Gluten Free the old style way

lulu_92

Thanks folks

I have dabbled with GF recipes in the past as my grandma has coeliac so I have made her GF gingerbread men before - might do a GF brandy snap if that's possible as those are her favourite.

I think for my waistband it's better to omit the cakes and biscuits altogether!

cafelady

Hello Lulu

Do you know that if you have a diagnosis of Coeliac Disease, you will be entitled to some basic items on prescription? If you pay for your prescriptions, you can buy a pre-payment certificate for the year. The kind of things you can get on prescription varies from area to area, but it tends to be things like gf bread, pasta etc. GF products can be very expensive to buy, so it's worth considering. I know you said you prefer not to have specialist products, but it can be handy to have the bread if you take lunch to work for example.

Work lunches I tend to make (apart from sandwiches) are rice salad, pasta salad or potato salad with green salad and pulses such as chickpeas or ham/chicken or egg. Hope this is helpful to you.

Most main meals can be made gf, but you need to be careful about the stock you use, or the flour you use to thicken sauces. Also, you need to check condiments such as mustard, ketchup, mayo etc. You'll also need to be careful about having separate butter/spread and using clean spoons for jam/honey etc, if you share your home with people who eat gluten. Also, a separate toaster.

If your diagnosis is positive, you will be referred to a dietician who will be able to give you more advice on eating safely and well.

It's also worth joining Coeliac UK - you'll get automatic membership to your local group by joining and will also get access to a phone helpline, a gluten free products handbook and a regular magazine.

Good luck with it!

littleminx_2

HI Lulu : )


I was diagnosed in 1996, didn't think I would get to grips with it tbh, but now I cook everything fresh and don't buy processed foods, so much healthier.


My husband bought me a bread maker so I order gluten free flour on prescription and make my own bread, tastes lovely! so much so that my daughter always eats it lol. I really don't find it hard at all tbh, just avoid tinned, packet, and most frozen foods and you will be fine. I have discovered lots of recipes along the way, will dig some out for you and post them when I get the chance hun.


Regards xx

sazaccount

Hi,

I am wheat free, so there are some things that I can eat which contain gluten but its easier when shopping to just check for gluten free :rotfl:

I've found sainsburys the best for GF range, but mainly I cook from scratch and batch cook as there is only me.

I have dove cereal choco stars (I'm still a kid at heart) and GF porridge. be careful with the main cereal area as there are some items which you would think are GF which contain it.

Rice cakes are my best friend, i really like them with choco spread just dipped in for a snack.

I make Spag bol, chili, casseroles etc in the slow cooker (you can get GF gravy and flour to thicken). GF pasta, rice and potatoes for carbs.

When I first went on low FODMAP plan google became my best friend while walking round the supermarket finding items which I can have. I love BBQ sauce but most contain smoke flavor which contains gluten so get the GF ones its a bit more expensive. If I'm having a bad day my go to is chicken breast with cheap chips (as most of these are GF).

As the others have said you can get items on prescription if you are diagnosed which will help with costs.

after a couple of weeks it wont has hard as it seems

GwylimT

I have coeliacs disease as does my daughter, if you are diagnosed be careful as you find gluten in odd places, porridge for example despite the fact that it naturally doesn't contain gluten so you have to buy gluten free. Virtually all sauces, even many fruit cordials.

If diagnosed you will become a food label master!

We don't buy anything ready made, we were buying pasata to make pasta sauces but now our local supermarket only stocks a pre-salted one and a plain one that contains gluten, so we can't do that anymore.

Nargleblast

Don't wish to alarm anyone but I did hear a rumour from a reputable source that the powers that be were considering putting an end to people getting GF stuff through the NHS due to the costs involved, which I can understand. Have not heard any more for a while so fingers crossed it doesn't happen.

Dove Farm flour has nice recipes on the bags, I can recommend the chocolate brownies.

VJsmum

I have been virtually wheat free (and sugar free) since April - mainly through choice but some health related stuff, although I am not a coeliac. I love it

I don't buy gluten free stuff (though have some flour in for sauces and I am experimenting with cake etc). One tip I have picked up is, instead of pasta I used thinly cut veg.

So, instead of spaghetti I take a carrot, courgette and leek and, with my veg peeler, cut thin strips down the carrot and courgette, and cut the leek into long thin strips with a knife. I braise these for a few minutes in stock / bouillon (water would do) and pile the sauce on top when plated. It's lovely and so pretty - orange, white and green. Cabbage could be used also.

For lasagne, I have used thicker slices of carrot, courgette and aubergine in layers with the meat and sauce.

My homepage is a work in progress but is starting to have some wheat free sugar free recipes - especially CAKE!

CH27

I'm on the GF learning curve.

I've been eating a lot of new potatoes with meat & veg, jacket potatoes with egg or tuna mayo.
Be very careful re mayo etc as they contain gluten.


M&S have quite a lot of GF stuff. A lot of their BBQ range was GF this summer.

I hate GF bread as it's really stodgy so I avoid it all together.

Costa do a GF chicken wrap & a chocolate brownie.

XSpender

I have been diagnosed with Coeliac disease for 2.5 years. Here are my tips:


1) As soon as you are diagnosed join Coeliac UK as others have mentioned for the directory of GF foods, on line directory and support. You will also be able to apply for free samples and starter kits to see which prescription products you like


2) Use your prescription and sign up for the annual prescription certificate at £104/pa as each different type of item you get is one prescription cost. The amount and type of products you get depends on where you live.


3) As someone else mentioned buy ingredients that are naturally gluten free like meat, vegetables and fruit, dairy and avoid the 'specialist' products which cost a fortune and are not very healthy.


4) Many normal food products are suitable for coeliacs like own brand or some value cereal which is significantly cheaper than the specialist products which tend to be full of sugar. Use the Coeliac UK directory to search for these. You can search on line by 'basic' or 'everyday value' and even Aldi have some products listed.


5) Make it yourself:) Whether it is a cake, bread or a meal. It is cheaper and you know exactly what is in it. Most recipes can be adapted quite successfully.


6) I use the Juvela bread mix in my bread maker and it makes nice bread and also nice cake and pizza base


GF bread takes some getting used to, it isn't like normal bread. Cakes and biscuits are not that much different, the wraps are chewy and I like the pasta better.


7) I think it is a good idea to meal plan and always have something GF in your bag when you go out as you can sometime struggle to get something


8) Finally don't cheat;) You will be ill and wont want to eat the food you have bought and it will get wasted and that would waste your money:rotfl:


Hope that helps

Finefoot

Hi, I have wheat intolerance, but not coeliac, so I have to be careful.
I go to ethnic shops, markets and buy rice pasta, rice noodles, rice flour, semolina, potato flour, coconut flour, ground almonds. Much less expensive than specialist shops! Browse the internet for recipes.
All the best.