CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

I often remind myself and my family to focus on what you CAN have instead of what you CANNOT have. You will realize that there is a lot out there that you can eat and often healthier options than the gluten items. 

GET HEALTHY

My family often hears me say that eating gluten-free food isn’t necessarily healthy. We have to make the healthy choices within the gluten-free parameters. Focus on eating more vegetables, fruits and proteins and less packaged foods, flours, processed sugars and carbohydrates. It is one step closer to better health and wellness!

GET EDUCATED

I felt like a fish out of water when we went gluten-free. I felt overwhelmed and frustrated. But once I started learning more about gluten-free and experimenting with recipes, I found inspiration (one of the reasons I started this blog!). Here are some of my favorite websites that helped me out when I first started.

DEFINE GLUTEN-FREE PREFERENCES

Not all gluten-free flours are created equal. There are whole grain flours, bean flours, grain-free flours (e.g., coconut flour, almond flour) and starch flours. Learn more about the different types of gluten-free flours. When you are choosing your gluten-free flour(s), there are many things to consider.

things to consider for gluten free flour

Cost – some flours cost more than others. Choose options that are healthy and affordable.

Glycemic level – grain-free and bean flours are low glycemic while potato and white rice flours are higher on the glycemic index.

Availability – choose options that are readily available and affordable. For example, I buy some stuff from Amazon and other stuff from local stores.

Taste – every palate is different. What tastes great to one person may not taste so good to someone else. Choose flours/blends that appeal to your taste.

budget

Gluten-free is not cheap, but it doesn’t have to be expensive either. Save that for eating out at restaurants. When you first transition it will be a noticeable adjustment on your wallet. But once you settle in to what you like, you’ll notice your food budget will level out. Start simple with a few key items and flours and go from there. See how I feed a gluten-free diet to my family of eight on a budget!

make it a lifestyle and not a diet

Diet gives you the impression that you are limited. When you are on a gluten-free lifestyle, the sky is the limit. You will feel better and enJOY life more when you take care of your body. Think outside the box. This may be the perfect time to take on a new
hobby, like baking or cooking. I have found that homemade gluten-free beats any prepackaged item on the market.

be patient and experiment

There is a big learning curve with gluten-free baking and cooking. Not only that, but it takes time for your palate to adjust to the flavors and textures of gluten-free foods. Don’t give up. Have fun experimenting with flour blends and recipes and be patient (It took me 2 years of fun experimenting before we hit our favorite All-Purpose Flour Blend!).