10 Yummy Gluten-free Meals!

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There are many reasons people choose a gluten-free lifestyle. First, though, to understand the culprit here, I must ask, what IS gluten anyway? Gluten is a protein which exists in wheat, rye, and barley, and in foods made with these grains.

For some, gluten can cause significant health issues. Celiac disease is a health condition where gluten sets off an immune system reaction which harms the small intestine. Over time, the damage prevents the assimilation of healthy nourishment from food. Many people may go undiagnosed or are unaware of their gluten sensitivity.

Gluten Can Cause Inflammation

Gluten can cause inflammation in people with Celiac disease, gluten-sensitivity (non-celiac gluten sensitivity or NCGS), and undiagnosed persons. Inflammation is widely known as the main reason for many diseases with symptoms including fatigue, digestive discomfort, joint pain, swelling, redness, skin rashes, heat, and blistering. Therefore, avoiding inflammatory foods and eating ANTI-inflammatory foods can contribute to a person’s overall health.

Natural Anti-inflammatory Foods

What are some natural anti-inflammatory gluten-free foods?

Vegetables
Fruits
Eggs
Low-fat dairy products (read labels to be sure)
Unprocessed natural seeds, legumes, nuts, and beans
Lean, untreated meats, fish, and poultry

Grains Allowed as You Live Your Gluten-free Lifestyle

What grains are allowed on a gluten-free menu?

Aramanth
Arrowroot
Buckwheat
Corn
Flax
Gluten-free flours – rice, soy, nut, corn, potato, bean
Rice – white, brown and wild rice
Sorghum
Soy
Teff

Creating Health by Eating Well

When searching for healthy gluten-free food to eat I look to support organic farmers. That can cost more, so I go for quality foods and not so much for quantity. Eating healthier can make you feel more satisfied, so in the long run you may actually save on groceries and benefit your health and our planet. Organic agriculture is very sustainable. I use organic and plant-based food whenever possible. Research shows that organic farms release smaller amounts of carbon emissions, promote more biodiversity and use less energy than conventional farming practices.

10 Gluten-free Recipes to Enjoy

30 Minute Gluten-free Chicken Tortilla Soup (Dairy-free option): Start to finish is 30 minutes! Best part about this is that it can be easily customized for picky eaters or flavor preferences by letting each person add on their own toppings! The soup itself is gluten-free and dairy-free. Cover photo and recipe courtesy of My Gluten-Free Kitchen.
Photo and recipe courtesy of My Gluten-free Kitchen
Gluten-free Spritz Cookies Recipe: Finding TASTY gluten-free spritz cookies can be like searching for the cookie unicorn. Until now. This recipe is so easy and of course, homemade is always better! Photo and recipe courtesy of gfJules.
Photo and recipe courtesy of gfJules.com
Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups: Be warned, this recipe takes some time, knife work and patience, but it’s just about the prettiest “pasta” dish you’ll ever see. Photo by Parker Feierbach and recipe courtesy of Delish.com
Photo by Parker Feierbach and recipe courtesy of Delish.com
Baked Spaghetti Squash Carbonara: A much healthier twist on the ultra-rich pasta dish – this Baked Spaghetti Squash Carbonara is full of veggies and tastes delicious any time of day. Recipe courtesy of Celiac.org
Baked Sweet Potato Wraps: Super healthy and quick to make, these wraps (with egg and avocado!) are great for breakfast and can be made in advance. Recipe courtesy of Celiac.org
Baked Tomato Cups: Simple, healthy and flavorful breakfast, brunch (even dinner!). Photo and recipe courtesy of Celiac.org
Photo and recipe courtesy of Celiac.org
Breakfast Casserole: A hearty and crowd-pleasing breakfast recipe (they won’t even know it is gluten-free). Prepped in minutes then baked until golden brown and bubbly! Recipe courtesy of Celiac.org
Enchiladas with Pumpkin Seed Salsa: Some say this recipe whispers “Autumn” with every bite. For me, pumpkin is a taste for all seasons! Recipe courtesy of Womansday.com
Ricotta and Zucchini Cannelloni: This simple weeknight dish relies on zucchini ribbons instead of noodles, and is stuffed with a zippy ricotta-pea filling. Photo by William Meppem and Chris Court, recipe courtesy of Epicurious.com
Photo by William Meppem and Chris Court
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Gluten Free Enchilada Sauce: I love to have this family-pleasing, made-beforehand dish that features easily made from scratch enchilada sauce…all using ingredients most of us already have in the kitchen…and it takes less than 10 minutes to make! Recipe courtesy of IowaGirlEats.com