Gluten the Enemy

How can I start?

1.     At first and the most important step is that you have to get rid off the unsuitable food in your kitchen

·      Empty the food cabinet

Should empty the food cabinet and separate the gluten free flour, grains, cereals and dry legumes in one side of the kitchen table.

·      Check the list of ingredients

If you keep ready made soups and sauces like pasta sauce, tomato sauce, gravy sauce, and soy sauce you must read the list of ingredients carefully specially looking for the substances used for thickening and emulsifying. 

The gluten free stuff suitable for thickening sauces are: tapioca starch, corn starch, potato starch and another very popular gluten free emulsifier and thickener is xanthan gum. - It is made by fermenting corn sugar with bacteria. Xanthan gum has become popular in the gluten free circles. It helps give the dough a sticky consistency. Xanthan gum is safe when up to 15 grams/day are taken. (it is lot) It can cause some allergic effects such as flatulence and bloating, flu-like symptoms, nose and throat irritation.   It’s perfectly reliable to consume if you don’t have any allergy issues as mentioned above. However, most people wouldn’t prepare a salad dressing at home with xanthan gum, you would use it when it is really necessary; adding to the gluten free dough or cake pastry. -

Do not forget to check the stock cubes, dip sauces and humus!

If you find food you are not sure about you must treat it as it contains gluten.

Keep the gluten –free food and give away others.

2.     You should keep the gluten-free bread separately and you use different board for this bread.

3.     Use different toaster for gluten free food.

4.     It is necessary to have some special baking tins for bread, cakes,

cup-cakes and frying pan for making pancakes and other dishes.

5.     Guidelines to start your diet

·      Talk to a nutritionist about your diet and learn how to make your eating plan.

·      Make a list of the food available for you

·      Get into the habit of reading the food label very thoroughly.

·      Eat the naturally gluten- free foods – fruits, veggies, meat, nuts

·      Make a list of food what you really like

·      Learn how to cook- you can start with very simple dishes.

·      Get a gluten free cookery book

·      Make a list of your preferred cookery blogs

·      Make a list of your favourite restaurants providing gluten free meal

·      List of shops providing gluten free bread, cakes, pizzas,