Gluten Free and Eating Grains

I read one of those articles. You know the type: yeah, yeah, it’s okay to be gluten free but, wait!, what about all those great nutrients you’re missing because you aren’t eating enough grains. Think twice, oh gluten-free one, think twice!

We know we cannot eat anything with wheat, barley, or rye. We’re all cool with that (or, if not cool, understanding). But, it turns out, wheat, barley, and rye are not the only grains in the world. Who knew? Just because you’re gluten free, it doesn’t mean you’re missing out on the benefits of whole grains.

Well, now that we’ve settled that…. Continue reading “Gluten Free and Eating Grains”

Gluten Free and Paleo Diets

Much to my surprise, the Paleo diet has maintained serious traction in our fad diet-inclined world. I will admit I once made fun of this particular way of eating, but have changed my mind. That’s not to say I buy into everything Paleo proponents believe, but as I’ve changed the way I eat, I see strong parallels.

(That being said, I remain extremely amused by the lengths some in the Paleo community go to when it comes to to potatoes. It’s like they twist and bend the rules to eliminate this one food item — a food that, based on my understanding of Paleo, is a slam dunk for the diet. I digress….) Continue reading “Gluten Free and Paleo Diets”

How I Lost Weight on a Gluten-Free Diet

When I wrote about Losing Weight While Living Gluten Free, I talked about the things I’ve learned on my journey. This post will get into specifics about how I actually achieved my goal. As of this writing, I have achieved my goal of losing 50 pounds (actually, I’m a bit over my goal, closer to 55 pounds), and am enjoying being in maintenance mode.

I will state for the record that most of the specific tips below have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am gluten free. However, living a gluten-free lifestyle absolutely helped me achieve my goal as I was never tempted by certain high-calorie foods or fast foods. It’s a lot easier to avoid certain things when you know they’ll make you sick. Continue reading “How I Lost Weight on a Gluten-Free Diet”

Losing Weight While Living Gluten Free

Sometimes I read articles that, on the surface, seem logical, but don’t hold up upon close reading. One such article was posted on Glutenfreeworks and entitled “How to Lose Weight on the Gluten-Free Diet“. I’m guessing this was a linkbait headline.

The core premise of the article is that celiac disease creates different levels of malnourishment. For some people, this means unexplained weight loss; for others, weight gain. I fell into the latter group. I remember my doctor murmuring something about “getting enough nutrition”, though in retrospect, it was the wrong nutrition. Continue reading “Losing Weight While Living Gluten Free”

One Recipe, Many Ways

Recently, I wrote about an amazing lentil stew — one I’ve had a couple of times since then. The funny thing is that I haven’t made the recipe the same way twice. In fact, what I use isn’t so much a recipe as it is a suggestion.

The basics are simple: cook lentils in well-seasoned liquid much like you’d cook risotto — add about a quarter to half cup of liquid, let it absorb into the lentils, then add more. While it takes a bit longer to make lentils using this method, I like it because the lentils absorb a lot of flavor from the liquid instead of all that deliciousness getting poured down the drain with the cooking liquid. Continue reading “One Recipe, Many Ways”

Bring Your (Gluten-Free) Lunch

Lately, my email has been filled with lunch. Or rather, it’s been filled with lunch ideas. While eating out is always an option, many people are catching onto the notion that it’s both the path to calorie overload and getting expensive.

And that’s before we get into the whole gluten-free issue. Continue reading “Bring Your (Gluten-Free) Lunch”

Lentil and Coconut Milk Stew

This versatile recipe is perfect for weeknight suppers. It can be made vegetarian, vegan, or with the meat of your choice. The flavors can be modified to suit your fancy. And it reheats like a dream, making it perfect for lunches.

I love to serve this dish over braised greens — spinach or chard do just fine.