The only gluten free bread I will buy is Ener-G light tapioca loaf. Not too bad when toasted. Most are way too dense.

Pasta is almost the same as gluten pasta. Get Tinkyada.

Honestly, I mostly just eat things that are naturally gluten free. Tacos (NOT taco bell tacos unless you get beans instead of meat), corn chips and bean dip (or spinach dip, or all sorts of things), lots of rice (try melting cheese on top of rice if you like cheesy bread), some flavors of progresso soup, lots of veggies and some meat. I made sushi last weekend, risotto before that, pad thai a couple days ago, might try some pho this weekend (have had it but never made it at home).

8/28/2008 11:54:49 PM

My GF has a gluten allergy. Other than everything already mentioned in this thread, I would also recommend some of the products made by Namaste Foods. Whole Foods carries of lot of their stuff. They have gluten free cookie mixes, brownie mixes, and cake mixes for the sweet tooth, and they also have a pretty decent pizza dough mix. The pizza is a little different in texture from normal pizza, i.e. the crust is a bit denser. The sweet stuff though, tastes exactly the same to me, , and I eat both gluten and gluten-free products.

8/29/2008 12:06:29 AM

I like Pamela's cookies, I just try not to buy them because I will eat too many.

Edy's take the cake ice cream taste enough like yellow cake to make me happy and is gluten free. I am too cheap and lazy to use mixes. Did buy an Amy's pizza at Harris teeter, was on sale and I was weak minded.

Just bought this from Amazon. reviews say it's almost as good as Tinkyada, for the price and smothering in sauce I'm sure it'll do. $21.45 for 12
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LKZ94G/ref=sc_pgp_t_2_689640011_m_ATVPDKIKX0DER_3?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&n=689640011&s=grocery&v=glance

[Edited on August 29, 2008 at 12:15 AM. Reason : ...]

8/29/2008 12:14:29 AM

^^ya, i love their pizza crust mix--i actually like it more than regular

8/29/2008 12:14:29 AM

^ Good to know. I've been thinking about making a cornmeal pizza crust. I can make damn tasty cornbread so I'm thinking it'd work well as a pizza crust with some modification.

8/29/2008 12:17:30 AM

Bob's Red Mill also makes a GF pizza mix. It is made from whole grains and is high in fibre. I haven't tried it, but I am sure it tastes good.

http://www.bobsredmill.com/product.php?productid=3834

They also have amazing baking mixes:

GF Biscuit Mix
GF Pancake Mix
GF Cornbread Mix
GF Brownie Mix
GF Chocolate Cake Mix
GF Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
GF Cinnamon Raisin Bread Mix

I have only tried the brownie mix (because that's the only one available where I live), and it was the best brownies I have ever had. Super moist, super rich, super chocolatey!

8/29/2008 1:24:58 AM

i have a resident thats on a gluten, casin, dairy, red and blue dye free diet. sucks when his housemates can eat whatever, and they have a strict menu to follow.

8/29/2008 2:27:01 PM

This thread has really intrigued me. I'm going to try gluten free for a week or so and see if it clears up some of my problems.

8/29/2008 2:43:42 PM

bttt

9/5/2008 2:17:22 PM

Quote :

"Bob's Red Mill"

good stuff...i have had the brownies and they were tasty

9/5/2008 2:59:34 PM

This recipe blog I found yesterday is a gluten-free lady http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

9/5/2008 3:10:04 PM

bttt

1/8/2009 2:09:52 PM

Bob's red mill relies too heavily on fava beans. Fava beans make the flour taste like ass, I have switched to just blending my own flours. It sucks having gone from having a well stocked pantry to having a well stocked pantry I cannot use and barely anything I have that I can use.

Quote :

"I'm going to try gluten free for a week or so and see if it clears up some of my problems. "

If you have fears of being a celiac, then you need to go to a doctor and not get off the gluten until you have done so. With the exceptions of an intolerance of celiacs there is no need to be gluten free.

[Edited on January 8, 2009 at 2:19 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on January 8, 2009 at 2:20 PM. Reason : .]

1/8/2009 2:17:25 PM

I'm about 95% certain my mother is gluten intolerant. I could go on and on why I think so, but I'll summarize: it's something with her immune system, a doctor slapped fibromyalgia on as the Dx, and she's being treated as though that's the case, but she's still slowly getting more ill. She just has lots of vicodin.

