To "Newbies" Starting the GF Diet (Updated)

This forum contains recipes and information on special cooking techniques that are beneficial to anyone trying to control the symptoms of gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, microscopic colitis, or any other inflammatory bowel disease. All of the recipes listed here are free of gluten, dairy products, and soy. Many are also free of eggs, yeast, and/or corn.

Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh

Dee
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Post by Dee »

Okay! I'm assuming you are just going to eliminate gluten starting out, right????
All campbell's condensed soups contain gluten, cream of mushroom, celery & chicken.
As far as the noodles, You are going to have to look at your grocery to see if they have a GF section.
If they do, look for Tinky'ada brand brown rice pasta. They make it in spaghetti, penne, and fetticinni.
I use the fetticinni as my noodles when a recipe calls for noodles. If not, your local HF store or Whole Foods, Trader Joes carry them.
Toast is out unless you are purchasing GF bread or making it yourself.
Bouillon- Herb Ox is safe, but contains dairy. I personally use Better Than Bouillon or Kitchen Basics.
Herb Ox & Kitchen Basics you should be able to purchase at your grocery store. If you add any dried herbs or seasonings to your pot roast, make sure you read the labels on them. Tone's Brand & Mc Cormick will clearly list gluten.
Sandwiches, like I stated before about GF bread. Boars Head lunch meats, Oscar Mayer do not contain gluten, Hillshire farms, but they do contain dairy.
As far as your flour that you use to dredge your pork chops, cube steaks, etc.. Your going to have to change to a premix GF flour blend or potato starch.
Mac & Cheeese is out unless you use GF pasta shells & make your own.
Stuffing- Stove Top is out! You can find already cubed GF bread made for stuffing at your local HF store or Whole Foods.
Or make your own cubes out of GF bread.
Earth Balance butter, Fleishman's Unsalted, Blue Bonnet
Flours, potato starch, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sorghum flour, garbanzo or fava bean flour, brown rice flour.
For thickening of soups, gravies, casseroles, etc.., I use sweet rice flour.
Organic is great if you're buying the meats. That way you know that the meat hasn't been injected with anything that may cause you problems. I personally don't buy organic all of the time as far as fresh vegetables, fruits, etc....
Get use to reading labels. They now have to list the 8 known food allergens and products made in the US have to list them on their labels.
Condiments- Heinz ketsup, Plochman's or French's mustard, Hellman's Mayo, Vlassic pickles, Black & Green Olives, Smucker's jellies, Bush's original baked beans, Crisco, Domino white and brown sugar, Sweet Baby Ray's b-b-q sauce, Golden Griddle pancake syrup or pure maple syrup, Classico or Barilla pasta sauce...
Let me know what I've forgotten because the list seems to be endless and I'm just getting started.
Dee~~~~
"What the heart gives away is never gone ... It is kept in the hearts of others."
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katbox
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Post by katbox »

Hi Dee, I also use a lot of Miracle Whip for sandwiches and salads...anything comparable that's gf?

can I use ketchup for meatloaf and also what's the deal-e-o on mustard?

it's helping to write my items and journaling, it let's me "see" what the heck I'm eating! when it's written down, it does open your eyes!

I also love regular salad with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, salad dressing...Ranch & French. any brands that you've found are good?

of course I love chocolate, so is dark better than the others?

I've really eliminated most nuts from our diets as my hubbie has diverticulitis. we have a lot of stomach grumbling around here on a regular basis!

he also loves his beer, but I'm thinking he needs to take a look at all the literature concerning gluten!

when he gets back from ice fishing today, I've got some exciting things to show him. I believe all the info I have for my MC, applies to his problems as well. He's basically a meat & potatoes kind of guy, so I'll have to introduce things slowly (and probably without him really knowing!) when I start using gf products. he probably won't even notice and I'll be curious to see if he has less episodes with gas, diarrhea, etc.!!

thanks for all your help!

Later!

:cat:
-Kat

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katbox
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Post by katbox »

Wow, thanks Dee!

this is a great start. yes, I am going to begin with gf and go from there. hopefully, I won't end up soy intolerant also...that scares me!

I'm printing your list, and in fact some items I already have, but I'll need to get the pasta, noodles, flour stuff. I'll go to trader joes.

very helpful indeed.

wish me luck and again thanks!

:yourock:
-Kat

Live to Ride, Ride to Live
Dee
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Post by Dee »

I have posted recipes for Ranch & French Salad dressings that you can make.
Since I'm DF I don't buy any of the cream salad dressings.
Salad dressings are so easy to make that I don't buy any.
I have a good one since you stated that you use Miracle Whip that's very easy to make, or make an oil & vinegar type one.
Meatloaf- yes you can use Heinz ketsup, but if you use bread or cracker crumbs they have to be GF.
Or you can use potato flakes in their place or shredded carrot as egg helps to bind.
Check labels on your chocolate.. Some are made in facilities that also run wheat on their lines.
My husband eats exactly what I do except for his bread & crackers.
I make my own GF bread & crackers.
Dee~~
"What the heart gives away is never gone ... It is kept in the hearts of others."
Dee
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Post by Dee »

Kat,
Trader Joes has a great pancake & brownie mix under their name.
There GF brown rice pasta is good and less expensive than Whole Foods.
There produce is also cheaper.
You should be able to find the GF flours there.
They don't carry, but a few GF premade breads. You'll probably find that the ones they carry you could use as a door stop and taste like cardboard!!! LOL!!!!!
They have a great wine selection if you don't have a problem with yeast or sulfites.
Now you have me on a rolll!!!!!

