Talk to me about gluten free

[Colomama]

I have heard that gluten can have a big impact on attention and behavior. I feel I have tried all my other options before we more seriously consider medication. We do sensory breaks, physical exercise, limited screen time, behavior therapy, magnesium. All sorts of of things. I'm ready to try the big leap of gluten free.

My middle daughter has been dairy and egg free since she started on solid food nine years ago. So, I'm pretty experienced with cooking from scratch and reading product labels.

But gluten free is a different way of thinking. And I have zero experience with specific products (like this is way tastier than that brand kind of thinking). Any tips or tricks? I would implement this on the whole family because I know that's just the easiest way to go. My son is delighted that flaming cheetos are gluten free. Ha! I'm nervous about tortillas because I loathe corn tortillas.

[klwalukas]

Aldi has a great line of GF products. Their bread has become our hands-down favorite! Their prices are also better than most. We like corn tortillas, but there are rice tortillas, too. They both break easily. You can also make wraps from garbanzo bean flour. We like those, but they do have a bean taste which some may not like.

Pasta - I avoid the corn pastas and prefer rice or quinoa pastas. Favorite brands - Tinkyada and Aldi's

There are so many more options now than when we gave up gluten for my daughter 16 years ago that it seems really easy now by comparison. I say that not to diminish in anyway the challenge you are accepting! When I had to give up both dairy and gluten, dairy was far more challenging for me, so my hat is off to you already. I'm sure you will find things that work for you that will allow you to keep most of your favorite meals.

All the best,
Kristin

[applepie99]

Dear Colomama:

I have been GF for years, but my children are not. I would say that sandwich type bread is the hardest thing to replace. Quick breads like pancakes are easier. Rice pasta, Tinkayad brand, is very good, but I mostly skip all pasta and just use rice in it's place. Start at your local grocery store to see what they have. Try different gluten free blends or make your own. My sister likes Cup4Cup and I like Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Mix. Quinoa is GF whole grain I cook like pasta and like. I also purchase many grocery items from AzureStandard.com--they may have a delivery drop near you. You can also have items sent UPS. I like their rice flour. They have a lot of choices for flour and a helpful website. I don't have a particular blog I like, but checking out a few can help or books from the library is also a good way to start. I have The Gluten-Free Gourmet by Bette Hagman, but she uses a lot of dairy that I substitute out. I am dairy/casein free and this is something one really has to watch when going to GF--I have purchased some GF items several time, then felt bad after eating them, only to find dairy in them. Best wishes on the adventure. Kerri

[sarahandrew]

Hi Colomama, have you considered an elimination diet before you jump in? There is a Centre of Excellence hospital in Sydney, where I live, that has a Food Allergy and Intolerance unit. We have started their elimination diet. There’s a related website https://www.fedup.com.au and a USA Facebook page. I am celiac and I have 2 kids eating gf and one df as well. My husband challenged me when I had begun cutting out dairy for my 4th child who has been showing similar signs to my gf df boy with ASD/ADHD. He wants scientific proof, and did not directly associate the dramatic change in mood/behaviour with diet, I think because it didn’t happen immediately (like if I eat gluten and start vomiting within an hour), also he’s not preparing food for the kids (and a bit of a mad professor type). So I’m excited to see if there is anything else that might show up in my son or the rest of the family. Gf on its own is so much easier than gf df which it sounds like you are looking at, and egg free too...you are going to hone your substitution skills! It sounds like your knowledge with having already had a child with a restricted diet will help you a lot.

I have cooked lots of pancakes using gf flour and rice bran oil as subs, lots of home baked muffins. Lots of rice/potato carbs in our meals, but getting gf pasta sometimes. Barilla gf pasta is my favourite, not sure if you have it over there. I was buying gf bread until I discovered a week ago that propionic acid (282), which has been proven to have adverse effects on attention/behaviour, is in most of our gf breads here under a variety of innocuous sounding pseudonyms (I was checking for 282 not knowing it was there it was with a new name.). I’m back to baking gf bread again. My 11yo really hates it that I don’t allow ‘crumb-y’ gluten foods at home (unless guests bring it), but it is so hard to keep things from being contaminated if you need a strict gf, not just low gf diet. It is a lot of cooking/planning having multiple food issues, but if you can help your kids it is so worth it! I hope you get some big improvements!!

[Anita]

We tried eliminating gluten and, unfortunately, it had no effect on my son. He is not unmanageable now, thankfully, so the dire need to try it is gone. Suffice to say: be prepared to be pleasantly surprised — some parents really do see results — but don’t kick yourself if it makes no change. The biggest change I would really, truly suggest is greatly reducing sugar and processed foods. That seems to be more of a behavioral culprit than gluten (but I’m not a doctor). And remember: sometimes medications are truly necessary.

Starch replacers that are palatable and not crazy-expensive:
Rice (white, jasmine, and brown)
brown rice pasta (it’s surprisingly good — there’s even a WalMart brand)
gf oatmeal
rice noodles (Asian section)
Udi’s gluten free bread (in the freezer section)
Grits and hominy
Bob’s Red Mill (go crazy)
gluten free breads crumbs (for baking or sauteeeing)
Whole, unprocessed foods — potatoes potatoes potatoes, all kinds
Beans, in general

Bread is the biggest one to get right. There are tons of brands around now. Once you find one that works, that settles a lot of your angst.

GOOD LUCK!

[Fireweed Prep]

Some people say it works. I am completely grain free (with the exception of white rice) but my kids all eat gluten and dairy, organic as much as possible. They've been on and off GF/DF but it didn't seem to matter, unfortunately. For what it's worth, I had a very good naturopath tell me once that sugar should be removed from diet before anything else, as it is the culprit of so many problems.

[Colomama]

Good to know ladies. We're gluten free this week. We'll see if there's anything noticeable. Good to know about the sugar. We already eat pretty whole-foodish because of being dairy free.

[jen1134]

Good to know ladies. We're gluten free this week. We'll see if there's anything noticeable. Good to know about the sugar. We already eat pretty whole-foodish because of being dairy free.

Just a heads-up that it can take awhile for offending foods to clear out of your system. Even if it's a significant problem food, you likely won't see a difference in a week (unless it's a really, really big problem for them and then you may see a difference right away).

[Colomama]

Agreed. I just meant to say that we're in an Airbnb this week...so there's no cheat foods available hidden in the cupboards. I've been very selective on the food I bought and brought. But, I was rattling pans in the kitchen in preparation for lunch while typing and I was quickly surrounded by hungry little people. Ha!

Ps. Just had some chicken strips by Caulipower and man those things were good! I would've never bought something from a company named that before. Two thumbs up for that stuff from the whole family. They declared it better than normal chicken strips. Mom for the win!

[CherryBlossomMJ]

I’d highly recommend reading Wheat Belly. It truly does take about six months or more of being strictly gf to notice a difference to exposure. Also, for us, a true sourdough bread is okay. I can eat Izzio sourdough and not respond. As of this year, I have to be, as well as, my 11, 6, and 3. My Enginerd is not, nor is my 9, or the EBF babe.

[Enigma]

A book I love is Cooking for Isaiah by Silvana Nardone. Her flour mix is the bomb. First time I made the chocolate chip cookies, I cried. King’s Mill gf flour in the blue bag is almost identical.

Sandwich bread is the toughest to find a replacement for. We used to get Sammi’s Bakery Bread, but can’t find it anymore.

As others have said, it takes weeks to really clear it out. Give it time. Echoing the white sugar/processed foods, too. I use Sugar in the Raw now instead. Lots of other choices there.

Good luck!