But, because she's always had stomach trouble, she won't give up any of her 'safe' foods, and once anything goes awry, it snowballs, and ends up with her out of work or in the hospital. Quite literally, one or two bites of something can upset her stomach so badly that she's in the ER three days later for severe dehydration because she can't even keep down water.

As it is, her doctor has told her she can't eat any raw or lightly steamed vegetables or other hard fiber sources (they have got to be cooked to oblivion to soften them); popcorn is another forbidden food. She had surgery last year because her stomach was so scarred they couldn't get a pediatric scope in to take a look. That's the reason for the vegetable/popcorn/other similar foods prohibition. Basically, they had to do 3/4 of a gastic bypass (as it was explained to me...it was a major surgery to address the scarring, and fix a hernia), and her upper GI is still all kinds of fragile.

So...she won't give up what constitutes a good half, or more, of her diet (crackers, good breads, granola, etc), in order to see about the gluten intolerance.

From what I've read, a blood test can detect celiac disease, but not gluten sensitivities; neither is something to be taken lightly.

I have asked her twice, once in passing, and once as a dedicated conversation, to please, give up gluten for a couple weeks. The first time, she said, "That's silly". The second time, she said "And just what do you suggest I eat? Too much fruit tears up my stomach, and I can't live on rice pudding alone". I tried to tell her about the GF offerings, but she is terrified of trying new foods.

I've tried to explain what I know of the workings of gluten intolerance to her, the increased risks of cancer, and, if she is indeed gluten intolerant, the health issues that would probably be cleared up or at least alleviated.

I truly think it's killing her, and she won't listen to me.

Suggestions?



[Edited on January 8, 2009 at 2:24 PM. Reason : lkjd]

1/8/2009 2:21:52 PM

Lemme ax you this :

The people that you know that are gluten intolerable are they skinny or fat. I'm thinking they'd be skinny cause of the lack carbs containing gluten.

1/8/2009 2:31:10 PM

It doesn't sound like your mother has celiacs, then again, no two celiacs will have the same symptons. With a gluten intolerance it can be determined through a blood test, however celiacs can only be diagnosed through a biopsy of the small intestine at the same time though, dh is an automatic diagnosis for celiacs. If you are concerned with her being a celiac then you need to have her go to the doctor and get her blood tested, if it shows high levels of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) or anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA) then the doctor will conduct a biopsy of the small intestine. I lucked out on the biopsy because I ended up having DH. It is possibly for her to have high levels of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) or anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA) without be a celiac, but getting the tests done is the only way to find out.

Quote :

"The people that you know that are gluten intolerable are they skinny or fat. I'm thinking they'd be skinny cause of the lack carbs containing gluten."

It is all dependent. Right now I am slightly overweight due to my body hording nutrients but as I shifted over to a gluten-free diet I am losing some of that weight. It is all dependent and there is not a lack of carbs that do not contain gluten

[Edited on January 8, 2009 at 2:33 PM. Reason : .]

1/8/2009 2:32:24 PM

I had anti gliadin antibodies but no TTG or EMA antibodies. Best guess is lyme somehow causes a leaky gut, so the gliadin gets through.

People with gluten intolerance can be skinny or fat. My thyroid problems started at the same time, and it caused bloating so I gained several lbs and looked even worse before going gluten free. Still need to lose several. I don't buy many gluten free breads or specialty products, since they are all high calorie. I stick with rice mostly, love my cooker and the summer roll wrappers from grand asia.

1/8/2009 2:47:16 PM

Also, free after extra buck at CVS: Soy joy bars! They are gluten free, I think the rasin ones taste a little like raisin bread and I really like the berry and mango, but sadly the soy and thyroid problems don't mix well and I am not good at limiting my self to one a day.

1/8/2009 2:49:22 PM

Quote :

"I truly think it's killing her, and she won't listen to me."

This is also the woman that wants to use a dSLR, keeps it on auto, refuses to take any advice, and then complains when her pictures suck -- yes?

1/8/2009 2:53:34 PM

aha yes

1/8/2009 2:58:08 PM

Quote :

"I had anti gliadin antibodies but no TTG or EMA antibodies. Best guess is lyme somehow causes a leaky gut, so the gliadin gets through. "

are you a celiac?

1/8/2009 3:05:51 PM

At the time I was feeling so awful, I couldn't wait a couple months until they could fit me in for a scope to tell for sure, so it's anyone's guess. I don't have the autoimmune antibodies, but they missed the lyme antibodies the first couple times too so who knows. Eating gluten makes me so weak and tired, I'd have to take 6 to 8 weeks off work so I could eat it again if I wanted to get scoped, so that won't happen.

