I Also Have a Glutten Free Question

Updated on August 15, 2011
C.M. asks from Harpers Ferry, WV
6 answers

So, I am hypothyroid and I have recently found out that I also have hashimoto's. I go to a homeopathic dr for myself. She wants me to start going glutten free because she said that hashimoto's and celiac usually go along together. Now, my 6 year old daughter also (we recently found out) that she has either celiac or hashimoto's. We are doing her blood test for celiac on Wed, although her dr. thinks it's just hashimoto's since it runs on both sides of our family. So, my daughters dr. wants us to wait to go glutten free until after we get results from her blood test. How am I going to cook and make meals for the family when I have to be glutten free, but not anyone else? I have a 4 year old son too, but he is fine and not showing any symptoms of anything, and my husband said he loves food and will not give up "good food". We are on a super tight budget (even debating if we should apply for food stamps, but have not done it yet because we took a huge pay cut moving out here 8 months ago and it's really killing us financially), but he has been working 50 hours a week so because of the over time we most likely won't qualify. So, question #1 is, how do I make meals? At least just dinner because I will make my kids their own lunches to what they like, but dinner would be harder.

question #2:
How do you make that change into glutten free? I will admit that I do not eat as good as I should. It's not horrible. I do eat veggies and try to not eat too much junk. My addiction is Dr. Pepper and I have tried 3 times this year alone to stop drinking soda and I just can't do it. I just can't function with out caffeine and I know that's horrible and I am trying to stop, but it's very hard. My kids do not drink any soda though. Mostly milk or water for them. Now for myself, growing up, I was allowed to eat anything I wanted, and never even gained an ounce. I was a size 5 when I got married 10 years ago. Through out high school I was only 90 pounds. But, after having 2 kids and birth control (which I have not been on in over 6 years, and my husband got the V after our son was born) I am up to 145 now. I am horrified. I know a lot of it has to do with my being hypothyroid. But, how do I make that change in my daily life to glutten free? I don't want to have to throw away all my food in my pantry and start over. I just don't have the money to waste by doing that. Do I finish everything up, like flour? crackers? and other stuff? or do I finish it first and then buy glutten free?
Also how do I know if something is glutten free or not? I know I've heard to just read all the ingredients, but I don't have time to be reading every single thing when I'm doing my weekly shopping. I have the kids with me most of the time and I know they will loose patience. What are some basics that are glutten free? I mean actual things, not ingredients, like dr.pepper, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, butter, chocolate, popcorn... I know all fruit and veggies are fine, which is why I'm mostly wondering about snacks and stuff. What about spices? I love to cook nice meals at home. How do I make a glutten free chicken pot pie with the crust still being good? Or just basic stuff like that?

Sorry if this is so long and jumbled. I've just never had to do anything like this before and it's going to be a huge change for us and my kids are really picky eaters already

Thank you for all your help!

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So What Happened?

thanks. I just looked up my local grocery stores website and it does have a list of foods. Great idea!
I have been on the meds for almost 4 years. Before I moved here I had a terrible dr. and she wouldn't listen to me at all. Since moving here I switched to nature throid instead of synthroid and have adjusted my levels and I do feel much better, but just when I try to stop caffiene, is when I feel just horrible. I usually only have 1 to 2 sodas a day, which really isn't all that much compared to some others, but I just need that pick me up around mid day to get through the rest of it. Still trying and working on it though.
Thank you!

More Answers

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K.H.

answers from Boston on

It will probably take awhile to get used to gluten free. In the beginning, you'll probably have to do a lot of label reading. However, as time goes on you'll probably get faster at it and know which things are okay. Most teriyaki sauces have gluten in them, but you can find gluten free versions. Unfortunately, they do cost a bit more. Butter is fine and most cheeses are fine as well. Nuts are a good snack. Just don't get snack mixes b/c they may have food with gluten in them. For snacks, the Frito Lay web site does list snacks they make that are gluten free. Many potato chips (Cape Cod etc) are also gluten free.

Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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C.W.

answers from Allentown on

You're best bet for specific items is to use a GF website like www.celiacchicks.com.

Also, if you've started thyroid meds, you may find out you don't have to rely on caffeine so much once your system becomes more efficient, so there's a bonus!

2 moms found this helpful
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J.A.

answers from San Francisco on

we recently switched to gluten free for my daughter... we do it as a family because it is easier. It was not as hard as you might thing, though we did eat very healthy to begin with so it was basically switching to gluten free grains for us. look up online some recipes, you can buy gluten free flour, our favorite is "the gluten free pantry". Udi's bread and cookies are the best, they also have bagels and some other things. you can have polenta, rice... the best pasta we have found is lundberg organic brown rice pasta. Corn tortillas instead of wheat. But just make sure to read everything... a lot of sauces have gluten. I don't know about where you live but here in CA most stores have little labels in front of everything that is gluten free, or they have a section specifically for it. Good luck, it is really not that bad once you get started :)

2 moms found this helpful

L.B.

answers from New York on

I found the Living without magazine and website very helpful
http://www.livingwithout.com/

I am on a gluten free diet and I found that I do not like the store bought bread. I purchased a bread machine and make my own bread using gluten free flour. You can also buy gluten free bread mixes for about 3.79. I like Hodgekin Mills.

The organic section in your grocery store will have alot of gluten free snacks such as pirate booty and kettle corn. The gluten free food is more expensive, but you will find that overall you spend less because you are not buying as much processed, junk food so the cost equals out in the long run.

You can make your own free pie crust and pizza dough. Some Pizza restaurants make gluten free pies.

The following websites also have rechttp://allrecipes.com/Search/Recipes-Advanced.aspx?WithTe....

glutehttp://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/health-and-diet/glute...

You will start to feel better once you are on the diet, celiac disease can also cause severe fatique. So Celiac and hypothyroid combined, you must be exhausted!

Instead of drinking Dr. Pepper (which has a lot of caffeine but will cause a sugar drop a few hours after drinking it) Why don't you try drinking
Unsweetened, Black tea. You may need to aquire a taste but once you do you will be better off.

Good Luck

2 moms found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I'm not sure about your local grocery stores, but ours, Hyvee, has a list on it's website off all of their store brand items that are gluten free. I am not gluten free, but I have a friend who is, so I always consult that list when I'm making something that my friend will be eating later.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G..

answers from Dallas on

Just curious what natural thyroid med you take? Armour? I'm on synthroid, and don't think its doing enough to make me feel better. Still have all the symptoms.

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