How to gluten-free

Gluten-Free Diet Boot Camp


I often get asked for information on celiac disease and gluten-free. Either it's someone that is just starting to investigate gluten as the source of their health issues, or it's someone that is just newly diagnosed and looking how/where to start. So, I gathered up a bunch of resources and created this document. The original Gluten-Free Diet Boot Camp was created in 2005. What you see here is an updated version of it.

I am throwing A LOT stuff out here, please don't let it overwhelm you. If your head starts spinning, stop reading for awhile. While it may be very confusing to you right now, please know that it does get easier - it really does.


Alan Klapperich - Branch Manager
GIG of East Central Wisconsin
http://gigofecw.org/
http://www.facebook.com/GIGofECW

Revised: 09/12/20 - see bottom of page for details



Gluten-Free Diet Boot Camp


"Celiac Disease Screening Round Up"

Read More:
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_CD_Screening
Note: If you have not completed testing for celiac disease, please do so before going further. Why? One must be consuming gluten for the tests to be accurate.


You’ve been told you must go gluten-free and think, “What am I going eat?”. The more you think about it, you realize how monumental this is going to be. When faced with a large task I like to break it down into smaller, more manageable chunks. Focusing on smaller tasks makes this process much less overwhelming. Don't pressure yourself into trying to learn everything in one day.

The most important tool you can have when dealing with this is KNOWLEDGE. Knowledge means health. The more you know (about yourself, about your food, about this condition), the better you will feel.

Step 1 - Stay Calm. Try not to panic, this is not the end of the world. While it will take some time for you to settle into the GF lifestyle, it is very do-able. With a bit knowledge and a bit of planning, you will be successful. You are not alone, people all over the world live this way. Currently, it is now easier to maintain a gluten-free lifestyle than any other time in history. For better or worse, gluten-free has made it to mainstream awareness. While there is room for improvement, things are going in the right direction. Gluten-free options are plentiful, but, they are not always healthy. Gone are the days of 20 years ago when it was the rice and banana diet. Fear not...you will not starve! There are many foods that are naturally gluten-free - and darn tasty!

"Grieving the Loss of Gluten"

Read more: http://bit.ly/GIGECW_Grief
Be aware, that you may go through a grieving process. Leaving your old lifestyle behind will be an emotional experience - a roller coaster ride for sure. This is common, normal and healthy. Do not suppress these emotions - recognize them and deal with them.

Step 2: Identify & remove the obvious foods from your diet. This is usually quite "easy" to do. I don't mean emotionally or physically easy to do, but easy to identify. Gluten is generic term for the proteins found in wheat (durum, graham, kamut, semolina, spelt), barley, rye & triticale (hybrid of wheat & rye). Any product made with or contaminated by these ingredients is off-limits - breads, crackers, cereals, pasta, pizza, cakes, pies, cookies, many soups, etc. Don't forget beer.

The best (and simplest) recommendation I can give you when going gluten-free (GF)...stick to single-ingredient,"whole" foods.

Whole foods are foods that have little or minimal processing done to them. Anytime a food is processed, there's a good chance gluten is added to it either by design or by accident [cross contact].

Think fresh fruits and veggies, plain meats, poultry, seafood, eggs.

Avoid products with marinades, sauces or seasonings-they may contain gluten.

Finding gluten in a head of lettuce or a bunch of carrots is pretty hard to do. After you start to feel better you can branch out a bit more in to the processed food if you wish, however I know many people stick to the whole foods.

Tip: shop the outside perimeter of the store. Usually this is where you find the produce, eggs, plain meats, etc.

Tip: Stick to foods with short ingredient lists - the shorter the better. It's better for you and requires much less reading. The best - single ingredient foods.


Step 3: Look for hidden gluten. This may take you some time for figure out. You WILL become a label reader. In order to stay healthy you will need to check every ingredient in every product you come in contact with - both ingested and topical. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours getting groceries. It will take that long due to label reading. After you read a few labels, you'll know why I suggested focusing on whole, single ingredient foods. Processed foods are a minefield when it comes to reading labels to determine if there's gluten. Not much to read on a head of broccoli, a bag of carrots, a head of lettuce, etc.

