One of the things I find from people (and I felt myself in the beginning) that want (or need) to go gluten free is that they are SO overwhelmed with getting started.

My BEST advice is to eat at home for awhile until you learn what typically is gluten free and what you have to be careful of. Make a list of your favorite gluten free foods and then use the list below to see how you can re-make them gluten free. Or get my guide to going gluten free here.(Now through Sunday get 50% off with coupon code 50PERCENT.)

Prepare yourself for a bit of a learning curve. Make time to go through your cupboards and pantry. Check all condiment labels and salad dressings. Carefully inspect ingredient labels on prepackaged soups, rice and pasta dishes. 

You will need to go through your freezer and refrigerator as well. Many frozen vegetable and meat mixtures have gluten in their sauces and gravies. This can seem like an overwhelming task. Break it down to one cupboard or fridge shelf at a time to keep it manageable.

Once you start reading labels, you will find that many of the faithful foods you have been buying on auto-pilot every trip to the grocery store no longer fit. If these foods are still unopened and “brand new,” consider making a donation to your local food bank. Have an empty box or Rubbermaid container handy at every “inspection” and pass on what you can no longer use.

If you are wanting to go gluten free chances are that there is a reason. If you have dealt with fatigue, joint pain, indigestion, brain fog, trouble sleeping might be some of the symptoms you are struggling with. If you have these symptoms, chances are your body is struggling with inflammation. The BEST thing you can do to rid your body of inflammation is eliminate gluten because it is an inflammatory food. You also may have gut health issues. Consider taking my quiz to learn more about what secondary problems gut health issues can cause.

The food industry has come SO far in making gluten free products over the last few years. The main place you have to be vigilant is when you head out to restaurants. Soups, sauces, and condiments are the places you would not typically expect to have gluten and often do.

Check for wheat flour, barely, and malt, and soy. Which is often mixed with wheat flour as a filler.

Vegetables, lean meats and pure dairy products are free from gluten. Unfortunately, the majority of our snack foods and prepared meals are highly processed. If you eliminate processed foods and go back to cooking from fresh ingredients, you will naturally be avoiding gluten. Try incorporating more salads, vegetables and homemade dips, homemade hummus and delicious soups into your weekly meals.

Below find a list of my son and I’s personal favorite substitutes.

If you have any more favorites to add, please send them my way so I can add to the list.

Here are my favorite brands:

Breadsticks or Biscuits- Chebe

Pizza Dough-Simple Mills

Pizza Cauliflower crusts

Flour:Namaste

Cake Mix: King Arthuror Simple Mills

Chocolate Chips: Enjoy Life

Brownie Mix: Krusteaz

Tortilla’s :Be Free

Bread: Canyon bake house

Cracker:Simple Mills

Lasagna noodles:Jovial

Noodles: GoGo

BBQ Sauce:Rufus Teague

Soy Sauce Replacement:Coconut aminos

The BEST way I have found is to download the app: Find Me Gluten Free.

You can put in your location ahead of time and it will bring up a list of gluten friendly restaurants in your area. I always look at the menu ahead of time to ensure they actually have gluten free options. I have found that there are a few restaurants that are on here that the servers are completely clueless when it comes to gluten free eating. IF you find yourself at a restaurant where the server is clueless on the gluten free items and you can tell they are not interested in helping you find something on the menu you can eat, I suggest you leave immediately. I have found that the attitude usually filters down from the manager/cooks etc. So if the server doesn’t care, the cook probably doesn’t either and will not take the proper precautions to make sure your food is not contaminated. I have learned this the hard way over the years. 

BEST Restaurants for Gluten Friendly service:

Red Robin

Tap Room

Sift Gluten Free Bakery

French Meadow Bakery and Eatery

Nothing Bundt Cakes has a gluten free option that is A-MAZING! They only have one flavor but it is worth it.

Pieology

Cousins Subs

If you have more favorites that are not on this list. Let me know! I love to try new places and continue adding to the list.