Gluten Free Living For The Whole Family
If you’re able-bodied and able to look after yourself, gluten free living is still very testing. If you are unable to do so however, it becomes even harder than ever.
Children for example, are unable to buy and prepare their food, so they rely on their parents or guardians.
A child with gluten sensitivity therefore, will require even more care and attention. Seniors who are perhaps not as able-bodied as they once were, will also need catering for if they are unable to consume gluten.
It may be challenging at first, but once you’ve got the hang of it, preparing food for family members, young and old, who cannot consume gluten, is actually a breeze.
Here are some useful tips to help the whole family live gluten free
Always Wipe Down Surfaces
Whether it’s a chopping board or a kitchen work surface, when you prepare food of any kind, always wipe down work surfaces once you’ve finished. Use a good quality anti-bacterial cleaner, along with hot soapy water.
Always Prepare Gluten-Free Food Separately
It might sound like a bit of hassle, but gluten-free meals should always be prepared separately for regular meals. Again, this is largely because of cross-contamination. Even if you are sure you’ve adequately cleaned up, you should never prepare a gluten-free meal directly after a regular meal.
Be Very Strict When It Comes To Cross-Contamination
Cross contamination is one of the biggest headaches when it comes to preparing gluten free meals. Wiping down food preparation surfaces is a good start, but you also need to be wary of the clothes you use, the knives, chopping boards, where the food is being stored, and much more besides.
You also need to be careful when it comes to pots, pans, and oils. Ideally, it is best to purchase separate chopping boards, cloths, knives, cutlery, oils, pots, and pans that you use exclusively for preparing your gluten free meals only. This way, the chances of cross-contamination happening are reduced exponentially.
Store Gluten-Free Ingredients In A Separate Cupboard
Another very useful tip when it comes to going gluten free is to store ingredients in a separate cupboard. This cupboard will therefore be used purely for gluten-free ingredients. You could even go a step further and install a mini-fridge/freezer to store frozen gluten-free products such as meat, fish, and frozen veggies.
Try Plenty Of New Foods
Gluten free diets are now more heavily catered for than ever before, meaning that there are all kinds of delicious, weird, and wonderful ingredients for you to try.
You can buy gluten-free pasta, gluten-free bread, gluten-free flour, and much more besides.
Why not get creative in the kitchen and try new things? This ensures that the lucky family members that get to eat the foods will have plenty of variety to choose from.
Conclusion– Steps To Start Today & Long Term Lifestyle Change
When beginning any new journey, the first steps are always the most challenging. Going gluten free isn’t just like going on a diet to lose a few pounds. Going gluten-free is about changing your entire lifestyle.
It’s a big step, but if you do your research, take your time, and follow our advice and guidance, it is more than possible.
Here are a few tips to help you begin making the transition over to a gluten-free diet and lifestyle.
Remember That It’s Okay To Miss Old Favourites
A lot of people starting gluten-free diets often find themselves in denial. People often ask them that age-old question of ‘Don’t you miss bread’? and they often reply with ‘No, I thought I would, but I don’t’.
Now, if you genuinely feel that way then that’s great, but if deep down you are craving bread and pasta, and want nothing more than to eat them again, just remember that it’s okay to grieve for them.
It will be tough in the early stages, but as time goes by and you learn how to cope without them, and what to use in their places, it will get much easier and you will feel much better.
Do Your Research
The reason why we have compiled this useful guide today is to inform and educate, though there is always room to learn more. The more you know about your condition, the easier it will be to make the transition. Look online, speak to the experts, read
books, watch videos, join forums, ask questions, and find out as much about gluten sensitivity/Celiac disease as you possibly can.
Speak To Your Friends And Family
Another important step to take is to get in contact with friends and family members and to inform them of your condition, and your new lifestyle.
This is important because it will make life easier for family gatherings, parties, meals out, and so on. They will know to cater for you and will know to purchase gluten-free ingredients. Perhaps link them to useful guides and documents, such as this one, to help them learn more about your condition and about what they can do to help.
Throw Out Temptations
As hard to believe as it may be, there are people out there with diagnosed gluten sensitivity issues, that ignore doctor’s advice and deliberately eat foods they are craving that contains gluten, despite knowing what it will do to them.
Sure, eating that pizza may give them a few minutes of satisfaction, but when their stomachs have ballooned in size, and they’re doubled over in agony, suffering from all manner of digestive issues, suddenly they wish they hadn’t bothered.
You will get the cravings, and you may be tempted to throw caution to the wind and risk eating gluten. After all, maybe your condition has cured itself, or maybe you’ll just get a bit of wind that passes in a few minutes?
Our advice here is not to risk it. Before buying your gluten-free ingredients, empty your cupboards and get rid of any foods containing gluten, that you will likely be tempted by. As far as other family members, maybe ask them to store foods out of sight, somewhere where you are unlikely to look if you are worried about breaking your diet.
Thank you for joining me in this new journey and all the best with your future Gluten Free Living… onwards and upwards from here!
