Comments on: Stop the Madness! http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/ Living gluten free easily by eating real food and a few gf processed foods Tue, 22 May 2012 14:08:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Shirley http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-32784 Shirley Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:29:40 +0000 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/?p=1522#comment-32784 Hi Sheila, Welcome to <strong>gfe</strong>. :-) It is not unusual to feel overwhelmed and, as you say, miserable and lost when one finds out one is gluten intolerant. You won't believe it now, but you will get past these feelings and go on to thrive in the future. Here are some simple things you can do to get started living gluten free easily. First, under my blog header, there is a tab called <strong>Getting Started with GFE</strong>. Click <strong>here on the link</strong><a href="http://glutenfreeeasily.com/tip-sheets/" rel="nofollow"></a> (or on that tab if you go back to my site later) and print out what I call gfe's tip sheets. These are printable resource sheets that will help you know what you can eat right now (<strong>50 GF Foods You Can Eat Today</strong><a href="http://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/50-gf-foods-you-can-eat-today.pdf" rel="nofollow"></a>), give you meal ideas (<strong>50 GFE Meals</strong><a href="http://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/50-meals-that-are-gfe.pdf" rel="nofollow"></a>), treat ideas (<strong>50 GFE Sweet Treats</strong><a href="http://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/50-gfe-sweet-treats.pdf" rel="nofollow"></a>), help you stock your pantry (<strong>The GFE Pantry</strong><a href="http://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/the-gfe-pantry.pdf" rel="nofollow"></a>), etc. Once you print these sheets out, you will see that many of your and your husband's favorite foods, treats, etc. may be already gluten free or easily adapted to be gluten free. As far as easy recipes to get started, my most popular recipes of all time (that are shown under <strong>gfe's most popular recipes</strong><em> on my sidebar) are certainly some of the easy ones. I recommend starting out with a treat food like the <strong>Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies</strong><a href="http://glutenfreeeasily.com/passion-for-peanut-butter-cookies/" rel="nofollow"></a>. You can probably go to your pantry and fridges right now and pull out the ingredients that this recipe calls for. They are so few and so basic. I am certain that you and your husband will love these cookies if you love peanut butter. Maybe you love pumpkin pie. Another favorite <strong>gfe</strong> recipe is Crustless Pumpkin Pie. All you do is add 1/4 cup of a finely ground gf flour mix to the basic pumpkin pie recipe. The pie thickens just enough that no crust is needed. It tastes fabulous and nobody, gluten free or gluten full, misses the crust. ;-) Maybe you're thinking about main meals as your biggest concern though. Look at the 50 GFE Meals sheet and you'll see may favorite you've always enjoyed. Barbecued chicken (just check label on barbecue sauce; most are gf), meat loaf (just skipping the gluten-full ingredients or adding gluten-free bread crumbs, gluten-free oats, etc.), steamed seafood (just make sure it's not steamed in beer), fried chicken or chicken nuggets (can be made gluten free by using a few different ingredients for breading ... my favorite is crushed potato chips), chili (almost always gluten free on its own), etc. Once you look at the listing, you'll see many meals that you already love. Please feel free to send me an email with specific questions/concerns. This seems impossible at first, but you'll get the hang of it more quickly than you could have ever imagined. I also recommend that you read my post on <strong>Grieving Gluten: The Five Stages of Loss of Gluten, Plus One</strong><a href="http://glutenfreeeasily.com/five-stages-of-loss-of-gluten-plus-one/" rel="nofollow"></a>. You'll see that you are not alone by reading the post and all the comments. The whole discussion may be very helpful to you. Big hugs to you, Sheila! Shirley Hi Sheila,

Welcome to gfe. :-) It is not unusual to feel overwhelmed and, as you say, miserable and lost when one finds out one is gluten intolerant. You won’t believe it now, but you will get past these feelings and go on to thrive in the future. Here are some simple things you can do to get started living gluten free easily. First, under my blog header, there is a tab called Getting Started with GFE. Click here on the link (or on that tab if you go back to my site later) and print out what I call gfe’s tip sheets. These are printable resource sheets that will help you know what you can eat right now (50 GF Foods You Can Eat Today), give you meal ideas (50 GFE Meals), treat ideas (50 GFE Sweet Treats), help you stock your pantry (The GFE Pantry), etc. Once you print these sheets out, you will see that many of your and your husband’s favorite foods, treats, etc. may be already gluten free or easily adapted to be gluten free. As far as easy recipes to get started, my most popular recipes of all time (that are shown under gfe’s most popular recipes on my sidebar) are certainly some of the easy ones. I recommend starting out with a treat food like the Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies. You can probably go to your pantry and fridges right now and pull out the ingredients that this recipe calls for. They are so few and so basic. I am certain that you and your husband will love these cookies if you love peanut butter. Maybe you love pumpkin pie. Another favorite gfe recipe is Crustless Pumpkin Pie. All you do is add 1/4 cup of a finely ground gf flour mix to the basic pumpkin pie recipe. The pie thickens just enough that no crust is needed. It tastes fabulous and nobody, gluten free or gluten full, misses the crust. ;-) Maybe you’re thinking about main meals as your biggest concern though. Look at the 50 GFE Meals sheet and you’ll see may favorite you’ve always enjoyed. Barbecued chicken (just check label on barbecue sauce; most are gf), meat loaf (just skipping the gluten-full ingredients or adding gluten-free bread crumbs, gluten-free oats, etc.), steamed seafood (just make sure it’s not steamed in beer), fried chicken or chicken nuggets (can be made gluten free by using a few different ingredients for breading … my favorite is crushed potato chips), chili (almost always gluten free on its own), etc. Once you look at the listing, you’ll see many meals that you already love. Please feel free to send me an email with specific questions/concerns. This seems impossible at first, but you’ll get the hang of it more quickly than you could have ever imagined. I also recommend that you read my post on Grieving Gluten: The Five Stages of Loss of Gluten, Plus One. You’ll see that you are not alone by reading the post and all the comments. The whole discussion may be very helpful to you.

