Relevant information about the five most popular restrictive diets: Gluten-free, Lactose-intolerant, Pescetarianism, Vegan and Vegetarian.
A gluten-free diet is, obviously, a diet that completely leaves out gluten. Gluten is found in grains like rye, barley, and wheat. Most people who switch to a gluten-free diet suffer from celiac disease. This disease causes inflammation of the small intestines because the body is unable to properly digest gluten. The only known treatment and cure for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. While having to switch to a gluten-free diet can seem difficult at first, there are several tips you can follow to make it an easy transition.
So you have been diagnosed with celiac disease and need to switch to a gluten-free diet. The first thing you need to do is not panic. While the switch may seem daunting at first, it is certainly doable. You need to start by creating new habits. Gluten can come in a variety of unexpected ways. You need to gluten-proof your house and keep everything you eat separate from any potential gluten residue. You also need to get into the habit of reading the labels of everything you buy. The FDA has regulated the use of “gluten-free” on a food label that requires all manufacturers to declare if their product used wheat as an ingredient. While this makes it slightly easier at the grocery store, you should still get in the habit of reading all ingredients. This will make your shopping trip much longer initially, but eventually you will get the hang of it. Ideally, you should plan your meals in advance so you can shop ahead. Purchase a gluten-free cookbook and keep it located in your kitchen at all times so you can always whip up a quick meal. If you live with a partner or anyone else, you need to have a section of the kitchen specifically dedicated as a “gluten-free zone”. You can keep separate utensils, bread machines, toasters, and cutting boards in this section.
With a gluten-free diet, you’ll have to eliminate a lot of your favorite snacks. Luckily, there are many different gluten-free snacks available. French Meadow Bakery Gluten-Free Fudge Brownies, for example, are super moist and loaded with dark chocolate and will help curb anyone’s chocolate craving. Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Gluten-Free Soft Pretzels are another tasty snack, and taste just as good as the soft pretzels loaded with gluten. The best way to find gluten-free snacks is to look online or to find a gluten-free cookbook.
Dining out with a gluten-free diet can be extremely difficult. If you know you will be going out for dinner, check the restaurant’s menu online. If they don’t offer a gluten-free menu, you may need to find somewhere else to go, otherwise you’ll have to eat beforehand. If they do offer a gluten-free menu, you should still call and double check with the restaurant to find out what safety precautions they use to avoid cross-contamination. The last thing you want is to eat a gluten-free meal only to have found out it was contaminated during the cooking process. You should always keep gluten-free snacks on you, just in case you find yourself in a situation where you need to eat but are on the road. Fast food restaurants won’t be an option for you, so you want to make sure you always have gluten-free food available to you.
