Gluten Free carb lovers, how are you reducing rice from your diet?

[Anonymous]

I have been GF for less than a year. I know I should simply cut out all of those carbs, but frankly, I really enjoy eating crackers and bread like substances, not all the time, but enough that I find it difficult to avoid rice flour as much as I would like. Here's what I've done so far:

1) Try to have several days a week where I consciously make sure I don't have any rice in my diet, and I will hopefully be able to work that up to 4 or 5 out of 7 days a week.
2) Found some wraps that are made of teff flour and other flours - they are pretty good for sandwiches
3) Eat lots of mexican food .
4) Quinoa several days a week

My downfalls are the Nut Thins - I freaking LOVE THEM and they taste the most like normal crackers to me. Then there will be at least 1 day a week where I just want something quick and easy, or comfort food. So GF pizza crusts come out, or GF bread as a side to some easy meal. Weekend breakfasts - I find it hard to not make toast or something similar. So I end up having a bunch of days where eat some crackers OR some other fake substance OR rice with dinner (this is mostly when we go out to eat - we haven't cooked rice at the house much lately)

Anyone have other tips, or products that are GF and Rice free?

[Anonymous]

I do paleo, so I just don't eat it. That's the simple answer. Stop with the fake bread, fake crackers and stuff....fill up on veggies, meat, and real food.

As long as your diet is high in carbs, you will be a rice nut. Figure out how to cut the carbs in general.

[Anonymous]

We didn't. Why are you trying to? Our kid has celiac so gluten is off limits, but I haven't felt the need to cut out rice.

[Anonymous]

OP, you sound just like me. I am trying to go GF and also can't stop eating pecan nut thins if I get too near them. I also have too much brown rice in my diet.

Recently I've been making socca, which is a chickpea pancake made from chickpea flour. It is fantastic and easy and foolproof. I presume it is not low-carb, but I figure since it is just chickpeas and a little olive oil, it is high protein and must be better than other carbs.

I use Mark Bittman's recipe from How to Cook Everything. The rosemary and onions are listed as optional, but they make it much better. Here's a copy of that recipe from the NY Times.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05E6D7153FF93AA25753C1A9639C8B63

Made it last night and had some leftovers toasted this morning. Delicious.

[Anonymous]

Try subbing out beans for rice in meals.

[Anonymous]

I agree, stop making rice.

Try eating starchy fruits vegetables and nuts -- sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, plantains, nuts, nuts and more nuts!

Last night I made an amazing (If I may say so) chickpea, bacon, carmelized new onions and broccoli dish with rice for the family. I just didn't eat the rice, and I didn't miss it.

It just takes some getting used to.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the disk, but we sub a lot of veggies for bread. There's a really good cauliflower pizza recipe. When making coconut curry, we mash up squash and eat that with it instead of rice. For tomato based curries, we use roasted brussel sprouts instead of rice.

[Anonymous]

I recently started doing this for most meals. I just don't eat any type of starchy carb most of the time. I make an exception for our pizza night. (1 night a week) and other events that I plan for. I'm not paleo because I eat beans and a little dairy, not much.

I am a potato fiend and I find that once I start, I can't stop. Potato chips all come in those wonderful serving size bags, 16oz, 24 oz, it is all a serving to me if it is there. I don't buy potato chips generally. It is easier just not to eat any starchy carb.

[Anonymous]

Oh, for pity sakes, carbs aren't bad for you. Everything in moderation.

[Anonymous]

If you need to be gluten free, why do you want to cut out rice?

[Anonymous]

Do you worry about arsenic levels in rice? Or is it just that you gorge on rice/rice thins and eat too much?

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks everyone - some great suggestions here! I'm going to look into eating more beans, and getting some chick pea flour. I'm concerned about the arsenic levels, that's the only reason. Are you guys not concerned about it?

[Anonymous]

Lundberg California BAsmati rice has less arsenic than others. Also Archer Farms (target brand) Organic Basmati rice has less than others. Basmati rice has much less than other kinds in general and those two brands were tested and have less according to consumer reports. I only buy the lunderg brand now. I've cut out a lot of the other rice carbs. It has been so tough! I love carbs. I've been doing more squash and cauliflower and other veggies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I also have too much brown rice in my diet.

how do you have too much brown rice in your diet? It's one of the healthiest starches out there, full of vitamins, minerals, fiber?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I also have too much brown rice in my diet.

how do you have too much brown rice in your diet? It's one of the healthiest starches out there, full of vitamins, minerals, fiber?

brown rice has more arsenic