Living a healthy gluten-free life in the United States used to be nearly impossible. If one were to walk into any number of grocery stores, the selection would be extremely limited. Luckily, there are growing advances in gluten-free foods that allow a person to have a very normal and balanced diet.
Gluten is another name for a protein product that is made from wheat, barley, rye and other grains of this nature. Traditionally prepared pastas, breads, pretzels and cakes are all filled with gluten. People are often surprised to find out that traditional beer even contains gluten. Now that the holidays are approaching, people who have decided to live a gluten-free life have many options for holiday dishes that are delicious but health conscious. Some easy ways of taking traditional meals and making them gluten free are:
1) In recipes that call for breadcrumbs, substitute the crumbs for cornflakes. It sounds strange but trust me, it is a wonderful surprise. Cornflakes can be found in the cereal aisle at any supermarket.
2) Pasta dishes have an easy solution; Brown rice, soy and gluten free pastas are available. They come in all of the original forms, including lasagna!
3) Instead of making a typical vegetable casserole, which usually contains breading of some kind, try a polenta. This quick easy dish can be combined with all different kinds of vegetables that make them a healthy and delicious alternative. Many online websites such as Allrecipes.com and healthyliving.com have recipes, or you can buy already prepared dishes from the supermarket in the frozen food aisle.
4) Instead of using regular flour, brown rice and tapioca flower are a great alternative! They are available in most health food stores.
5) Buckwheat pancake mix is a great option for those lazy mornings. Rather than using typical pancake mix that is full of gluten, this mix uses a different grain that is delicious and fun for the whole family! You can even use it for waffles!
6) Alcohol is part of most holiday parties. Try to substitute regular beer with Red Bridge Gluten Free Beer. All Vodkas are gluten free as well.
The holidays are a hard time for anyone trying to live a gluten free life, however most bakeries and restaurants have started offering gluten-free menus. Next time you are at your favorite treat store, ask for options! They offer such things as gluten-free pie crusts, stuffing, and even chocolate chip cookies!