One of the key elements to finding your gluten-free groove is finding safe foods to eat. For example:
- Who can you trust?
- What restaurants can you go to?
- What foods can you buy in the store?
In a perfect world, we would all eat whole foods and shop the “outside aisles of the stores,” as the advice goes. But my reality is that I have four kids to feed while working part-time out of the house and working two businesses from my home. So I cannot make everything from scratch. I truly believe we need balance in life. Even balance in our food, and I try my best to do just that.
Tips to make sure your food is gluten free
So how do you ensure the food you’re eating from a restaurant or store is gluten free? Here are a few tips!
1. Scan with an app! I like the Spoonful app and recommend using it as a starting place when evaluating a new item.
2. Look for the certified gluten free logo from the Gluten Intolerance Group. I trust this logo 100%, but I typically will still follow the rest of my steps so I stay in the habit of checking.
3. Read the label, paying special attention to any words that might be hiding gluten, such as “modified food starch” or “hydrolyzed plant protein.”
4. Check the manufacturing information. Is the food made in a facility that manufactures products containing wheat or other gluten-containing grains?
Still not sure? Call the manufacturer! Many companies have their gluten-free information listed on their websites these days, but it never hurts to call directly.
You won’t believe the relief you’ll feel when your gluten-safe products are sorted, labeled and stored in a separate area. (Do you have a gluten-safe kitchen? Get tips for setting one up here!)
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.
