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folklaur
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| Posted: Aug 28 2007 at 11:37am | IP Logged
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In order to help with my stomach issues, ds8 Asperger's, and dd17 auto-immune issues, we have been considering giving a Gluten Free / Casein Free diet a try.
But - I have NO idea where to start, how to implement it, etc.
If you do this, can you tell me what a week's worth of eating looks like at your house? Can you tell me the best substitutes, brands etc? Can you share favorite resources, websites, and recipes?
With ds8 sensory issues, his diet is so limited, I have no idea how to give this a try, and when I go to the stores I am overwhelmed with the products. We do have Trader Joe's and Whole Foods here, plus a local similar type store. We don't have a lot of money, and dh is getting a little tired of trying products (that aren't cheap!) that don't taste all that good. So please, any favorite items, brands, etc, would be appreciated!!!
Thanks so much for any help/advice/info!
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Taffy
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| Posted: Aug 28 2007 at 2:48pm | IP Logged
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I only have a minute...
The best advice I ever got when starting this diet is to simply avoid the foods that are no longer allowed. This is easier when cooking from scratch but it's very effective. Roasted meat with a side of rice or potatoes, cooked plain
Soups made from scratch - you can use GF pasta (Tinkyada brand is most like wheat pasta) or brown rice to thicken it up
Salads
Corn tortillas were a life saver!
Once you're palate has adjusted to being GFCF, then start sampling some of the substitutes.
BTW - there are some cookie recipes that are naturally GFCF. Here's one for peanut butter cookies - I've never whipped the eggs first and they come out great!
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Susan
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Taffy
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I only have a minute...
The best advice I ever got when starting this diet is to simply avoid the foods that are no longer allowed. This is easier when cooking from scratch but it's very effective. Roasted meat with a side of rice or potatoes, cooked plain
Soups made from scratch - you can use GF pasta (Tinkyada brand is most like wheat pasta) or brown rice to thicken it up
Salads
Corn tortillas were a life saver!
Once you're palate has adjusted to being GFCF, then start sampling some of the substitutes.
BTW - there are some cookie recipes that are naturally GFCF. Here's one for peanut butter cookies - I've never whipped the eggs first and they come out great!
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Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
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CKwasniewski
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| Posted: Aug 28 2007 at 3:36pm | IP Logged
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I've recently been dealing with this too. It IS discouraging....
Meat, vegetables, fruit are all normal.
Regular foods here:
Tacos (no cheese alas!), gf pastas, hamburgers (no bun), salads, and rice (or potatoes or corn chips) w/meat & veg.
Get yourself a couple of gluten free cookbooks--check out what your library has first. Stay away from the ones that call themselves "gourmet." They are too time consuming!
There are lots of GF mixes, which are great if you don't have multiple allergies/sensitivites like me (corn, potatoes, etc.). Read all packages!
I think it will just take time to adjust.
Also look at the recent thread on wheat allergy.
hugs to you and kiddos,
CK
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graciefaith
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| Posted: Aug 29 2007 at 12:52am | IP Logged
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Here are some website to help you find gfcf items or tell what products are gfcf.
http://www.tacanow.org/gfcf-diet/foodlist.htm
http://www.gfcfdiet.com/Fastfoods.htm
http://www.conductdisorders.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/sh owflat/Number/2980/page/1
http://www.celiacsociety.com/SearchManufacturer.asp
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Kristen in TN
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When looking at products from those stores, read the labels. I cannot tell you how many times I ended up getting things that had dairy in them because I didn't read the labels and the larger print said all natural or some such thing.
Just to get some ideas, perhaps you can see if your library has any Marilu Henner books, especially Healthy Life Kitchen. They are all dairy free, not all gluten free, but have many recipes that are delicious and don't use wheat. Also, for simple, but tasty veggies, you might want to do a search for macrobiotic recipes and see if any of them help, or even just vegan recipes. You can probably find quite a bit to get you started there. One other suggestion is looking for other cookbooks that are specifically dairy and wheat free.
Hope that helps.
God bless,
Kristen in TN
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Kristen in TN
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| Posted: Aug 29 2007 at 9:25pm | IP Logged
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I just read your post one more time.
vegan cheese...Vegan Gourmet brand is the only sub that does not have casien and tastes good. I have only had the mozerella type, but some of the others fly off the shelves as well.
Soy milk/rice milk - This really is a trial and error type thing. You really must read the ingredients to make sure you are not getting junk in them. My favorites are Rice Dream vanilla rice milk and any of the Eden Soy milks. Silk has been known to put dairy in their soy milk and not list it.
