You need/want to be gluten free; now what?

When our family needed to switch to a gluten free diet our Dr. and a nutritionist gave us a folder with information about what to avoid, what was safe, some hidden places that gluten can be found and a list of a few gluten free resources. During our meeting with our Dr. and nutritionist, the information that they provided and the idea of living gluten free seemed pretty straightforward. And it was straightforward, until I walked back into my house and tried to put it into practice. The packet was helpful, but didn’t cover everything that we needed to know.

Did I really have to get a new pot for cooking pasta? My cutting boards were in good condition; did I really need a new set? One of my favorite mixing bowls had been given to me at my wedding shower. I thought about my best friend, who had given it to me, every time I used it. Did I have to get rid of that as well?

Walking back into my kitchen, I was flooded with a million emotions and questions that I failed to ask while I was in the office. I was overwhelmed, sad and heartbroken, not only for the changes that needed to happen but also for not knowing what my daughter’s life might be like and if she would be able to thrive and grow.

What about outside our house? Are there restaurants that even know what gluten is? Is there any place that will be able to serve us safely?

I wanted the Dr. and nutritionist to come to my house for a house call so that they could help me figure this out. The task of creating a safe gluten free kitchen, house and life seemed very daunting and I was desperate to start healing my daughter as soon as possible. I wanted a few fun and easy suggestions that could help me feel like I was making forward progress toward a successful gluten free life. Suggestions that could help me see the positive side of this Celiac diagnosis, to not feel alone and to help me find all the yummy food that we could eat.

While I can’t get into everyone’s kitchen to help out, I can provide a few simple ideas that may not have been included in the information that came from your Dr. and/or nutritionist. Ideas that can help you feel like you’re making positive progress on this gluten free road. I don’t want anyone who’s on this journey to feel overwhelmed, alone or paralyzed by the process.

In fact, some of these ideas are a great way to feel productive during the waiting time between the blood tests and the endoscopy that is needed for an official Celiac diagnosis. You definitely still need to eat gluten until the endoscopy, but you can use this time to start getting your house ready, to find and explore the resources in your community and be able to hit the ground running when your results are in. We had three weeks between our daughter’s blood test results and endoscopy, during which we had to keep feeding her the foods that were hurting her. If we would have thought to be more proactive, during that three-week waiting period and taken positive steps toward our new gluten free life, we might have been able to ease the frustration and pain that came with having to keep her sick for the scope. I don’t want that for you.

So, here are a few ideas:

1) Before you clean out your entire pantry, fridge and kitchen of everything with Gluten, clean off the top shelf in your fridge and one area where you keep non-refrigerated food. Then go shopping for a few new yummy gluten free groceries. If you clean out everything at once, your kitchen is going to look bare and depressing; which could cause you to feel more overwhelmed and/or sad about this transition. In cleaning out part of your space and adding back safe yummy food options, your kitchen won’t feel so empty and deprived.*

Plus, during the waiting for the scope period of time, while you’re still eating the rest of the gluten out of your kitchen, you can start taste testing new gluten free foods to see what and which brands you like.

2) You don’t need to clean out your kitchen/house in one day, that’s a crazy big job. Start with the most obvious and easiest sources of gluten and cross contact. Throw away or donate your gluten containing flours, other baking supplies, other gluten containing food and contaminated kitchen tools that you use daily. Every step away from gluten is one step closer to better health. You can take these steps as quickly or slowly as you need to help prevent feeling overwhelmed. For example, if it’s winter and your not using your BBQ, don’t worry about the grill until you want to use it again. If you cook a lot of pasta but don’t bake very much, buy a new pot, strainer and find your new favorite gluten free pasta first, then invest in new baking tools later. Replacing everything at once is overwhelming for you and your pocketbook. *

3) See if there is a gluten free bakery near you and go. It is another way for you to feel and see what you can have verses what you can’t. Changing your diet, for your health, can be a very vulnerable experience; especially if the food you need to avoid will hurt you. Feeling safe and protected can give you a break from wondering and hoping that the food you’re eating won’t make you sick. Also, gluten free places love welcoming new people into the gluten free community; feel their love, acceptance and even excitement of having someone new to feed.

4) In Seattle, we have a grocery store chain that periodically offers gluten free cooking classes, even for kids, and are safe for people with Celiac Disease. Knowing how to cook is an important skill, in general, but is crucial for someone with Celiac or other strict gluten free needs. Find a cooking class and take your partner or best friend. If you love to bake, taking a gluten free baking class is a great way to feel confident and to learn from someone who already knows how to navigate the do’s and don’ts of GF baking. Gluten free baking can be very tricky, easily disappointing and expensive when you first start. Also, taking a cooking class or two can help you meet other people who are interested in learning about living and cooking gluten free.

If you don’t have access to in-person cooking or baking classes, there are a lot to choose from online. You won’t meet other people in your area, but learning a few tricks, tips and recipes will help build your confidence. Instagram and Pinterest are great online gluten free cooking/baking resources as well.

5) A Celiac Disease diagnosis can lead to feeling alone and different; which can be isolating. Reach out into your community and find people who have been on this gluten free road and who has information and experiences to share. Finding other people who know what you’re going through can be therapeutic and even a great way to find laughter. I have shared countless moments of frustration coupled with laughter with other moms when we talk about what needs to be done to keep our children safe, how we feel crazy, sad and frustrated sometimes. Being part of a community and laughing helps to lighten the load. Also, being open about having Celiac Disease and needing to be gluten free has a funny way of bringing others, who also need to be gluten free, into your life.

Hopefully these ideas will be beneficial to you during your transition to living gluten free. It can be a challenging road to be on but also one of amazing discovery and a way to reach better health and to feel great. If you’d like more help and support, feel free to contact me. You definitely do not need to figure this out all on your own.

* My statements regarding the process of cleaning out the kitchen are more in line with the idea of having a 100% Gluten Free kitchen. That is what I have, I love it and it works for my family. I do recognize that many kitchens need to be shared cooking spaces and that is completely doable as well. I will have a future blog post about shared kitchens as the shared space situation deserves it’s own space.

If you’d like more support on your gluten free journey…

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Disclaimer:

While we have nearly ten years’ experience of navigating the world as the parents of a child with Celiacs, we are not physicians, nutritionists, or other licensed medical professionals. The material and content contained in the Services is for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a substitute for consultation, diagnosis or medical treatment by a licensed medical professional. Please consult your doctor for any medical or health-related questions. The information contained in the Services should NOT be used to disregard medical or health-related advice from a physician or licensed medical professional.