Can anyone help me with gluten free info

[granmanh603]

Can anyone help me with gluten free info, forums, places to find products, just anything? My grandaugher was just diagnosed(13yold) and trying to help them find food info for them, she also has type 1 diabetes so trying to find some good food so she will not be so upset. Thank you for any help

 

[chimilady]

Sure? Do you mean at home or at Disney? If at Disney, I would check the disABILITIES board, they have a ton of info.

If you're talking at home, I have some tips for going gluten free. Is she celiac or just a gluten sensitivity/allergy? Is it a wheat allergy? Does the entire home plan on going gluten free?

By cooking gluten free, you need to have some dedicated gluten free pots and pans. You could possibly get your current pots and pans gluten free by numerous washing and scrubbing in hot water, but we're lazy and bought new ones. If the entire family isn't going gluten free with her, there should be a minimum of one skillet and one pot that is dedicated to being gluten free. Perhaps pick one up in a funky color so you don't forget.

This is a great time to be gluten free, so many options available. I know normally there are people who immediately go to the gluten-free substitutes, but you don't really need to go there right away. Some starches are naturally gluten free, like (white and brown) rice and potatoes. So instead of buying gluten free pastas and breads right away, I would look at adding more potato and rice dishes at home.

Gluten is found in many many things you wouldn't expect. Certain brands of BBQ sauce, salad dressing, tomato sauce, etc. You should google a gluten ingredient list and carry those with you. It's important to find brands your family likes and stick to those. It's not always easy to find substitutes.

For pasta like spaghetti, I like a quinoa based blend. the all corn pastas are just way too sweet for me, I find them gross. You may not. I find them at any supermarket, they come in a robin's egg blue box, in the healthy or gluten free section. If you have a Trader Joe's near you they are fantastic for labeling things. All of their products with a "g" on them are gluten free. Chips, brownie mixes, tomato sauces, ice cream, etc. For pre-baked cookies, I like the "enjoy life" brand. Same for chocolate. Disney uses them too. The cheapest and most versatile cookie mix out there is by Hodgkins Mills, I buy the 6 pack on amazon on autoship because it's a fantastic price. FANTASTIC!!! It's a generic recipe you can turn into other recipes like chocolate chip, PB, etc. Just add an extra egg to whatever the recipe calls for so it doesn't get crumbly. The best and lightest commercial bread HANDS DOWN is Udi's (again, who disney uses). At easter and Halloween google 2013 Gluten Free easter candy or Halloween candy and you will find out which brands are good to go. This is important because a normal snickers bar is not the same formulation as the easter or halloween candy funsize that gets passed out. It could change, and they do. Until you know for sure which brands are ok, I would carry around the ingredient list. Walk around Whole Foods (but don't buy until you comparison shop with your local supermarkets).

There are so many blogs dedicated to a step by step process it shouldn't be hard. good luck!

 

[granmanh603]

Oh thank you for answering. I am the grandmother and do not even live by them but I know they are swimming in panic right now. She( DGD) was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 2 years ago and now this showed up on a routine blood test and she just had the biopsy of intestine on Monday and have to talk with Dr on Monday. It is celiac disease. funny just this morning I emailed him to ask about potatoes? could not find that info..most sites I found just give you the basics and so I thought of here because even not Disney related I have gotten so much help from people, (We were just at Disney with them in Oct/Nov) even with the diabetes, some one told me about the board with info for health issues and found the Diabetes one. She was fine with the pump down there , only issue was traveling with supplies and TSA but still not bad...we had room when they got there so insulin went right in fridge.(DVC members) since we had a 2 bdrm. So I guess I will try ALL of your suggestions. I was asking because figuring a teenage girl and how they are picky, I wanted to have some acceptable alternatives for them...to get her started and not be so upset... the potatoes and rice is great idea. And now I know some places to tell them to look and what to look for. yesterday I went to supermarket and I live in the woods up here and looked at some treats to send off to her in a care pkg but then was thinking what if these taste awful and thought about my friends over here on the Dis boards.
you are so kind for answering and giving me so many good suggestions. Oh and I had no idea about the pots. I do know she has no symptoms at all yet and she has to get blood test regularly so I guess they found it right away and that maybe good. She unfortunately loves all the bad things, mac and cheese is her favorite!!!
Thanks again and I will be back to let you know how I do.... Carol