1/8/2009 3:12:08 PM

Lilly's Pizza has a gluten-free pizza I think, wonder if it's as good as the rest of them

1/10/2009 11:41:29 AM

There's a fantastic cheesecake place in Greensboro that makes a gluten free version. It also does long distance deliveries. http://www.cheesecakesbyalex.com/

1/10/2009 1:17:49 PM

gluten-free fair at whole foods saturday 11-3

3/24/2009 11:21:37 AM

my fiance is celiac and she's about 4 months into it. it's still tough for her since she likes a lot of different foods, but she hears the first year is the toughest.

she's in denver and has found a few bakery's that make great gluten-free pizzas (fresh only). she pretty much just removed bread from her diet and soy sauce and that's helped a ton. we just read the labels on everything and it's not too bad.

we eat in a hell of a lot more so we're saving money even though gluten-free things are more expensive (soy sauce, noodles, etc.).

also, gluten makes you fat, i'm convinced.

3/24/2009 11:27:39 AM

Quote :

"but she hears the first year is the toughest."

honestly, i´ve started to forget what a lot of things taste like (a year and a half in), so it´s really not that bad. as stores are picking up more and more gluten-free products, the price is going down a bit, too. i think the biggest negative is convenience--but she´ll get over that, too.

Quote :

"also, gluten makes you fat, i'm convinced."

it leaves a lot of people bloated and undernourished, so it does have some effect. i actually wonder sometimes if diets like atkins are successful for some people because they are unknowingly gluten intolerant and you wouldn´t be getting any gluten in a diet like that if they follow it to the T.

[Edited on March 24, 2009 at 11:40 AM. Reason : some places have cheap rice noodles (like trader joes) and we´ve found cheap rice flour at food lion]

3/24/2009 11:39:59 AM

Grand Asia is the place to go for rice noodles and flour. Rice and tapioca flour are crazy cheap, 70 cents a lb or something. Rice noodles are $1/lb and they have everything from angel hair to extra wide. Slightly different texture than faux wheat pasta, but I like it better for somethings.

Get some frozen mochi too. That stuff is so delicious. My biggest weakness is sweet bean paste though. Sounds nasty but it's insanely good.

3/24/2009 12:54:50 PM

Quote :

"also, gluten makes you fat, i'm convinced."

My aunt had the opposite reaction to gluten. Her celiac is so severe that she was practically malnourished for the majority of her adult life, until she was diagnosed. She ate healthy foods, and ate plenty of it, but she didn't weigh over 100 pounds, even when she was pregnant. Her third pregnancy is what finally triggered it in earnest. After that she was tested and changed her diet. Since she's been off of the gluten, she gained a lot of healthy weight. She's actually pretty happy that she finally has curves now for the first time in her life.

3/24/2009 1:01:37 PM

^ yeah no shit it makes people who have celiac sick and thin.

she he (bous) was talking about normal people.


[Edited on March 24, 2009 at 1:24 PM. Reason : ]

3/24/2009 1:18:52 PM

^?

3/24/2009 1:21:17 PM

It varies by person. Some people get really thin, and others gain weight before diagnosis. They are always hungry because their body can't absorb nutrients and end up overeating. Then there's the bloating.

I find that it's easy to maintain my weight while being gluten free as long as I don't buy too many of the GF specialty foods. I loved bread before, so now instead of having a sub I have a salad or some meat and veggies with brown rice.

Also, there is Lundberg brown rice $3 for 2lbs at whole foods. In the whole deal books as you enter there's a $1 coupon for lundberg 2lb bags. $1 a lb for long grain brown rice is the best I've seen in a long time.

I got some kefir grains this weekend. If all goes well I'll have enough to share in a couple weeks.

3/24/2009 1:27:37 PM

I have a sensitivity to gluten and lactose. The lactose intolerance is sometimes a pre-cursor to gluten intolerance or Celiac. I'm supposed to be tested for Celiac within the next few weeks. You can only be tested for it if you've eaten a lot of gluten, because otherwise the antibody that is present for Celiac isn't there if you've been gluten-free.

Keep that in mind if you want to go to the doctor to get tested for a gluten intolerance. I stayed Gluten free for two weeks...went to the doctor, & they couldn't perform the tests. It's a pain to have to wait...bc my GI system is still going crazy & the symptoms absolutely suck.

