Gluten free diet but try finding Gluten free food!!!

Softstuff

I was gluten free for 2 years (just intolerant, not coeliac), and found the answer is pretty simple - don't try to replicate foods that contain gluten, eat those that naturally don't.

You're fine with all meats, fishes, veggies, rice, pulses - so main meals aren't much of a problem providing you cook your own and don't rely on ready meals (I know time is always an issue, but with practice a meal from scratch takes less time than a readymeal in the oven). The Old Style board has heaps of recipes, most of them just fine without *any* adaptation.

The gluten free flour is a bit of an experiment to begin with, it isn't like you can just replace the amount of ordinary flour with gluten free and the recipe will turn out the same, stuff generally comes out... heavier for want of a better description. Again, focus on what you can eat rather than trying to replicate what you can't. Old el paso do a gluten free enchilada... this makes great wraps, enchilada pie, enchiladas... the list is endless. Things like coconut macaroons, almond macaroons... the recipes for these are gluten free already. Pancakes aren't bad with gluten free flour... but then you hardly expect those to rise and be fluffy.

Since you can get gluten free foods on prescription, ask your doctor for an appointment with a dietician. They run through what you're entitled to on prescription, and can help with meal planning. The items you get on prescription aren't as good quality as the best from the supermarket... brands are restricted. But if you can't live without the substitutes, the pizza bases, pasta (but not the spaghetti) and custard creams aren't bad. Bit of trial and error to see what you like... if you decide to go down this route I'd heartily reccommend getting a prescription prepayment, will save you a heap.

One thing I remember from my time, particularly the first few months, was the sheer frustration eating out, looking at supermarket shelves, actively craving what I couldn't have... if this happens with you, take heart, it does get better, in fact pretty much second nature... and it helps to try and focus on all the wonderful things you can eat, rather than the few you can't.

You can get a handbook as to where the hidden gluten is in foods, that comes from the coeliac society as I recall, but your dietician should be able to help you out there.

cheekyweegit

Hiya,

I'm pretty sure that asda do a list of their foods that are gluten free and the list is available at the customer service desks so might be worth asking there for ideas.

Also quite a few things by Heinz are glutten free so its worthwhile looking there as there is everything from ready made meals to snacks too.

Hope this helps.

Sam_26

Speak to Coeliac Society and get a list of items that are prescribable on the NHS. Normally its staple foods (bread, flour, biscuits), not luxuries (Cakes, Choc Biscuits).

Your pharmacy or we will be happy to assist you in requesting these items from your GP.

Stratford_Bill

My homeopath has put me on a gluten free diet. You can buy some of the products on the internet and have it delivered to your home, and even on ebay.
The British diet is so based on bread and wheatflour products that you may have to give up living like a Brit and live like a Japanese or a Chinese instead.

You are allowed, rice flour, potato flour, semolina (which includes cous cous), cornmeal (you can make bread out of this), cornflour, buckwheat, but NOT bulgar wheat or rye.

You can have rice noodles, which are fantastic.

Any thickening etc when cooking will have to be done with cornflour.

I have found the special gluten free products in the supermarkets very expensive, and the gluten free flour makes a ghastly loaf.

So long as you can take the time to prepare a home-cooked meal, you can eat very well on a gluten free diet.

coolagarry

Donna if you have Celiac Disease this must be diagnosed by your doctor. Then you will be entitled to gluten free food on prescription.
However beware of being tested after going 'gluten free' yourself as this will produce a negative result.
In other words if you are going to be tested for the Celiac condition then eat plenty of bread before the test so that it will produce a correct result.

You may find this site useful http://www.coeliac.co.uk/

Middlers

Try this website, they provide lots of GF foods which are really good. Not cheap but worth a try. They are based in Henley but deliver everywhere. My daughter loves the food

http://www.gfdiet.com/

wigginsmum

Don't forget to check unobvious breakfast cereals like cornflakes for barley malt.

jonathonjordan

You should try Home Bargains and B&M Bargains - both these stores sell loads of gluten free produce. I go once a week and always end up with a bag of goodies and they are so cheap.

SuiDreams

Alidi have a lot of Gluten Free products although no Bread or cakes etc. I very rarely eat bread my fav being GF pittas from Tesco. We cook everything from scratch now make our own sauces etc, which is much easier and cheaper. For a great Gluten Free Forum Visit the Coeliac Awareness website

GaryS

Tesco, Sainsburys and Waitrose all do a selection of Gluten-Free foods.

Tesco and Coop do GF sausages, and Waitrose always seem to stock GF pizzas.

If you are eating out, Pizza Hut will use your GF pizza base and make you a pizza as normal.