Roll-ups are a way to do lunch meat and cheese without bread. Gluten free crackers are good with cheese cubes and Hormel pepperoni, or start doing Caesar or Club salads without croutons. Chili and soups work too for lunch.

are you packing lunch? you can always go with a salad with some added protein or sushi.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for all of the helpful suggestions. I've done some reading, but it is overwhelming when you realize what going gluten free means in the scope of reality. I'm working through all of the links and they are very informative.

Take heart, OP. it can be overwhelming at first, then becomes second nature. I was going to suggest dumping condiments unless it specifically says gf. American brand soy sauces often add gluten but you can find gf brands. Things like Heinz ketchup are gf, so you'll get to know the brands safe for you.

Also with your existing cookbooks, you'll start to see how many recipes are already gf or how you can modify them to make them so. The only obvious exception is baking. There you'll probably need specialized recipes.

Thank you for the words of encouragement. Luckily I cook so most of our dinners are from scratch, and yes, you are right, it is not too hard to make adjustments.

Lunch seems to be my biggest challenge! Any suggestions? I'm not ready to try Udi's, plus I sort of feel it might be better to make a complete bread break for now until I get used to being bread free.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for all of the helpful suggestions. I've done some reading, but it is overwhelming when you realize what going gluten free means in the scope of reality. I'm working through all of the links and they are very informative.

Take heart, OP. it can be overwhelming at first, then becomes second nature. I was going to suggest dumping condiments unless it specifically says gf. American brand soy sauces often add gluten but you can find gf brands. Things like Heinz ketchup are gf, so you'll get to know the brands safe for you.

Also with your existing cookbooks, you'll start to see how many recipes are already gf or how you can modify them to make them so. The only obvious exception is baking. There you'll probably need specialized recipes.

Anonymous wrote:I eat Paleo - that's gluten-, grain- and sugar-free. I don't love cooking so this cookbook has been absolutely perfect for me -written by a mama of three boys so she understands how important it is to have foods that appeal to children. The recipes also don't have long lists of ingredients

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/everyday-paleo-sarah-fragoso/1100091997

You can find sample recipes on her website as well -

everydaypaleo.com

Other websites you may find useful:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

http://robbwolf.com/

hello! i've been eating paleo for a while too. do your kids eat paleo? i haven't taken that step yet, but i would at least like to get my kids off of wheat and sugar.

i've read pretty widely on this topic for the past couple of months and i came across this very smart and interesting blog by Kurt Harris. he is a reformed paleo. basically, he evaluates all of the scientific and anthropological evidence on his own (he's a doc) and comes to some different conclusions than the standard paleo diet. i think he is right on and i've modified my eating based on his recommendations. the short version is that he thinks there are too many nuts in paleo diet (omega 6 can be bad for you) and that potatoes are healthy in moderate amounts. he also gives white rice the thumbs up for every now and then (ie sushi!).

hope this helps.

http://www.archevore.com/

ps--this information should also help the OP, as Dr. Harris is wheat-free.

OP here. Thank you for all of the helpful suggestions. I've done some reading, but it is overwhelming when you realize what going gluten free means in the scope of reality. I'm working through all of the links and they are very informative.

Silvana Nardone's blog has a number of gluten-free recipes that are great. I also love her book "Cooking for Isaiah" which is a gluten and dairy-free cookbook. Her recipes are not low-sugar but they are great. Our family (including those who can eat gluten) LOVE every recipe we've tried of hers. Good luck!

http://silvanaskitchen.com/

When I was gluten free, rice pasta saved me on those days when I really craved pasta or bread. Also, some restaurants will substitute rice pasta for you if you ask (Maggiano's has it on their menu).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read this....

http://glutenfreemom.com/GettingStartedGlutenFree.html

Start small, get some Udi's sandwich bread. Try and eat naturally gluten free foods like stew, chili, yogurt and mexican at first. Buy some gluten free soy sauce and make a stir fry with rice. Then, introduce yourself to gluten free products such as pizza crust, pasta, crackers and such. You don't have to switch over entirely in 24 hours. It took you this long to decide to go GF, you can take a couple days to ease into it if you need it.

OP stated she is doing it for medical reasons, she needs to do it all now.

You also need a new toaster and throw out nonstick pans bause of cross contamination. Teflon binds with gluten when the heated.

Please donate Teflon pans. There is also a little sack to put your bread in that's safe for the toaster in the event that you have people in your home who use the toaster as well. Forget what it's called but you could google it.

Anonymous wrote:Read this....

http://glutenfreemom.com/GettingStartedGlutenFree.html

Start small, get some Udi's sandwich bread. Try and eat naturally gluten free foods like stew, chili, yogurt and mexican at first. Buy some gluten free soy sauce and make a stir fry with rice. Then, introduce yourself to gluten free products such as pizza crust, pasta, crackers and such. You don't have to switch over entirely in 24 hours. It took you this long to decide to go GF, you can take a couple days to ease into it if you need it.

OP stated she is doing it for medical reasons, she needs to do it all now.

You also need a new toaster and throw out nonstick pans bause of cross contamination. Teflon binds with gluten when the heated.

I really liked the "g-free diet" even though I cannot stand elizabeth Hasselbeck (from the view) I really liked this book for just starting out

Read this....

http://glutenfreemom.com/GettingStartedGlutenFree.html

Start small, get some Udi's sandwich bread. Try and eat naturally gluten free foods like stew, chili, yogurt and mexican at first. Buy some gluten free soy sauce and make a stir fry with rice. Then, introduce yourself to gluten free products such as pizza crust, pasta, crackers and such. You don't have to switch over entirely in 24 hours. It took you this long to decide to go GF, you can take a couple days to ease into it if you need it.

Celiac foundation:
http://www.celiac.org/

Center for celiac research:
http://celiaccenter.org/

Living without magazine

Whole foods, trader joes have lots of gf foods and increasingly so Safeway & Giant

Meet up gf group:
http://www.meetup.com/celiacdisease-112/

Lots of restaurants have gf menus--PF changs, olive garden,

It's normal food with the exception of wheat, barley, rye, and for some oats, not the "primal" diet listed by the pp

I eat Paleo - that's gluten-, grain- and sugar-free. I don't love cooking so this cookbook has been absolutely perfect for me -written by a mama of three boys so she understands how important it is to have foods that appeal to children. The recipes also don't have long lists of ingredients

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/everyday-paleo-sarah-fragoso/1100091997

You can find sample recipes on her website as well -

everydaypaleo.com

Other websites you may find useful:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

http://robbwolf.com/

I have to go gluten free (medical reasons). I'm clueless on where to start.

Any book recommendations, websites, or tips you can share?