 

[scottmel]

I had similar questions a few weeks ago. My DD13 was needing to be gluten free as well. I bought "Gluten free for dummies" book. Amazon has it. WONDERFUL. I learned a lot, good alternatives listed and it has been a breeze to convert the entire family. Honestly. SO EASY. I put the APP on my phone for locating restaurants for gluten free entrees, called food companies to figure out what sauces, broths, etc were gluten free. Most were! Honestly I panicked over this initially - but it has been SO easy to make the change to gluten free. We all do it now!

 

[granmanh603]

I had similar questions a few weeks ago. My DD13 was needing to be gluten free as well. I bought "Gluten free for dummies" book. Amazon has it. WONDERFUL. I learned a lot, good alternatives listed and it has been a breeze to convert the entire family. Honestly. SO EASY. I put the APP on my phone for locating restaurants for gluten free entrees, called food companies to figure out what sauces, broths, etc were gluten free. Most were! Honestly I panicked over this initially - but it has been SO easy to make the change to gluten free. We all do it now!

That is SUPER, thank you that will be so helpful and encouraging for them..I copied and pasted and sent them all this info. I am sure it will help them alot.
You people are the best,

 

[chimilady]

Just keep in mind though with celiac, restaurants can be a bit harder due to cross contamination. For us, my daughter doesn't have celiac, so she's not as sensitive.

Most Celiac folks can't have oats either, so no oatmeal (even if it's gluten-free).

I highly recommend you pick up that book or one similar. It's not as bad as it seems. I think you're going to have trouble when it comes to figuring how to intersect the two diets. But once you figure that out, it should be easy peasy.

 

[Carter'sMommy]

Hi -

There is a "Superthread" on eating Gluten free on the Disneyland board.

I have posted the link ... not sure if it will work though -- you might have to cut and paste it into your browser but it did work for me that way.

Not sure what park(s) you will be going to but if they have it for DL/DCA then they will have something for WDW. Just call Guest Relations and ask!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3003289

 

[platamama]

I feel badly for your DGD, that's going to be a tough one. Any chance she could get a nutritionist consult who could address both the diabetes and celiac issues?

People recommending potatoes and white rice are well-intentioned since those are go-tos for gluten-free foods, but those are going to be awful for managing her diabetes! Brown or black rice would be better; quinoa is awesome.

Another thought here - since eating gluten-free eliminates all and any wheat products, that will likely end up reducing her carbs overall (assuming limited potatoes and white rice) and might therefore reduce her insulin need. So she will need to be careful to not become hypoglycemic as she goes through the transition.

Good luck to her and her family (including you!) in figuring all this stuff out. It will take time and allow yourselves to take the time to learn about it. It doesn't happen all at once, there's just a lot of information to take in. For instance, wheat products go under lots of different names (maltodextrin, for example) and even packaged shredded cheese that has the anti-caking agent added so the shreds don't stick together isn't gluten-free because the anti-caking agent has gluten in it. At least, that's what my best friend who's celiac has told me. There's a steep learning curve involved here. Be patient and supportive and she will be ok.

 

[Ali]

Make sure she takes a multi-vitamin to keep her B vitamin levels up. Wheat products contain the greatest amounts of them in the diet, or so it seems. I went gluten free last October.

The diabetes is probably going to be harder to manage than gluten free. Once you have to do it it becomes routine. I don't like any pasta's I've tried yet. Tinkyada is supposed to be the best. I love Kinikinick chocolate chip cookies. Regular nacho cheese doritos are gluten free. Udi's has the best frozen buns and Schar has the best on the counter bread but it goes bad quickly once you open it.

I eat a ham and cheese melted on corn tortilla every day for lunch. It's yummy!

It is tough at first but will get easier.

 

[wilkeliza]

On anything you buy that is prepackaged look for the gluten free symbols. The most common are the GF with a circle around it or wheat with a circle slash over it.