If you do buy processed/packaged foods check the ingredient label. If you see any of these words: Barley, Malt, Malt Flavoring, Malt Vinegar, Rye, Triticale, Wheat (Durum, Graham, Kamut, Semolina, Spelt), Brewer's Yeast - put the product down. If you can't tell from the ingredient list, call the manufacturer and ask them. Also look for a gluten-free certification. This seal tells you the manufacturer has specific standards, policies & procedures for making gluten-free foods. If you are unsure about a product, don’t eat it.

Avoid commercial or mainstream oats [think Quaker Oats] or products that use them because they can have
high levels of gluten due to cross-contact. Pure, uncontaminated gluten-free oats can be tolerated by many, but for right now - this minute, no oats. Those new to gluten-free should abstain from oats for at least one year. Oats have been controversial for decades, please look at all the information before you decided to add oats to your diet. Please see our Oats section below for more information.

Other areas to look for gluten - medications, vitamins/nutritional supplements, cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, etc.

If a gluten-free food has cross contact with gluten, it’s off-limits. It only takes a crumb for many to get sick. Crumbs matter? Yes crumbs matter! It only takes a small amount of gluten to put your body into an inflammatory state.

ZERO gluten should be the ultimate goal for everyone following a gluten-free diet.

Have you double dipped in the peanut butter, Mayo jar, jam/jelly jar, butter dish, etc.? It's contaminated.

The best thing to do is go on a cleaning spree. Remove everything from your cupboards. Toss the gluten filled/contaminated junk and meticulously clean everywhere with hot soapy water - changing it often. Even move the stove and fridge!

A gluten-free diet is not like a diabetic diet where you can balance it out. There is no room for cheating. Everyone one will have different sensitivities to the gluten they might ingest. Some may be dreadfully sick for days/weeks from the smallest crumb. Others, may only have reflux, gas, bloating. Some won't have any reaction at all! Even though you may not be able to feel the effects of gluten, your body's immune system is in overdrive. Not adhering to the diet leads to nasty outcomes...the possibility of cancer and a cascade-effect of other auto-immune diseases.

Step 4: Join a local support group. As good as online sites are, there is nothing that can replace face-to-face, human interaction. According to a Columbia University study, celiac patients reported better quality of life when they participated in face-to-face support groups compared to online support groups. Also, longer duration of face-to-face support generated a greater quality of life.

In contrast, they found lower quality of life reports when patients spent more time in online support groups. Source:
http://bit.ly/23gBFDX

The gluten-free lifestyle requires hard work, dedication, commitment, and knowledge. The emotional and physical stress of a difficult lifestyle change piled on top of years [often decades] of ill-health, takes its toll. Every opportunity for a positive outcome needs to utilized.

Making the transition not easy for you, nor is it easy for your loved ones. Often times spouses, family & friends may not always understand exactly what you are going thru. They may not understand how vigilant you must be at keeping gluten out of your diet. In fact, unsupportive friends and family can be a huge detriment to your success; surrounding yourself positivity gives you the best environment to flourish.

One way to make it easier is to meet with others that walk in your shoes. They know where you've come from, they know what you're going through. They understand. Understanding is not something you always find in the gluten free lifestyle. You find out that you're not alone.

Connecting with others that share your same situation can give you a huge boost emotionally and physically. Many others experience the same trials and tribulations you do.


General Information Links


Gluten Intolerance Group of North America: Living Gluten-Free Basics & Beyond (PDF)
http://bit.ly/GIG-Living-GF

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America: Getting Started Articles
http://bit.ly/2AOVYVl

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America: Diet & Nutrition Articles
https://bit.ly/33naq3w

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America: Health & Wellness Articles
https://bit.ly/2DViG21

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America: Lifestyle Articles
https://bit.ly/2RlR49k

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America: Published Articles
https://bit.ly/35rhrD4

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America: Find GFCO Products
https://bit.ly/35wlmi3

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America: Find Gluten-Free Food Service (GFFS.org) Restaurants
https://bit.ly/33rTHw5

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America: News Stories
https://bit.ly/3hohqC7

10 Must-Do's for Newly Diagnosed Celiacs by Jules E. Dowler Shepard
http://bit.ly/2B6ZDy5


A collection of articles that I've written.

