There are quite a few aspects involved in going gluten free. It is such a big change. Food happens to be what most of our lives revolve around. Have you ever gone to a party where they didn’t serve food? Just the idea seems crazy, doesn’t it? That being the case, there are a lot of changes that are needed to take place when you change your diet!
Today, I want to share with you my best tips to help you understand what a gluten-free life may look like for you. When my family first went gluten free, I was so overwhelmed. I wanted a perfect snapshot reference of what a gluten-free pantry or grocery store run would look like. That’s what I hope to help you with today — provide tangible tips that will help you visualize what your gluten free life can look like.
Set goals and realistic expectations
Just like you can create a list for the perfect dream house or spouse, you can create a list of what you want your dream “gluten-free” life to look like. Do you want to continue eating out all the time? Do you want to eat more whole foods? What do you want your dinners to look like? Now is a great time to reevaluate what you want your dietary life to look like. Set goals and dream big — you can do it!
Look around online and see what other people are doing
Head over to my Instagram page @glutenfreewithcoral or search for gluten-free foods on Pinterest. There are so many positive gluten-free bloggers who are documenting exactly how they live a gluten-free lifestyle. Use the resources available to you and come join our online gluten-free community! The Instagram accounts for some of my favorite gluten-free/allergy bloggers right now are @theallergychef, @cleanmondaymeals, @chandiceprobst, and @meaningfuleats. There is such a supportive gluten-free community online — come be a part of it!
I recently went live with Gluten-Free Living on Instagram and did a takeover where I showed what products I look for when going grocery shopping — I so wish I had had this resource when my family was first adjusting to a gluten-free lifestyle.
Write down a list of foods you love
Write down a list of your favorite breakfast foods, lunches, dinners, snacks, and desserts. Once you have that written down, go through each food and do your research. Do any of the included products have gluten in them? Are the brands you’re using this certified gluten free? Would you feel comfortable with your family eating this? If you identify something isn’t gluten free, research and find a brand that is. I promise that there are so many safe and tasty alternatives out there. Once you find the brands you love, stay loyal to them! There has never been a better time to be gluten free.
Just because you have a new dietary restriction doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to eat your favorite foods ever again. One of my favorite foods is pizza. I was so disappointed when we went gluten free because I had this fear I would never be able to enjoy pizza again. Well, let me tell you, we have both learned how to make and have found amazing gluten-free pizza. I still love it as much as before! Instead of focusing on what you can’t eat, choose to focus on what you can eat. Your mindset is going to be so helpful in making sure that you are sticking to your ideal lifestyle
Remember that everyone does gluten-free differently
Above all else, please remember that everyone is going to have their own spin on gluten-free living. I’m just here to give you inspiration so you can create the gluten-free life you want to live.
You can do this, and you will get the hang of it. Embrace the gluten-free life, research it, live it, and rock it! You got this, friend!
Want to learn about grocery stores with gluten-free foods? Read our roundups for Whole Foods, Aldi, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s.
Coral Barajas
Coral Barajas is an award winning author, creator of @glutenfreewithcoral, and host of the No. 1 gluten-free podcast, Gluten Free You and Me. She provides hope, inspiration and resources, and through her advocacy, she has created a safe and uplifting community for all gluten-free warriors.