For the lactose intolerance...I buy the Lactaid tablets (72 count...they last forever) & buy the Lactaid milk (& generic brand lactose free milk)...it tastes EXACTLY the same as regular milk...they just added a lactase enzyme that helps your body digest the lactose. Great stuff. Soy milk is another option...but I'm not a fan...it's way too thick for my taste.

Being gluten-free is a pain when you have an intolerance...but ignoring the symptoms and not eliminating gluten from you diet will lead to serious complications and usually colon cancer (& other forms of cancer in the gastrointestinal tract).

3/25/2009 2:14:53 PM

You can buy liquid lactase to add to milk. If you drink a lot it's tons cheaper than lactaid. Something like $18 a bottle shipped and it's enough to treat 12 gallons or something crazy. You just have to add the enzyme and wait 48 hours.

My boyfriend is lactose intolerant, so this is what I'm going to do once we move in together. It's annoying to keep two types of milk around, but the lactaid is expensive enough I feel guilty about drinking it when I don't need it.

3/25/2009 2:21:36 PM

^^^i had no idea about that stuff! that's an awesome idea. Thanks for sharing that! i'm about to move in with 3 other ppl that aren't lactose intolerant...so that'll be way cheaper.

3/25/2009 2:23:40 PM

If the 3 other people aren't intolerant, just get a couple quart containers to fill and add enzymes to for yourself, and they can drink the rest of the regular milk. That way you have a continuous supply, one is digesting while you drink the other.

My brother was temporarily lactose intolerant and would drink over a gallon a week, the liquid lactase kept him from bankrupting my parents buying lactaid.

[Edited on March 25, 2009 at 2:28 PM. Reason : ...]

3/25/2009 2:26:05 PM

tasty

4/5/2009 1:48:15 PM

tons of stuff in Brazil is gluten free... but guess that doesn't help people in the US much. If you are allergic to gluten vacation in Brazil.

4/5/2009 2:27:07 PM

Yup, everything my roommate brings back says "contains gluten" or "doesn't contain gluten" on it in Portuguese. I should see if there's an international food place in Raleigh that's got some of that stuff.

4/5/2009 2:43:41 PM

How come they are so much more advanced? I would understand if you said Western Europe... but Brazil?

4/5/2009 5:47:42 PM

because they ascribe to the Codex and the US doesn't.

4/5/2009 5:49:07 PM

codex?

btw, i am watching nat geo right now, and the current program is on the codex gigas.

4/5/2009 5:51:07 PM

Codex Alimentarius

4/5/2009 11:22:30 PM

This sounds like a horrible disease. No bread? just blow your brains out right now

4/5/2009 11:46:52 PM

Quote :

"This sounds like a horrible disease. No bread? just blow your brains out right now"

I'm not considering that until they take away my sushi.

4/6/2009 8:57:23 AM

I went to see my internist last friday to see if I could get tested for gluten sensitivity, but he wasn't convinced from my description of my symptoms. Those with gluten sensitivity and not necessarily complete gluten intolerance, what are you experiencing?

4/6/2009 7:49:54 PM

Quote :

"I went to see my internist last friday to see if I could get tested for gluten sensitivity, but he wasn't convinced from my description of my symptoms. Those with gluten sensitivity and not necessarily complete gluten intolerance, what are you experiencing?"

For me it was bloating and fatigue. The tests don't really work that well for non-celiac gluten intolerance and the best option is to try the diet for 2 months and see if it helps. Most people will see improvements before then though and it can take longer to improve for celiacs since they have villi damage.

4/6/2009 8:30:35 PM

He said with a gluten allergy they get diarrhea not the other way around. He said is probably IBS. But that is such an ambiguous term, I don't like it thrown around like it's some real disease. I do know that IBS can lead to certain diseases, like celiac if not properly diagnosed.

I told him I always feel bloated, always constipated, and even when I do go, the feeling off "fullness" and something in my colon persist, like I needed to go again, even though I just went, comes back within an hour of my passage. Sometimes I get cramps, not they are tolerable.

I've tried going off gluten for two weeks it wasn't fun.

I don't think I can do it for two months, because I'm doing Crossfit, a high intensity workout program. My quick source of energy is from breads combined with something else.

I'm seeing a GI specialist in early May. She may be more helpful.

4/6/2009 8:49:00 PM

Quote :

"But that is such an ambiguous term, I don't like it thrown around like it's some real disease."

then tell him that you think this is a bullshit diagnosis and go to another doctor.

4/6/2009 8:57:07 PM

Quote :

"I'm seeing a GI specialist in early May. She may be more helpful."

4/6/2009 9:14:52 PM