Think SMALL for Gluten-Free Success
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-Think-Small

FDA Temporary Labeling Requirements During COVID-19
https://bit.ly/GIGECW-FDA-Temp-Labeling

The Tale of Two Nightclubs - Understanding Celiac Disease Through Motorcycles and Nightclubs
https://bit.ly/GIGECW-Tale-Of-Two-Clubs

Gluten-Free Success
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-GF-Success

The Stages of Change: Gluten-Free Edition
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-Change

Gluten-Free Label Reading

http://bit.ly/GIGECW-GF-Label-Reading

Low-Gluten Communion Hosts
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-LG-Hosts

Gluten-Free Road Trip
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-GF-RoadTrip

Grain-Free for the Gluten-Free
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-GrainFreeGlutenFree

Gluten-Free Gratitude
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-Gratitude

May Contain - Voluntary Advisory Statements
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-MayContain

Becoming a Gluten-Free Champion
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-Champion

What Oats Through Yonder Package Breaks?
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-PureOats

The Risks of Cheating
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_Cheating

Navigating the Holidays
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_Navigate_Holidays

Confusing Ingredients - GF or Not GF?
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_ConfusingIngreds

Back to School Resources
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_BackToSchool

Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_GlutenContamination

Grieving the Loss of Gluten - (Published in Gluten Intolerance Group of North America's Quarterly Magazine Celebrate Gluten-Free Winter 2013)
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_Grief

Lack of Support From Family - (Published in Gluten Intolerance Group of North America's Quarterly Magazine Celebrate Gluten-Free Spring 2013)
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_LackofSupport

Educating Family & Friends About Gluten-Free - A collection of resources I assembled over the years to educate others. Includes a Powerpoint presentation I did for our church.
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_EducatingFamilyFriends

A Day in the Life: Living in a Mixed House - This is how we deal with having gluten in our house (I'm GF, my wife is not, but she's getting closer. YAY!)
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_MixedHouse

Better Living Thru GF Chemistry - A primer on medications.
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_GFChemistry

Gluten-Free Cosmetics and Hair Care Products - Gluten on the Skin?
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-Cosmetics

GIG of ECW Newsletters
http://bit.ly/GIGECW_Newsletters


Support Groups


A list of WI support groups :
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-WI-Support

Search for a support group in your area:
http://bit.ly/GIGECW-SupportGroups


Books


Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic (Revised and Updated Edition)
by Peter H.R. Green M.D. and Rory Jones

http://amzn.to/1OmJHJT

Gluten Freedom: The Nation's Leading Expert Offers the Essential Guide to a Healthy, Gluten-Free Lifestyle
by Alessio Fasano M.D. and Susie Flaherty

http://amzn.to/1X5JImX

Gluten: Worth the Risk?, Gluten-Related Disorder: Sick? Tired? Grumpy?, Gluten: ZERO Global, Gluten Brains: the brain-grain connection, The Gluten Syndrome: is wheat causing your harm?
by Dr. Rodney Ford

http://bit.ly/1NsxD9I

The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
by Jules E. Dowler Shepard

http://amzn.to/1TJieOP


Magazines & Publications


Allergic Living
https://www.allergicliving.com

Delight Gluten-Free
http://delightglutenfree.com

Gluten-Free Living
http://www.glutenfreeliving.com

Living Without's Gluten-Free & More
http://www.glutenfreeandmore.com

Simply Gluten-Free
https://simplygluten-free.com/


Recipes


GF Recipes can be found simply by searching the internet. There are so many bloggers and websites that offer GF recipes, it's amazing. A lot can be found on Facebook.

Here are just a few...

Recipes for most of our meals are posted on our group's website, as well as Peggy's [my wife] baked goods

You'll notice that many of our recipes are pretty simple. I really like taking simple ingredients and making amazing meals. It's truly a case of
"The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts". We do a fair amount of entertaining and hosting of family events [because we both like to cook and because it's easier for us to control the food]. Our goal is to show that gluten-free food is not taste-free, crappy food. We are successful at it if I do say so myself.

http://bit.ly/GIGECW_Recipes

Ginger Lemon Girl
http://bit.ly/2nMLcKt

Beth Hilson (founder of Gluten-Free Pantry Products)
http://bit.ly/2AIc5Sh

Carol Fenster
http://bit.ly/2yXr5wy

Annalise Roberts - My Gluten-Free Table
https://mygluten-freetable.com/

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Recipes (General Mills)
http://bit.ly/2jGtXWq



Gluten-Free Apps for Mobile Devices


Published lists of gluten-free products (electronic or paper), are easily outdated. Please keep in mind, you still need to read labels and sometimes verify GF status with manufacturers as ingredient lists can change - generally without notice. Use these lists/apps, as a guide, not as the sole means of determining the GF status of a food.