Big hugs to you, Sheila!
Shirley

]]> By: Sheila G http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-32768 Sheila G Sun, 01 Apr 2012 03:03:30 +0000 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/?p=1522#comment-32768 I have recently found out that I am gluten intolerant and I am miserable. My husband & I are empty nesters and I used to cook really well. Now I don't know what to do. I am in tears and am miserable. I can't even find easy recipes to get started. I hate this but I want to learn to work with it................I am lost. I have recently found out that I am gluten intolerant and I am miserable. My husband & I are empty nesters and I used to cook really well. Now I don’t know what to do. I am in tears and am miserable. I can’t even find easy recipes to get started. I hate this but I want to learn to work with it…………….I am lost.

]]> By: Shirley http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-8518 Shirley Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:16:12 +0000 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/?p=1522#comment-8518 Hey TK--Welcome to <strong>gfe</strong>! :-) And, thanks for the support. There are really so many naturally gluten-free options that are inexpensive, tasty, and even healthy. I truly only purchase a handful (less than 10) gluten-free specialty products, EVER. I'm not sure everyone believes that but it's true. I was very dismayed at the editor's response, too. On the on hand, she does head a site that sells gf processed foods. On the other hand, I think she really believed what she was saying. I've heard the "need for convenience" and "no deprivation" cited often in re: to gf processed foods. Many of us know it's just not necessary ... that real food can fulfill our needs. And, as you've very notably pointed out real food vs processed also helps us heal faster. I couldn't agree with you more. Thanks for taking the time to comment! And, please spread the word ... educate folks. They may have to take baby steps, but they can stop the insanity, too. Shirley Hey TK–Welcome to gfe! :-) And, thanks for the support. There are really so many naturally gluten-free options that are inexpensive, tasty, and even healthy. I truly only purchase a handful (less than 10) gluten-free specialty products, EVER. I’m not sure everyone believes that but it’s true.

I was very dismayed at the editor’s response, too. On the on hand, she does head a site that sells gf processed foods. On the other hand, I think she really believed what she was saying. I’ve heard the “need for convenience” and “no deprivation” cited often in re: to gf processed foods. Many of us know it’s just not necessary … that real food can fulfill our needs. And, as you’ve very notably pointed out real food vs processed also helps us heal faster. I couldn’t agree with you more. Thanks for taking the time to comment! And, please spread the word … educate folks. They may have to take baby steps, but they can stop the insanity, too.

Shirley

]]> By: TK Kenyon http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-8492 TK Kenyon Tue, 01 Jun 2010 02:19:01 +0000 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/?p=1522#comment-8492 Amen, Sister! Rice is GF, folks! So are potatoes and cornmeal! The rest of the food is exactly the same. Processed foods and restaurants are for special treat or emergencies. Making a pot of rice and something quick to top it with is easier than most of the quick mixes, and 1000 times healthier. I'm astonished at the editor's response. We don't need processed fake food. Heck, we need to heal our guts and our bodies. Dumping a bunch of fake food into our linoleum-lined bellies isn't going to make us feel better. TK Amen, Sister!

Rice is GF, folks! So are potatoes and cornmeal! The rest of the food is exactly the same.

Processed foods and restaurants are for special treat or emergencies. Making a pot of rice and something quick to top it with is easier than most of the quick mixes, and 1000 times healthier.

I’m astonished at the editor’s response. We don’t need processed fake food. Heck, we need to heal our guts and our bodies. Dumping a bunch of fake food into our linoleum-lined bellies isn’t going to make us feel better.

TK

]]> By: Shirley http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-8319 Shirley Fri, 21 May 2010 00:41:25 +0000 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/?p=1522#comment-8319 Hi Tracee--Thanks, dear. :-) I really hope we can all get the word out. I think the Food Revolution and the emphasis on real food might make the light bulb go off for some. Again, I'm hopeful. Feel free to share my post to offer food for thought and encourage discussion. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment! Shirley Hi Tracee–Thanks, dear. :-) I really hope we can all get the word out. I think the Food Revolution and the emphasis on real food might make the light bulb go off for some. Again, I’m hopeful. Feel free to share my post to offer food for thought and encourage discussion.

