Gluten Free Journey

Smart Gluten Free Journey For Busy People

How to Make Your Gluten Free Diet Plan

February 13th, 2012

Laura

People that suffer from wheat intolerance, celiac disease, and dermatitis herpetiformis must follow a gluten free diet. The best way to do it, taking into account that gluten is an ingredient found in many foods, is by making a gluten free diet plan.

Gluten is most often used as a thickening agent in foods you least expect to contain it: sauces, condiments, even dairy products. The common ketchup was also proved to be dangerous for those with gluten allergy. Fortunately, there are many products on the market from which you can choose.

Using a Gluten Free Diet for Weight Loss

January 25th, 2012

Laura

Gluten free diet is usually recommended to those that suffer from celiac disease or gluten intolerance. However, the diet has become very popular and it is now widely followed by those that want to successfully lose weight.

Gluten is a protein which you find in grains like wheat, rye and barley. To those that are gluten-intolerant, consuming it can cause gas, bloating, weariness and weakness. Eliminating it from their diet is the best option. This is also advisable for those that aren’t allergic to gluten. Taking it out of your diet helps you in losing weight easier and is simply better for your health. You remove many processed foods and foods that are responsible for weight gain.

How to Handle a Gluten Free Diet for Kids

January 19th, 2012

Laura

Image by The Sean & Lauren Spectacular via Flickr

When speaking about diets for their children, parents most often are reticent. However, as a parent, the gluten free diet for kids is something you should know more about, especially if your child has been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. A lot of foods perhaps you have never thought of contain gluten. Therefore children eat too much wheat and wheat products. Some of the symptoms that appear in a gluten overload in children are abdominal bloating and pain, constipation, chronic diarrhea, vomiting and even weight loss. People generally tend to eat the same products almost every day, so it is not surprising when the digestive system simply overloads.

Gluten is a type a protein found in most types of cereals, like rye, wheat, and barley, and in many types of bread. It contains alpha-gliadin, a type of protein that affects the mucous lining of the intestines in persons with gluten intolerance. Nevertheless, there are grains that don’t contain gluten: corn, buckwheat, oats, wild rice, amaranth, quinoa, soybeans and sunflower seeds.

Why a Gluten Free Diet

January 16th, 2012

Laura

Gluten free diet is mandatory for people suffering from gluten intolerance or celiac disease because, every time they eat gluten-containing foods, they suffer an immune reaction. Studies also show that, if they continue to consume foods with gluten, the chances of making gastrointestinal cancer are 40 to 100 times higher, compared to the rest of the population.

Some of the symptoms of gluten intolerance are: weakness, bloating, bone pain, chronic diarrhea, and progressive weight loss. Statistically, 1 in 133 Americans suffer from this condition. Fortunately, a gluten free diet is the answer to managing this disease. Moreover, it is not just for celiacs’. More and more people are starting on it, taking into advantage its health benefits.

Tips to Keep Your Gluten Free Pantry and Refrigerator Organized

December 14th, 2011

Laura

Image via Wikipedia

Those who have to follow a gluten free diet should keep an organized pantry and refrigerator. Here are a few steps to keep everything in order.

Arrange space

Find a large space in your kitchen where you can sort out the food. Divide the space in three sections:

Certain to Keep
Give Away
Not Sure

Make sure you know how to correctly identify what is and what isn’t gluten free. If you are not sure search for information online or with your doctor.

Gluten Free Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

December 9th, 2011

Laura

Today I bring here a Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Recipe to light up your day. Tapioca flour, creamy brown sugar and milk chocolate kisses. I’m sure you will enjoy it.

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter-flavored shortening
1-1/4 cups packed brown sugar
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 teaspoons Spice Islands® pure vanilla extract
1 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
48 milk chocolate kisses

Directions

In a large bowl, cream the shortening, brown sugar and peanut butter until light and fluffy.

Beat in egg, applesauce and vanilla (mixture will appear curdled).

Combine the rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Roll into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake at 375° for 9-11 minutes or until slightly cracked. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie.

Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Yield: 4 dozen.

Taking a Close Look at the Different Types of Gluten Free Flour

November 30th, 2011

Laura

Image via Wikipedia

There are different types of flour that can be used as plain flour or to make mixes of flour. Here they are:

Potato Starch Flour
This is a gluten-free thickening agent that is perfect for cream-based soups and sauces. Mix it a little with water first, then substitute potato starch flour for flour in your recipe, but use half the amount called for. It can be purchased in a health food store.

Tapioca Flour
This is a light, white, very smooth flour that comes from the cassava root. It gives baked goods a nice chewy texture. Try it in white bread or French bread recipes. It is also easily combined with cornstarch and soy flour.

Gluten Free Recipe: Chocolate Cake

November 24th, 2011

Laura

Gluten free diet followers have the difficult task to avoid certain foods such as desserts. They know they can’t follow in temptation because they will suffer the consequences. Fortunately there are enough gluten free foods in the market to compensate the needs of people that follows a gluten free diet.

Those wanting to invest in baked goods should buy gluten free flours made of soy, rice, chestnut, buckwheat, corn, potato, and chickpea (gram flour) and gluten free baking powder. Nowadays, these products can be found in most supermarkets.

How to Bake Gluten Free Bread

November 17th, 2011

Laura

Image via Wikipedia

One thing you might think is that baking gluten free bread is impossible. It is true that, without the gluten’s great baking properties, it is more challenging, but it can definitely be done.

In order to bake gluten free bread you need a mix a gluten free flours that make the bread yeasty, moist and exactly like normal homemade bread. There are some basic things you should follow so you could bake perfect homemade gluten free bread.

Getting to Know Gluten Free Crackers

November 14th, 2011

Laura

Image via Wikipedia

The production of crackers wasn’t always the multi-million dollars industry that it is today. It all started with Josiah Bent of Massachusetts who, in 1801, burning a batch of biscuits in the brick oven, accidentally discovered crackers.

The transformation the crackers have had since then was not even imagined by Josiah. They passed from being a grain flour snack which was loved by sailors, due to its long shelf-life, to the multitude of shapes, sizes and flavors we have nowadays. The cracker is basically a flat biscuit with savory or salty flavor, but it can come in many other flavors too, like cheese, tomato, onion, cinnamon, multi grain, herb, etc.