A review of the top 10 GF apps:

Gluten-Free Living - Top 10 Gluten-Free Apps
http://bit.ly/2yXBxnS

Verywell.com - 11 Gluten-Free Apps to Help You Shop, Eat Out
http://bit.ly/2ArQmRK

Gluten-Free Passport - iCanEat & iEatOut Apps
http://bit.ly/2iQk33D


Local Gluten-Free Shopping


http://bit.ly/GIGECW-Shopping



Confusing Ingredients


Some ingredients can be quite confusing. Check out these links for some clarification...

http://bit.ly/GIGECW_ConfusingIngreds



Oats


The safety of oats for those on a gluten-free diet is a topic that has been debated for decades...and it still continues today. Please research this topic carefully before making your decision about oats.

What oats are used in gluten-free products?

This article examines the difference between Purity Protocol Oats vs Mechanically/Optically Sorted oats…and why it matters.

http://bit.ly/GIGECW-PureOats


I can't eat gluten. Can I safely include oats in my gluten-free diet?
By Jane Anderson

http://abt.cm/1F2Qwuk


Canadian Celiac Association
http://bit.ly/2yY6Ui8


"The safety of oats in individuals with celiac disease has been extensively investigated. Health Canada has reviewed the clinical evidence from numerous international studies and has concluded that the consumption of oats, uncontaminated with gluten from wheat, rye or barley, is safe for the vast majority of patients with celiac disease. A 2015 review entitled Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Claims on Uncontaminated Oats is available on Health Canada’s web page Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Claims on Uncontaminated Oats"

Read CCA's entire oats statement




National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
http://bit.ly/2kRzQn5

What about oats?

A special caution must also be delivered when it comes to oats. While oats in their natural form do not contain gluten, a small portion of patients with celiac disease react to oats in their pure, uncontaminated form. Some literature suggests that a protein in oats can trigger a similar response to gluten. Additionally, most mills that process oats also manufacture gluten-containing grains, making the chances of cross-contact inevitable.

The best advice we can offer is to take a great deal of care before introducing oats into your diet, which includes speaking with your healthcare provider about this dietary change. There is no way to determine if you will react, so proceed with caution. Verify that the oats you are using are “pure, uncontaminated,” “gluten-free,” or “certified gluten-free.” Experts recommend that up to 50g of dry gluten-free oats are considered safe. Check nutrition labels for portion size.



University Chicago Celiac Disease Center
http://bit.ly/2BSOn5r

Do oats contain gluten?

A large body of scientific evidence accumulated over more than 15 years has proven that oats are completely safe for the vast majority of celiac patients. Oats are not related to gluten-containing grains such as wheat, barley and rye. They don’t contain gluten, but rather proteins called avenins that are non-toxic and tolerated by most celiacs (perhaps less than 1% of celiac patients show a reaction to a large amount of oats in their diets).

Oats can be in a celiac’s diet provided they are selected from sources that guarantee a lack of cross-contact of wheat, rye or barley.
Some who add oats to their diet may experience GI symptoms. This may actually be a result of the increased fiber that oats provide instead of a reaction to the oats themselves.




GF Processed Foods Links


Remember: Use published lists wisely. Always read the product ingredient list. If you're unsure, call the manufacturer [even from the store] and ask. GF status checks are generally the #1 type calls customer service reps get.

Also be conscious of the amount of processed foods you consume. Try to use them sparing or even better, not at all. Many in the GF community feel their best when all processed foods have been removed. Keep in mind, fine tuning your diet is a work in progress; you keep tweaking it so you can be at your best. Making the leap to gluten-free can be a daunting task, GF processed foods could be used as a stepping stone to help make that transition a bit easier. Everyone handles change differently. You need to figure out what works for you, what gives you best chance a success.

Tip: "When in doubt - leave it out". If you can't verify the status, put it back.

Tip: When checking the ingredient labels, use the 3-times rule. Read the label when you purchase a product, when you put it away in your pantry and again when you retrieve it to use. This will help minimize mistakes.

