Comprehensive Guide

[Glutennovice]

I'm relatively new to this gluten-free game. My girlfriend has it, I don't. She was diagnosed years back, but recently did a "wheat challenge" a few months ago. She had some stomach irritation immediately after, but now there is an onslaught of symptoms you list.

There seems to be a good list of recipes on the internet. However, I cook a lot and was wondering if there is a comprehensive list of things celiacs CANNOT eat; specifically the harder to find items like in salad dressings, etc.

Thanks

[luvscowznh]

I commend you for such wonderful support for your girl friend.

Here is a site that has a broucher about what foods to avoid. http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/cart/PDF_files/allergen_free_bro.pdf

Also, visit the Manufacturers Forum on this site. There is often great info there.

Best of luck to you and your girlfriend!

Manda

[aklap]

Hi Glutennovice,

It's really simple what celiacs have to aviod..it's gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, barley. Need to stay away from oats too).

Now...actually doing that is a bit harder. Most people will look for lists of things that you CAN eat. Fortunately there are more things we can eat than cant eat.

If you look in Proper Foods (I think), I have serveral posts there. One listed "Chicago Mainstream Food list". This has 50 pages of gluten free food. This is a good starting point. Also in there is a Safe & Forbidden Food Ingredients List. This a very handy to have when shopping. Take the list with you when you go to the store and check the labels. Check each of the ingreds against the lists. Yes it does take a while to get thru the store

I ditto Manda's comments. Half the battle in dealing with this is support. Glad to hear that you are supporting her!!! Usually family members or spouses put up the biggest fuss!! Which is very sad.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[luvscowznh]

I found another site for you to check out, Glutennovice. It's the web site for the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) http://www.gluten.net/downloads/Quick-Start-Mar04.pdf
This is a pdf file that gives a basic intro into what it means to deal with Celic.
This is the diet page of the GIG's web site.
http://www.gluten.net/diet.asp
They have lots of great info on this site. There is even a listing for summer camps for kids who have CD. Pretty cool.

There is also a comprehensive guide for the Celiac diet:
http://www.gluten.net/store.asp

[GFVik]

Check out Celiac.com. There's also a list on Delphi Forums which is constantly reviewed and updated, and also indicates when each entry was verified. It's at www.forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=celiac&nav=start.

Good luck!

[Coulter]

I agree with that last reply. Celiac.com has a terrific message board (where I post the most ), many articles, and very good ingredients lists. You can also get mailed a monthly update, which contains links to new articles, recipes, research developments, etc.

Delphi forums has a very extensive and large message board, which is the most enormous I've found on celiac disease, as well as a terrific and constantly updated food list database.