How to Go Gluten-Free
Have you ever wanted to know how to start a gluten-free diet?
By now, chances are at least one person in your life has adopted a gluten-free lifestyle. Eliminating gluten from your diet can be beneficial even if you don’t have Celiac Disease or a gluten allergy. For many people, gluten has been known to cause weight gain, inflammation, bloating, fatigue, and indigestion.
Going gluten-free doesn’t mean you will need to change your entire lifestyle. Understanding what gluten is, and what foods are gluten-free is the first step to knowing how to go gluten-free. Once you have a good grasp on what gluten actually is, you can adjust your eating habits accordingly.
If you’ve ever been curious about how to go gluten-free or wondered what foods are gluten-free, we’ve got you covered! Learning how to start a gluten-free diet is simple, and there’s only really one rule to follow- avoid gluten.
What Is a Gluten-Free Diet?
A gluten-free diet is, simply put, a diet that eliminates or substitutes foods that contain gluten. The first question most people have, however, is what is gluten? Gluten is a natural protein found in certain grains like wheat, barley, and rye. While it may seem like everything contains gluten at first, it is easy to learn what foods are gluten-free and adjust your diet accordingly.
Chances are, many of the things you already eat on a regular basis are gluten-free. Meat, cheese, fresh fruits, and vegetables are all naturally gluten-free. However, many processed foods may contain gluten as part of their manufacturing process.
One of your best tools when learning how to go gluten-free is Google. Simply searching “is XYZ gluten-free?” will typically give you an instant answer to your questions. Don’t be afraid to look for answers when you find yourself wondering what foods are gluten-free.
Why Go Gluten-Free? The Benefits
Going gluten-free can be beneficial even if you don’t have Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivity. Some of the benefits of a gluten-free diet are:
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved bone health
- Improved skin health
- Reduced joint pain
- Reduced bloating
- Increased energy
- Weight loss
How to Start a Gluten-Free Diet
The most difficult part of going gluten-free is learning what foods are gluten-free, and which aren’t. This is most simply achieved by understanding what gluten is. Once you fundamentally grasp what gluten actually is, figuring out how to go gluten-free will be simple.
Learn What Foods are Gluten-Free
The first way to eliminate gluten from your diet is to rule out wheat immediately. While it may seem difficult at first, there are plenty of other options available to not have wheat at every meal. Salads, lettuce wraps, quinoa, and rice all make it easy to eat a filling, balanced meal without gluten.
Learning about the best gluten-free swaps is a fantastic way to get started removing gluten from your diet.
Prepare Your Kitchen
One of the best ways to be successful in starting a gluten-free diet is to make sure you have a list of gluten-free foods and snacks that you enjoy. Keeping a gluten-free food list of some of your favorites is the best way to make sure you don’t eat gluten in a moment of weakness or convenience. By getting rid of all the gluten in your pantry, you’ll have an easier time staying gluten-free.
Try Gluten-Free Meal Delivery
By far, one of the easiest ways to go gluten-free is to subscribe to a meal delivery service. Meal delivery services like Gobble deliver pre-portioned ingredients right to your door, for gourmet-inspired meals that can be ready in 15 minutes or less. Using a gluten-free meal delivery service takes all of the guesswork out of starting a gluten-free diet.
When you use a gluten-free meal delivery service, you don’t have to worry about what foods are gluten-free, or specifically shop for a gluten-free food list.
Read more about how it works, and the top 3 gluten-free meal delivery services.
List of Gluten-Free Foods and Snacks
Because so many people have wondered how to go gluten-free over the last two decades, there are more gluten-free options available than ever. Eating a gluten-free diet is fairly simple, as long as you know what foods are gluten-free. Here is a list of gluten-free foods and snacks to get you started:
Gluten-Free Grains
It is easy to substitute wheat in your diet when there are so many other gluten-free grains available:
- Buckwheat
- Amaranth
- Quinoa
- Oats
- Corn
- Rice
Eating buckwheat bread or corn-based cereals is a great start when you’re first learning how to go gluten-free. The convenience of buying gluten-free bread can be the difference between keeping to your diet and falling off the rails.
Quinoa, rice, and oats are good foods to help you feel full when you are first figuring out how to go gluten-free. Keeping these items on your gluten-free food list will help you spend less time wondering what to eat, and more time sticking to your diet.
Meats, Fruits, & Veggies
All meat is naturally gluten-free. Chicken, for instance, only contains gluten when it is breaded or is served with a sauce that has gluten in it. Finding ways to cook meat without breading is a simple way to eliminate gluten from your diet. Although battered & fried chicken may be delicious, grilled chicken can be just as tasty, without the harmful effects of gluten.
Fresh fruits and veggies should also be on your list of gluten-free foods and snacks. Fruits and vegetables are also naturally gluten-free, and only contain gluten when prepared through certain processes. Fruits and vegetables make great snacks to have around the house when you are first learning how to go gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Substitutes
While they may not be the easiest option to find, gluten-free substitutes can be a great way to help you adjust to a gluten-free diet. There are plenty of gluten-free options for crackers, chips, and other snacks to add to your gluten-free food list. Thankfully, most grocery stores nowadays have full aisles of gluten-free options to choose from.
Ready to go gluten-free?
Hopefully, by now, you’ve learned how to start a gluten-free diet, and what foods are gluten-free. Stocking your home with a list of gluten-free snacks and foods is a great place to start. Whether you have Celiac Disease, gluten sensitivity, or are just trying to be healthier, eliminating gluten from your diet is a great way to feel better. Now that you know how to start a gluten-free diet, gluten-free meal delivery might be a more sustainable option for you.
