Gluten free, from me to you!

Welcome!
My name is Laura Hill, I was diagnosed with celiac disease ten years ago. Like many others, it was like pulling teeth to get a diagnosis! When my doctor had performed numerous tests and prescribed a vareity of medication with no cure, I requested he test me for celiac disease by the recommendation of a friend and he refused. He told me I could not live the rest of my life without gluten. He also suggested I was making myself sick. I finally decided to seek a second opinion. The next doctor performed the blood work and the results came back confirmed celiac disease. Starting the gluten free diet totally changed my life. The condition I was in before the diagnosis was scary, without the gluten free diet I am not sure I would be here today! From my experience with celiac disease over the years, I have a desire to help others with the condition.

It can be daunting starting the diet and changing over to the gluten free lifestyle. This inspired me to become a dietitian, in order to help those make dietary changes. I just graduated with a B.S. in Nutrition and I am currently a dietetic intern. I enjoy researching celiac disease, recipes, and the correlation between diet and disease. In this blog I want to share recipes and general information to help you navigate the gluten free diet, in the gluten filled world.


Sunday, September 26, 2010

How to eat gluten free and wholesome food on a budget...



The gluten free diet can be expensive without a smart strategy to budget your meals. Here are some tips to help drive down the cost of your next grocery bill.

1. Plan meals each week according to the sale fliers and incorporate seasonal foods into your meals. Foods that are in season are typically more inexpensive than unseasonal foods.

2. Scope out gluten free coupons in the paper, online, and some stores offer gluten free coupons like the Whole Deal at Whole Foods. Here are a few links to gluten free product coupons:

Chobani Yogurt

Stony Field Organic

Whole Foods

Enjoy Life Foods

Pacific Foods

General Mills


3. Shop primarily on the outside of the grocery. There are lots of natural foods on the outside of the
grocery that can build the basis of a gluten free meal. For instance:
  •  produce
  • fresh meat
  •  fish
  • dairy
 Other inexpensive naturally gluten free options on the inner isles include:
  • beans
  •  rice
  • corn meal
  • whole kernel pop corn
  • frozen vegetables
  • corn tortillas

4. Have at least one meal a week meatless. Incorporates more veggies and cut down on cost.
Examples:
  • Black bean tacos with lettuce, cheese, salsa, and avocado
  • Brown rice pasta with marinaria sauce and side salad
  • Spinach and eggs, baked sweet potato, and black eyed peas

5. Shop farmers markets or participate in community supported agriculture to save on local produce.

6. Purchase gluten free processed foods minimally,some products tend to be more expensive and empty nutrient value due to the high sugar and white rice flour content. Stock up on favorite products when they are on sale.

7. Buy gluten free flours and mixes in bulk through Amazon.



 

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