It is safe to say that everyone reading this has probably heard the term “gluten-free”. Since it has become such a buzz-phrase, it isn’t nearly as hard to find gluten-free options at the grocery store or at restaurants now as it was, say, even 3 or 4 years ago. Because of its ever-expanding popularity, you are most likely familiar with some substitutes and/or ways around consuming gluten.
I’m not here to lecture on what it means to have a gluten allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity, nor will I try to convince you one way or the other about what you “should” or “should not” eat… I would just like to offer a few simple ways around eating things that contain gluten that you may not have thought of before, seen yet, or known were even possible! With that said, they are simple, which may mean that they are “duh!” to some of you who are in the biz of keeping gluten out of your system.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
When it comes to flour, you got options!
Check out this killer graphic, courtesy of Swanson.com, that shows you tons of options pertaining to your GF flour needs.
Gluten-free grains
Wheat may be seen as the most well-known, #1 gluten-bad-guy, and it seems to be in so much more than it should be — hmm, kinda like the massive amounts of sugar and salt in most store-bought foods. If your body is asking for something starchy and you got a hankering for grains, don’t get down!
Check out our list of Grains You Didn’t Realize Were Gluten-Free to get some inspo. You can also Google or Pinterest-search pretty much any recipe with “gluten-free” in the title and you’re bound to find it, I promise!
If tortillas are the game, play with corn!
Just because you may be potentially adopting a GF lifestyle, doesn’t mean you gotta kick tortillas to the curb! Opt for corn tortillas when cooking at home or ordering out to make any recipe/dish gluten-free! *Just be sure there’s nothing else in there that may cause you to have a reaction.
Try our oven-baked tortilla chips over on the Taday Wellness main site blog, and if you’re feelin’ spicy, pair them with your TW Member-exclusive Sassy Salsa recipe!
No gluten, no meat? No problem.
If “Meatless Monday” is everyday for you, and on this particular day you’re craving some kind of veggie burger or some not-animal-patty, try a less-processed option like:
- Black bean burgers
- Jackfruit patties — or in pulled pork/shredded chicken fashion
- Quinoa burgers
- Mushroom patties
- Cauliflower patties
… and the list goes on. Most of these are fairly easy to make at home too! Again, just Pinterest that sh*t and you’ll find what you’re looking for in a jiff.
Because the meatless movement is just as popular (if not more) than the GF lifestyle, it isn’t hard to find options that substitute plant for animal. With that said, most are HIGHLY PROCESSED, which we don’t like.
Ideally, finding options with the lowest number of ingredients and/or the most WHOLE foods is the better plan. Do your research — or check out YouTube videos or articles of other folks’ research to see what’s “good” and what’s “bad”… whatever that means for you.
Of course there are a million more examples of how you can walk the line between eating delicious foods and not getting puffy or itchy or a tummy ache (if gluten is seriously not your homie), but these are just a few options for you to play with today.
Speaking of playing and experimenting with delicious foods that are gluten-free… Here are links to all-new GF recipes that will tickle your taste buds and make you jump for joy — at least that’s what happened here at TW HQ.
- 5 Ingredient Banana Bread
- Choose-Your-Own Adventure Burrito Bowls
- Overnight Oats
- Black Bean Brownies
- Baked Tortilla Chips
- Easiest Granola Ever