If you are gluten intolerant, you’ll need to select food products that are gluten free—but what food products are gluten free?  Here we’ll look at some healthy suggestions that are not only full of nutrients your body needs but will tempt those taste buds every day!

Before we delve into gluten free foods, the biggest thing to remember if you are gluten intolerant is to read product labels!  The FDA requires every product sold to list every single ingredient on the packaging label so learn to read labels to find out if the foods you are buying contain gluten.

Start at your regular grocery store to find gluten free breads, pancake and muffin mixes, rice grains, and crackers.  If your regular grocer doesn’t carry many gluten free foods, try a natural food health store where you’ll find gluten free foods in abundance.  Whole grains are usually gluten free such as brown rice, quinoa, and buckwheat and, amaranth.  You can create delicious and healthy dishes with all of these ingredients by using fresh roasted vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, and nuts.

Quinoa is easy to cook—just add water and your personal spice touches to get your protein from this grain.  It also contains B vitamins including riboflavin, iron, and phosphorus.  The nutty flavor of this grain is good for dishes to replace pastas or rice.  Grilled polenta is an awesome dish and most grocery stores carry this in their pasta section.  Look for it to come in a roll that you can slice up like pieces of bread.  Use your imagination with polenta, grill it, cover it with roasted veggies, or fresh tomatoes. Amaranth is also a good grain replacement that you can use as a good breakfast cereal option adding nuts and dried fruits.

Sumptuous foods like whole soybeans that are steamed and lump crab with cocktail sauce are good snack items.  Create salads by using fresh greens mixed with pumpkin seeds, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and feta cheese.  Create a Greek salad by adding kalamata olives and Greek dressing.

Trout, Salmon, and Turkey burgers are good entrée dishes the entire family will love.  Make sure your trout and salmon are grilled and not fried or breaded.  Add roasted veggies, asparagus, carrots, and potatoes to your entrée.  If making a turkey burger, try tolerated mozzarella cheese to add a special taste.  Don’t forget to also try fresh spinach and corn on the cob.

You can use your imagination with desserts by using angel food cakes that are gluten free or make your own cakes using natural gluten free flours.  Top cakes with fresh fruits for an added treat.  Fresh fruits are great to eat alone or mixed with pine nuts or walnuts to satisfy your taste buds.

There are many foods and food products you can eat if you are gluten intolerant, so read labels, search for online recipes, and join or start your own gluten free club where you can exchange ideas and recipes.  Living gluten free is not only good for you, it’s nutritious!

Tags: gluten free foods, gluten intolerance, gluten intolerant