Dee~~
"What the heart gives away is never gone ... It is kept in the hearts of others."
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katbox
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Post by katbox »

thanks Dee!

I am very excited to see what I can find there. I am waiting to go tomorrow instead, as I want to take my time and shop right!

You've given me some great ideas and recipes and I'll let you know how I do.

I'm getting hungry!

:eat:
-Kat

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Dee
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Post by Dee »

OMG!!!!
Over 700 hits!!!!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Love
Dee~~
"What the heart gives away is never gone ... It is kept in the hearts of others."
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tex
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Post by tex »

Dee,

Congratulations!

There's obviously a lot of interest in good recipes.

Love,
Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Dee
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Post by Dee »

Well!!!! Look at those numbers!!!!
It seems like it was just yesterday that I was HORRAYING about 700!! :lol:


Dee~~~~
"What the heart gives away is never gone ... It is kept in the hearts of others."
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tex
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Post by tex »

:thumbsup:

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
dkbert
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Post by dkbert »

Wow - I am trying to help my mother in law who was diagnosed with microscopic colitis approx 6 or 7 weeks ago. her doctor perscribed Entocort and sent her on her merry way. Only diet tip he gave her was eat things and use trial and error, find out what bothers you. Everything I can read on MC usually leads to Gluten/Lactose Free. For years she was diagnosed with IBS and told not to eat nuts, popcorn etc. Almost everyone on here eats those things - I keep wondering if it was not MC all along and she could be eating these things. I am getting a label education for sure. In my quest to help keep her out of depression I am trying to find the best diet for her. I am thinking of keeping a journal of everything she eats to start eliminating things. She will be going off of the entocort soon and wondering how that will effect her as well. SOOO much to take in.....any tips to keep her from feeling so overwhelmed appreciated.
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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi,

Unfortunately, most of us find that when the 6 or 8-week treatment with Entocort expires, we relapse, a few days later, because Entocort is not a cure, it simply suppresses the inflammation. The cause of the inflammation is either certain medications, (NSAIDS, PPIs, SSRIs, etc.), or certain food proteins, primarily wheat gluten, and casein, (the primary protein in all dairy products). About half of us are sensitive to soy, as well, and a few have various other sensitivities that have to be avoided. Avoiding all traces of the things that we are sensitive to, will stop the inflammation from being generated in the first place, and therefore will bring, (and maintain), remission. It takes a long time for the gut to heal, however, from the damage that has been caused by the inflammation, so the diet, (without Entocort), can take 6 months to a year, to bring remission, and, of course, if any intolerances remain undetected in the diet, the reactions will continue, (without Entocort).

If her doctor will allow her to continue taking the Entocort, long enough for the diet to allow her gut to heal, she can avoid having to deal with all the unpleasant symptoms, until the diet is able to maintain remission without any meds.

MC is regularly misdiagnosed as IBS, because the only way to diagnose MC, is by examining biopsy samples taken from the lining of the colon, under a microscope, to look for certain markers, (lymphocytic infiltration between the cells of the epithelium, for LC, or thickened collagen bands, for CC).

Despite the popular recommendation for IBS patients to eat lots of fiber, fiber is contraindicated with MC. The less fiber we ingest, the better off we are, because fiber irritates the hypersensitive lining of our intestines, and perpetuates the inflammatory process.

Keeping a food journal, (and a record of how she feels/reacts), is an excellent idea. Be aware though, that gluten antibodies have such a long half-life, that it is often very difficult to correlate diet with reactions to gluten. As long as gluten remains in the diet, some people seem to react to anything and everything.

Please keep us informed of her progress, and feel free to ask anything.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
dkbert
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Post by dkbert »

Tex, thank you so much - I can not believe how one diet clashes with the other, can see where it is going to take her some time (patience is not ne of her specialties, LOL) but we are determined to help her get through it.
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Post by dawnpice »

wow Dee!!!
All this information is awesome!
I just went through my pantry and refigerator this weekend and was sooo overwhelmed because there was nothing in my house that I could eat. Everything has gluten in it! I've already lost so much weight and feel like I am going to wither away before I can get a hold on this whole gluten free thing!
Reading through this thread has made me see a glimmer of hope, thank you for that!

Dawn, recently diagnosed with MC and having a very rough time getting it under control. LOVE this group and am so happy I found it!!
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coryhub
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Post by coryhub »

Thanks Dee!
I appreciate your tip on how to take the moisture out of my G-F pasta.
I tell myself that when I retire I'll have more time for hunting and gathering activities and can be more stringent about my diet but there is no time like now. I work long hours and am tired on weeknights so I try to make 'crock pot' batches on the weekends and freeze containers but now it's summer and I'm busier with friends so again it is hard.
I noticed one of my favorite rice mixes (Asian Helper Beef Fried Rice) no longer says "Gluten Free" on the package. It's new wrapper says, "May contain wheat". Drats! :worried:
CoryGut
Age 71
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis Sept. 2010
On and off Entocort(Currently Off)
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