Celiac disease is worse than just a gluten intolerance. One of my coordinators has celiac disease and she said you have to be careful. Your granddaughter is old enough to be brought into the process so make sure she is involved. She needs to be educated on what is gluten and what things have it. Have her memorize the common names and even scientific names for the things she can't have. This way when she is at sleep overs, school, hanging out with friends or anywhere her parents aren't she can look on the labels herself. Educating her now will make life easier for her when she starts driving and later goes off to college and such.

I don't know where you live but I know the two best grocery stores I have found for gluten free and low suger products is Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Whole foods tends to have several isles dedicated to just gluten free products so you don't have to fret as much because the grocery store has already done most of the hard work. However at first it is important to still read labels and such just so you are use to checking it for when you go to other places.

 

[granmanh603]

you people are amazing.. this is just what I need to give them idea and places to find info by themselves to make the transition to this. My DGD is very smart so she should be able to master the differnent names to look for on labels. She has a cell phone and an itouch too so she can put stuff on there to help her. Its just they master on problem and now its like starting all over again with new info. They have had a bad few years(I will not even go into it all) this is just one more thing to worry about and master but you all have given them places to go to make it easier... I have the book in my cart already and am looking around for more things to send them.
I just can't thank you all for taking the time to do this for someone you do not even know.. when you get down and then find people like you it makes a big difference that a stranger would care and spend their time to help.
Oh I forgot to answer...I live in NH and they live in Cleveland area mentor to be exact.

 

[cockermon]

I am a pediatric dietitian - most kids with diabetes & gluten intolerance should have a doctor refer them to a dietitian for diet teaching.

This is a very good & reliable website:
http://www.csaceliacs.info/

Good luck,
Cathy

 

[crisi]

There are a ton of options - far more than there were five years ago.

I suggest a diet that limits "gluten substitute products" - most of them aren't very good anyway (though WAY better than they were a few years ago) and concentrates instead on fresh fruits and vegetables and lean meats - that will be better for her diabetes anyway. Most gluten free substitute foods don't have a lot of fiber in them and are of little nutritional value.

Watch prepared foods and be careful - for instance soups are usually gluten hiders. Soy sauce has gluten in it. Salad dressings often do. But a lot of cereals are gluten free by nature (cereal is usually made with corn, not wheat) although cross contamination can be an issue.

For when she does want GF foods - Udi's bread is almost universally considered the best - they also have muffins and cookies. Betty Crocker has a well distributed GF cake line. I love Orgran pasta - which is nutritionally valueless, but tastes the most like cremette white noodles.

Mexican restaurants are usually fairly good options - Italian not so much. Many restuarants - including Macaroni Grill (!) have gluten free menus.

 

[midwestdee]

My son in law was diagnosed with Celiac Disease 4 years ago. The doctor gave him such a dismal view of life with celiac, that he was ready to throw himself off a cliff! Encouage your family to get involved with the Celiac support groups - my son in law goes faithfully. There are so many more options today - just realize that most prepared items have gluten as an emulsifier - you really have to check labels. I went back to making gravy from scratch for the first time in 20 years at Thanksgiving. It will be fine - you have taken the first step in reaching out and learning about it. Your granddaughter will really benefit from finding on line or in person support groups for kids her age. Good luck!

 

[smokeyblue]

Might I suggest buying a "basket" of gluten-free foods for her to try out. My cousin was diagnosed with celiac's right before her wedding. I went to Vitacost.com/gluten-free-products and bought a large selection of products and had them shipped to her as a wedding gift. I bought snacks, sweets, baking mixes and pastas.

 

[mistysue]

Once their panic subsides they will probably find gluten pretty easy to avoid. It is getting a lot of attention right now- every grocery store here has a gluten free section for pre-packaged foods, plus the fact that most of your produce/meat/dairy areas are gluten free for the most part anyways. Again there it's the pre-made items that will have gluten (cheese shreds, lunch meat, salad kits)
A lot of gluten free is just making what would be healthier eating choices anyways.

