So you want to start following a gluten free meal plan. Whether it’s because of medical reasons or a dietary choice you’re making of your own free will, cutting gluten out of your diet can at first seem daunting. Where do you even begin? Remember, the hardest part of any new lifestyle or food choice is always the beginning – once you become comfortable with avoiding gluten, it will become a normal part of your daily routine. For now, here are a few tricks to remember when building a gluten free meal plan:
4 Ways to Build a Gluten Free Meal Plan
- Concentrate on what you can eat, not what you can’t
Just because your new gluten-free meal plan uses “lack of” as its primary defining trait doesn’t mean you need to feel negative or like you’re going without. Most healthy diets are based around eating meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables – all food groups that are delicious and don’t have gluten. If you focus on what you can eat, not what you can’t, you’re far less likely to get discouraged.
- Join a gluten-free community
Believe it or not, this is an instance where Facebook actually may help you, instead of just creating hours of distraction as you read about your cousin’s boyfriend’s mother’s anniversary. Facebook gluten-free groups are a great way to share recipe ideas, learn helpful advice about maintaining a gluten-free meal plan, and to find support from other people going through the same dietary challenges you are. Plus you can even make some new friends!
- Labels are your friends
Even before you do research you’ll probably know certain foods you have to avoid. Bread, pizza, and beer are easy no-no’s. But there are some foods you may not expect to contain gluten that do. Make sure you read the labels when you’re at the grocery store in order to avoid spending money on food you can’t eat. Groups like the Celiac Support Association will offer seals of gluten-free approval to products that meet their standard, so look out for it when you’re at the supermarket in order to save some time.
- Don’t fall into a rut
When first starting a gluten-free meal plan, it’s easy to find one meal option you know works for you and stick to it with an iron grip. Don’t let your gluten-free restriction psych you out into eating the same meal over and over again. Regardless of how delicious that salad is, you will get tired of it eventually. Search cookbooks for new recipes, keep your eyes peeled at the grocery store for interesting ingredients, and don’t be afraid to get creative. And if you want to have all the planning nad leg work done for you, you can try signing up for The Dinner Daily’s gluten free meal plan. Just click on the button below to try it our for free!
You can do it!
Learn more about how The Dinner Daily can provide you with a gluten free meal plan.