Tip: Stay away from naturally gluten-free foods in bulk bins - cross-contact risks are too high


Betty Crocker (General Mills)
http://bit.ly/2jG8Un7

Campbell's GF Products
http://bit.ly/2C2pEME

Del Monte Products
http://bit.ly/2AI84NZ

Gluten Intolerance Group's Easy-to-Find and Easy-to-Fix
http://bit.ly/2d1cbgh

Festival Foods Gluten-Free Webpage
(Festival Foods are located in Appleton*, Baraboo, De Pere, Eau Claire*, Fond du Lac, Fort Atkinson, Green Bay*, Holmen, Janesville, Kenosha, La Crosse*, Madison, Manitowoc, Marshfield, Menasha, Mt. Pleasant, Neenah, Onalaska, Oshkosh, Paddock Lake, Portage, Sheboygan, Somers, Suamico, Tomah. *Multiple locations):
http://bit.ly/2kjzzW7

Note: Festival Foods Deli is not a dedicated gluten-free environment. However, their staff has participated in the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness GREAT Kitchens Program. A training program to educate food service professionals on gluten-free food preparation and cross contact.


Gluten-Free Candy


Verywell.com Gluten-Free Candy (updated regularly)
http://bit.ly/2nPYFRG

Hershey's Gluten-Free List

https://bit.ly/3hqzAmH


Gluten-Free Dining


Dining out is also a minefield. All too often, restaurants don't understand the intricacies of properly preparing gluten-free food. The risk factor for gluten cross contact is generally quite high. However, with proper training food service professionals can successfully create delicious gluten-free food.

In many cases, the restaurants that do the best job have a family member that must be gluten-free. They understand the workings of a busy kitchen and educate their staff how to keep their guests [and family members] safe.

There are many in the gluten-free community that do not eat out at all. They simply won't risk their health for a meal out. This is a personal choice that we all have to make.

Tip: If you are new to gluten-free, refrain from eating out until have a good handle on the gluten-free diet at home. This minimizes the risk of further gluten exposure and gives your body time to recover.


Gluten Intolerance Group of North America - Restaurant Dining: 7 Tips for Staying Gluten-Free
http://bit.ly/2cFkuZD

Gluten Intolerance Group of North America - Restaurant Card
https://bit.ly/2FxDpJs

Gluten-Free Living - Tips for Eating Out
http://bit.ly/2j5rc0e

Here are some local dining options for you to investigate:
http://www.gigofecw.org/dining/dining.html



Local Gluten-Free Bakery


Happy Bellies Bake Shop (Appleton)
http://www.happybelliesbakeshop.com/

Molly's GF Bakery (Pewaukee)
http://www.mollysglutenfreebakery.com/


GFDBC Updates


Revised: 04/12/21
Added Think Small article

Revised: 09/29/20
Added GIG’s Living GF Basics and Beyond

Revised: 09/12/20
Updated links

Revised: 01/11/19
Added Success and Change articles

Revised: 01/30/18
Added GF Label Reading Article

Revised: 11/22/17
Updated Local Support Group section

Revised: 08/23/17
Added GIG of ECW Articles list.

Revised: 11/27/16
Add additional GIG of ECW articles and update dead links.

Revised: 05/24/16
Add GIG of ECW Newsletter link.

Revised: 05/21/16
Add GIG's Easy-to-Find and Easy-to-Fix food ideas.

Revised: 05/12/16
Add Books, Magazines & Publications sections

Revised: 04/30/16

Revised: 04/06/16

Revised: 07/24/15
Added CD Screening info

Revised: 04/18/15
Updated links to GIG of North America's new website: www.gluten.org
Updated Candy Lists
Updated various links
Updated Canadian Celiac Association's position on oats

Revised: 11/11/14
Updated Processed Foods Section - Added Heinz link

Revised: 10/19/14
Updated Processed Foods Section

Revised: 05/04/14
Add 10 Must-Do's for Newly Diagnosed to General Info Section

Revised: 04/12/14
Add tip about avoiding bulk food bins

Revised: 03/31/14
Add links to Candy Section

Revised: 03/30/14
Added Oats section
Added GIG's The Gluten-Free Nutrition Guide - Optimizing the Gluten-Free Diet

Revised: 03/08/14
Added links to Gluten-Free Dining

Revised: 03/05/14
Fixed: Broken GIG general information links, General Mills GF Product Guide Link, Annalise Roberts recipe links, Campbell's link, Festival Foods Packaged Foods list, Schar Pasta Link, GIG Restaurant Cards link.

Added: GIG's Easy-to-Find and Easy-to-Fix Link, LiveBetterAmerica.com Recipe Link, Annalise Roberts recipe link, Happy Bellies Bake Shop


Revised: 08/09/13