Find the Right Gluten-Free Food to Fuel Up Your Life
When looking to live better, eat better and be all-around healthier, it is helpful to do your research to find the diet and exercise that is right for your lifestyle. Change is hard and we all need help to get started! Thankfully, there are plenty of amazing resources online, including those about a gluten-free diet.
We’re excited to share with you some of the basics: which foods contain gluten and which are naturally gluten-free and the #1 tip that we would give to anyone who wants to thrive on a gluten-free diet. It doesn’t matter whether you’re just starting or have been at since before it was super cool! 
Foods that Contain Gluten
Anything and everything made with wheat, rye, barley, Spelt and other types of wheat, like couscous, durum, einkorn, bulgur, etc. contain gluten. Gluten is also found in the following traditional foods:
- Pasta
- Bread
- Pastries
- Baked goods
Gluten makes up many processed foods and this is where it gets tricky. Gluten-containing ingredients are used as fillers and binders in many processed foods. Always read the ingredient label and learn what those sneaky gluten-containing ingredients are. We recommend Celiac.org as a great resource if you are unsure.
Gluten-free Foods
Fortunately for those who are sensitive to gluten, there are plenty of gluten-free foods out there:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Some grains and ancient grains (rice, corn, quinoa, sorghum, millet, buckwheat, teff, amaranth, gluten-free oats, etc.
- Beans
- Legumes
- Squashes
- Nuts and seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, flax, chia, etc.)
- Meats
- Dairy
Making the Change to a Gluten-Free Diet
Some people are forced to change their diet due to health reasons, like having a gluten allergy, gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. Others change their diet because they want to feel better by eating healthier options. In either case, the primary reason for that change is that we all want to be healthy, feel amazing and live a life full of wellness and happiness!
This leads us to the most important thing we believe we can share with you on the topic of gluten-free eating: If you want to truly thrive and achieve vitality, it’s not just about cutting out gluten, it’s about eating WELL.
In recent years, the options of gluten-free foods have gone through the roof. You can now buy gluten-free almost anything – from staples like bread and pasta to frozen dinners to Oreos and Twinkies. While these options can be convenient and they can provide some comfort in the transition period, the issue is that they will not make you well.
The majority of gluten-free packaged foods are full of starch, sugar, refined oils and fillers. If you have an allergy to gluten, these foods won’t make you sick, but they won’t make you well, which is what it’s all about, right?
If you tried a gluten-free diet and felt better, you now know that food really DOES make a difference. Now is the time to take the next step and start truly thriving. Instead of processed foods, focus on the wholesome naturally gluten-free foods we mentioned in the list above and choose organic as much as you can.
The Good News
There is a lot of skepticism about being gluten-free. Some people think it’s a fad diet, which it’s not; while others consider bread and pasta to be a staple in their diets. How can you eliminate food that you love, you ask? The good news is that there are delicious, healthier options available, like whole grain pasta or, of course, Happy Campers bread made from organic ancient whole grains.
Food is Medicine
This experience, being gluten intolerant, having celiac disease or choosing to go gluten-free is actually a blessing in disguise. It can teach us that food is medicine and we really are what we eat. It’s an opportunity to learn a healthier way of life. It doesn’t have to be torture. It is definitely challenging but not a death sentence. It is a better way of life that is so worth it. It absolutely seems overwhelming at first, but trusts us, it’ll get easier and easier as you learn.
Being gluten-free shouldn’t hinder your life. Quite the opposite! It’s an opportunity to become your best version of yourself! Embrace the challenge and embrace the new you. You can do this.
We believe in you and are thrilled and honored to be on this journey together
Source:
- “Gluten-Free Foods” https://celiac.org/gluten-free-living/gluten-free-foods/