard meal plan for ya. It’s nothing professional, just personal 🙂
A few favorite Gluten Free Cookbooks:
And, in case you’re looking for a few more food ideas, here are a few of my favorite gluten free products:
Rice Chex Cereal
Trader Joe’s Black Bean and Corn Enchiladas
Udi’s Multigrain bread (trust me here…decent G-Free bread is HARD to find)
Pop Corners Chips (White Cheddar!)
KIND bars
Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Tenders
Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Oats
Udi’s Gluten Free Pizza Crust
Late July Tortilla Chips (found at Sprouts or Costco)
Brown Rice Pasta
Van’s Gluten Free Waffles
Bon Apetit!
