It can be a bit disheartening when you or a family member is first diagnosed with food allergies. Eating a gluten-free diet is branded as boring by most, especially those that don’t have to live a gluten-free lifestyle.
I get it. I quit cooking many things when I was first diagnosed with Celiac disease. It simply took the joy of cooking away, knowing that I couldn’t have my favorite meals anymore or those easy-to-make dinners from the freezer food section. Here are some ways I’ve learned to find joy in cooking gluten-free foods.
Indulge In Gluten Free Foods
There are a lot of gluten-free foods on the market that you can enjoy outside of fresh fruits and vegetables! Dark chocolate is naturally gluten-free. Reese’s and Hershey’s bars are both safe for people living a gluten-free diet!
Finding Gluten-Free Foods At The Grocery Store
If you have to live a gluten-free lifestyle, remember that it’s critical to ensure that foods are manufactured in an environment that doesn’t expose them to gluten. The FDA requires that foods have a gluten level below 20 ppm to be labeled gluten-free, so most of these can be considered safe.
There are plenty of foods with a gluten-free label at your local grocery store. Most flavors of Cheerios are gluten-free. You can find gluten-free Coco Pebbles, snack cakes, and even pancake mixes.
Reading ingredient labels to determine which foods are gluten-free is another great idea. This is a wonderful way to find gluten-free foods that aren’t overpriced due to the gluten-free label. It can also help you find hidden gluten in foods, so you know that you will not accidentally gluten yourself!
Once you discover that you can still enjoy many foods you love while maintaining a gluten-free lifestyle, you’ll re-discover the joy of cooking.
Appreciate The Health Benefits
There are quite a few health benefits to eating gluten-free. It’s the massive silver lining on a dark cloud if you feel down about having to live gluten-free.
Dive into the world of nutrition. As you do, you’ll discover a massive number of gluten-free recipes. You’ll also learn about all the toxic ingredients in other foods. Eating gluten-free is always funner eating gluten-free when you know that you’re giving yourself and your family a healthier lifestyle.
Fun Recipes
Finding fun recipes is surprisingly easy! Gluten-free websites offer recipes for everything you can imagine, from lasagne to homemade gluten-free cookies.
There are a few differences in recipes. For example, you might need to pick up some gluten-free flour, but the recipes are just as easy to make as their gluten-containing counterparts.
Think about the foods you love to cook, and start searching online for them!
New Cooking Gadgets
New cooking gadgets instantly make cooking dinner more fun! Ninja foodies allow you to make yogurt, function as an air fryer, and help make dinner quick and easy. Other great ideas are:
- A blender to make smoothies
- An air fryer
- Waffle maker (they have gluten-free pre-made waffle mix)
Picking up a new small appliance for the kitchen is a great way to get out of a funk regarding cooking.
Get The Whole Family Involved
Cooking can be a great way to spend time together as a family! This gluten free pizza recipe provided by Gluten Free Palate, provides the perfect opportunity for family time. It only requires a few ingredients, and children will love putting their own toppings on their pizza.
Baking
Baking is another way to learn to enjoy cooking again. This can especially help those that are new to cooking! Typically, you can make your favorite homemade recipes, but swap out the ingredients for gluten-free ingredients. For example, when making cookies, simply use gluten-free flour with a 1-to-1 ratio. (This means that you use the same amount of flour that the recipe calls for.)
Surround Yourself With Support
Finding support is critical during this transition. It can be discouraging to be surrounded by delicious food you love but can no longer eat. Reach out to local support groups online or on social media channels.
Try New Cuisine
Trying new cuisine is a great way to start having fun in the kitchen again! Use gluten-free flour to make Korean cookies, or check out how easy it is to make French cuisine, like crepes!
In Conclusion
Finding your way back to enjoying cooking can take time after learning that you have to live a gluten-free lifestyle. However, it’s more than possible, and these tips will help you get there. Check out the rest of the articles on the website for everything from pet advice to awesome product reviews!