 

[Sagginit]

well there will be tears during the transition being a celiac is a lifestyle change not just a diet. there are tons of foods out there. my fav places to shop are whole foods and trader joes (go there once a week). i can also find GF foods at mainstream food stores, target, and even walmart now! while substitutes are nice you do need to be carefully especially with the diabetes although as her body starts to heal and digest food better she will feel better overall. white rice flour and other really starching GF foods can be worse than non GF carbs. i worked more brown rice and potatoes into my diet when diagnosed and picked up things like quinoa. i like to use almond flour and flour mixes with bean in them to keep the protein up and the starches down.

favorites:

bread- Udis
pasta- TJs brown rice
lunchmeat- applegate farms (although they may be local to my region)
cake mix- betty crocker
flours/mixes- bobs red mill
soy sauce- San J
tortillas- brown rice from TJ (they come out better when baked than microwaved)
cookies- PB, one egg to one cup sugar to once cup PB, bake at 350 until golden brown
restaurants- outback, pf changs, bonefish grill, and ruby tuesday/ olive garden are super convenient as they seem to be everywhere
fast food- wendys (have never felt glutened there)

this is the must get book in my opinion. it covers things you never even think of having gluten, medication, lip glosses, oh and sharing a drink or kissing can even give you an unwanted dose of gluten.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Gluten-Fr...&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=gluten+free+bible+jazx

this is my most used cookbook. you can make the flour mix or this has worked with one i bought online that was bean based.
http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-B...d=1360205529&sr=8-7&keywords=gluten+free+bake


now for those lips. i love this brand. www.redapplelipstick.com
they may seem pricey but sign up for emails and the VIP club. that gets you 20% orders and notifications of sales, i also follow on FB. your granddaughter should start following GF blogs and companies like this on social media since it is way to learn bit by bit every day as they post.

happy shopping! the food may seem pricey at first but once you shop around you will learn who has the best price. also i cut out processed foods and started making more from scratch so it evened out.

 

[GraysMom]

Something else that she can try is using nut flours (we like almond flour) to replace wheat flour in baking. The protein from the nuts should also help a little with keeping her blood sugar in check while eating something sweet. We use Bob's Red Mill nut flours, buckwheat flour and GF all purpose flour blends (some work better than others for baking).

Pinterest has lots of gluten free recipes (I have a gluten free recipe board on there-PM me if you want my name to find my board).

We don't have Trader's Joes or Whole Foods, but our Giant, Weis and especially Wegman's supermarkets have GF sections. Like others have mentioned, Udi's bread and rolls are the best we have found (they are in the freezer section). Schar pastas, which are made in Italy, are my DH's favorite, although he usually uses rice noodles from a Korean market in his soups. For baked goods, I make them from scratch. Chocolate dipped fruits is a favorite GF dessert in our house.

I use the app Find Me Gluten Free on my iPhone to find GF dining options when we are out, although DH just has gluten intolerance so I don't know if the restaurants avoid cross contamination.

Many of the GF product lines have recipes on their websites (Crunchmaster crackers comes to mind right away). I have "liked" some of DH's fav product lines on FB so I see right away when they have a new recipe, product or contest.

Good luck to your DGD.

 

[The Running Ann]

I have been gluten free for quite some time and have found it easier than I ever would have expected. Dining out still remains a challenge in my opinion, but more and more restaurants are offering GF menus.

Although good gluten free options are available now and labeling is improving by the month it seems, my suggestion is to initially eat a very simple diet while the family learns how to manage everything. I think it is a lot to try to immediately learn about all of the ingredients / additivies, let alone substitutions for baking, etc. So, for a while, I might limit processed foods and focus on simply prepared vegetables, fruits, straight-forward proteins, and acceptable grains. Then, you can figure things out bit by bit as you read and learn. When my doctor told me to go gluten free, she told me that vegetables would be my best friend and I think she is probably right.

I subscribe to a magazine called "Living Without" which focuses generally on food sensitivities and has great information for gluten sensitivities and celiac disease. It offers good seasonal recipes as well.

Good luck to your family.

 

[luvdzny]

My son in law has Celiac and is a diabetic. I used this website a lot when he lived with us temporarily.

http://stephanieodea.com/