I really appreciate you taking the time to comment!

Shirley

]]> By: Tracee http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-8303 Tracee Thu, 20 May 2010 01:52:13 +0000 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/?p=1522#comment-8303 Halleluyah!!!! Amen Sister Shriley! I love it. Halleluyah!!!! Amen Sister Shriley! I love it.

]]> By: Shirley http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-5575 Shirley Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:44:30 +0000 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/?p=1522#comment-5575 Hi Beverly--Thanks, and you're welcome! I love sharing info, discussions, recipes, etc. that I think folks might find useful. The transition you made is much easier than the traditional one. Folks who eat a lot of processed food are often at wit's end when going gluten free. It just really helps to pause, take a step back, and consider what we can still eat. Some gf specialty foods are great for an occasional treat as you say, but none of us should be eating them exclusively. Sometimes once folks start reading the labels for gluten in foods, they are shocked to find out just what they have been eating and totally regroup. It can be both an education and an opportunity to move forward as far as healthy eating, not just gf eating as you've shared. :-) Thanks so much! Shirley Hi Beverly–Thanks, and you’re welcome! I love sharing info, discussions, recipes, etc. that I think folks might find useful. The transition you made is much easier than the traditional one. Folks who eat a lot of processed food are often at wit’s end when going gluten free. It just really helps to pause, take a step back, and consider what we can still eat. Some gf specialty foods are great for an occasional treat as you say, but none of us should be eating them exclusively. Sometimes once folks start reading the labels for gluten in foods, they are shocked to find out just what they have been eating and totally regroup. It can be both an education and an opportunity to move forward as far as healthy eating, not just gf eating as you’ve shared. :-)

Thanks so much!

Shirley

]]> By: Beverly http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-5552 Beverly Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:02:50 +0000 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/?p=1522#comment-5552 Amen! I agree with your great article. Personally, I started off on a whole food diet and then decided to eliminate gluten from my diet. I think that made a much easier transition, since I had eliminated processed food. Its only been very recently that stores in my area are offering so many gluten-free alternatives. I so take advantage of them for an occasional treat...such as pizza doughs. But as a rule do not consume them much because many of them have questionable ingredients for my puritan, whole food thinking. Thanks for doing what you do! Amen! I agree with your great article.
Personally, I started off on a whole food diet and then decided to eliminate gluten from my diet. I think that made a much easier transition, since I had eliminated processed food. Its only been very recently that stores in my area are offering so many gluten-free alternatives. I so take advantage of them for an occasional treat…such as pizza doughs. But as a rule do not consume them much because many of them have questionable ingredients for my puritan, whole food thinking.

Thanks for doing what you do!

]]> By: Shirley http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-5439 Shirley Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:58:14 +0000 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/?p=1522#comment-5439 Hi again Jessica--Thanks! I really appreciate you sharing your own experience with making dietary changes. It's a totally different mindset than what is normally taught for eating gluten free (or "other" free), which is, of course, to purchase processed substitutes. But, it's enlightening on so many levels. Trying a world full of real foods can be exciting; it's fantastic that you are showing your children that. BTW, I agree with you that eating gluten free is easier than some of the other restrictions. I know I do much better without dairy and sugar, but struggle with those two. I guess we're always learning and getting better. ;-) Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on this post! :-) Shirley Hi again Jessica–Thanks! I really appreciate you sharing your own experience with making dietary changes. It’s a totally different mindset than what is normally taught for eating gluten free (or “other” free), which is, of course, to purchase processed substitutes. But, it’s enlightening on so many levels. Trying a world full of real foods can be exciting; it’s fantastic that you are showing your children that. BTW, I agree with you that eating gluten free is easier than some of the other restrictions. I know I do much better without dairy and sugar, but struggle with those two. I guess we’re always learning and getting better. ;-)

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on this post! :-)

Shirley

]]> By: Jessica http://glutenfreeeasily.com/stop-the-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-5421 Jessica Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:53:49 +0000 http://glutenfreeeasily.com/?p=1522#comment-5421 What a great post! We have recently taken our son off gluten, dairy, and yeast/sugar, and although it seems daunting at first (actually, just cutting out gluten alone seems so easy now!) I've found we eat much healthier and the cost of the diet is really up to us. Like you said, I can find deals on meat, fruits, veggies just fine...it's just processed stuff we don't NEED that gets costly. Also, I'm happy to teach my kids to try new things. We've found PB&J is just as yummy on a whole-grain rice cake, and they're eating a lot more nuts and seeds and things we didn't before. What a great post! We have recently taken our son off gluten, dairy, and yeast/sugar, and although it seems daunting at first (actually, just cutting out gluten alone seems so easy now!) I’ve found we eat much healthier and the cost of the diet is really up to us. Like you said, I can find deals on meat, fruits, veggies just fine…it’s just processed stuff we don’t NEED that gets costly. Also, I’m happy to teach my kids to try new things. We’ve found PB&J is just as yummy on a whole-grain rice cake, and they’re eating a lot more nuts and seeds and things we didn’t before.

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