For a butter sub, Earth Balance margarine. It tastes good and has no hydrgenated oils, which is the problem with other margarines.
Veganaise is an excellent mayonaise sub. It is really good.
Is there anything else that you are specifically looking for? I have been "all natural" and dairy free since 1999. I just went macrobiotic, and very strictly so two months ago, which for me is a gluten free diet for now. What always helps with the cost of food is the fact that we very seldom need medical attention (i.e. doctor's visits, etc.) so that really makes up for the cost of the food. Also, some stores will give discounts if you buy in cases.
Trader Joe's has the best prices on cereals. Some of the kids cereals you find there should be gluten free, I am thinking of Gorilla Munch. IT might not be that type, but that brand. Also, Barbara's brand I think has some gluten free. I only buy cereals once a year now when we goto Ohio and stop in Cincinati specifically to goto Trader Joe's. When we lived in Virginia I went once a month.
Frozen desserts such as Soy Dream "ice cream" and Rice Dream "ice cream" are big hits around here. Soy dream may have a bit of casien, but maybe not. I know rice dream does not have that. Again, just read the labels.
OK, that is enough.
God bless,
Kristen in TN
PS. You can see the thread on what do you eat where I posted a typical (or not so typical) day for me.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Aug 29 2007 at 10:03pm | IP Logged
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Try Enjoy Life Foods
This is a great resource for allergen free foods... and the best of all, they make gluten/dairy/soy free chocolate chips that are soooo good. Some of the best chocolate I've ever had (maybe because nothing's in them but chocolate).
Here we do fruits, meat, rice milk, rice, corn. But we can have wheat (but no soy or dairy) I've seen a lot of gluten free products at Whole Foods (if there is one near you, it's a great resource).
Cooking from scratch is much less time consuming than reading labels- and also be careful: food ingredients change all the time, so you have to read every label every time you buy something to make sure it's still safe.
Once you get into a routine, it's not too bad. My best advice is fill your pantry with things you *can* eat... purge all the bad stuff. Seeing shelves filled with safe foods makes you feel much less deprived. But I still miss cheese 
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Mari
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| Posted: Aug 31 2007 at 5:25pm | IP Logged
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I am not in your country so I am not too much help for the shopping. However, I would really recommend just going back to basics. No packet mixes, ready made cookies, etc. It takes time but it may be helpful for your child understand how to completely avoid harmful foods. By that I mean if cheese is out, don't try and find some which has been made to be okay. There are so many different types of healty natural basic food available that no one should feel deprived of anything. We don't eat wheat and very little cereals in general, no dairy products except for raw goats milk very occasionally. We love miso, seaweed, it is a bit like our cheese replacement and quinoa, sarrasin are a bit like our wheat replacement.
My girls have never drank a coke, eaten a sweet in their lives and they don't take milk products - despite this they are still happy and fun.
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Anne McD
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| Posted: Sept 02 2007 at 4:09am | IP Logged
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Hi Laura,
We've been doing gf for a couple of years, and now it looks like my son has a problem with dairy, too. It can be frustrating, but there's a lot I learned along the way. I'll write more soon, but I have to get back to bed!
Re: gluten free-- start with Living Gluten free for Dummies. I found the book to be very helpful.
Let me tell you, I wish we could just order a pizza sometimes!! 
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James 8
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William 3 1/2
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and baby on the way! 10/14
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PDyer
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We're dairy free here...we're trying almond milk this week. My daughter really doesn't like rice milk and we wanted an alternative to Silk soy. I need to get more calcium into both of us!
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Mari
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| Posted: Sept 02 2007 at 5:33pm | IP Logged
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By the way, we all know that milk products contain calcium but who told you that your body can use it? All the independent research I have come across in organic and some books here in France on natrual health that I have read will insist that the only milk that you can perfectly assimilate from your mother. Like calcium in mineral water, your body won't be able to assimilate calcium from the cheese on your pizza.
Of course the industry will tell you that milk has a high calcium content. They don't go into how your body deals with it.
Blessings
If you want to consume calcium in a form that your body can use, there is a simple way: green leafy vegetables have lots and your body can use it. I don't take dairy, my children never have and we have no teeth or apparent bone or growth problems. We use no fluoride either, and our country does not fluoridate water.
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Mari, mother of 2 loving daughters aged 8 and 10
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Topic: Gluten / Casein Free help please
