jess-gf

For a crumb crust, try making crumbs from MiDel Ginger Snaps in a food processor. Then make it just like a graham cracker crust.

This is what I'm going to try. I'm making a test pie tomorrow using this recipe more or less: Open Original Shared Link

I felt like crying, but I think I just whimpered! Luckily my boyfriend was with me at the time and he is very supportive. He just wants me to feel better.

Yeah, if you're in the U.S., it'll be her last time for Thanksgiving stuffing and pies. The gluten-free versions can be good but take more work. See www.glutenfreegirl.com and Open Original Shared Link for ideas for next year.

I am going to try this gluten-free pie myself: Open Original Shared Link it's basially normal pumpkin pie but with crushed gluten-free ginger snapps as the crust. I think I'll actually like that better than regular crust! Pumpkin is pretty healthy I think and she might be able to eat that okay, though I'm not sure since you said she had problems with eggs. You can probably also sub the milk pretty easily with coconut/almond/rice milk.

Well I spend about 4 hours between Trader Joe's and Whole Foods today I much prefer TJ's - the store has a better layout, doesn't feel as crowded, and it's sooo much cheaper! Plus TJ's has so many gluten-free options. Things that are gluten-free have little "G" icons that are easy to see - awesome! Plus they printed out their list of gluten-free foods as well. The only reason I went over to WF was because they didn't have quite as much selection of flour alternatives.. but that's about it. I got a jar of their peanut butter to try and make those peanut butter cookies SandSurfGirl suggested. I also got their pumpkin butter which I have read that most celiacs can eat - though the label does say that it's processed in a facility that also does wheat :/ Not sure about that one.

I'm still a bit stumped with what to bring for TG. I'm going to test out this recipe and see if it's good or not: Open Original Shared Link

Also, I did post on Facebook about it. I wanted to just get it over with and try and avoid any awkwardness in the future (especially with the holidays coming up). So far everyone's been pretty understanding and supportive.

I was just diagnosed a few days ago. Welcome fellow newbie! I have not replaced my toaster.. I am undecided about it. It's a toaster oven, so I'm thinking I should be okay if I keep the grate clean or put foil underneath things I toast.

I know you must be overwhelmed. I was. I still am!

My boyfriend got this book for me and it's been pretty helpful - it's called The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed and I was actually walking around with it today in my hand while at Trader Joe's.

I found Udi's white bread in the frozen section of Trader Joe's today. This was the first gluten-free bread I've ever tasted. I was bracing myself for nasty, but it's actually not bad! I'm not normally a plain white bread type of girl, though, so I'm hoping I can find more interesting concoctions. But this bread would totally work for a sandwich, I think. It's very light and has more air bubbles than I'm used to, but it is very soft and moist.

Thank you for this message and the cookie recipe. I'm new to this too and the first week I was like a soldier... I CAN DO ANYTHING lol but now that the newness and maybe fear has worn off a bit, I'm needing help to find things to eat.. I know the whole foods, we were eating those before celiac came along but replacing the pasta, cereal and bread has been interesting. Rice/corn pasta ACKKK Gluten free bread (found Udi's white sandwich bread last night (will take some getting used to it melts instead of chewing it. ewww can't have the whole grain one allergic to flax ) Ahh I will survive... Lost 4 more lbs this week though and I've been eating... is that why the 'stars' go gluten free to lose weight quickly? I've lost 25 lbs in a about 5 weeks. only been on gluten-free for 2 but it's still falling off even though I'm eating now.

I haven't lost any weight really - I've stayed about the same for years which can be a bummer when exercising and nothing really happens. But I haven't had problems with D - if anything it's C.

Is there a celiac food review source somewhere, I wonder?

It is very overwhelming at first. I had a panic attack and ran out of the store leaving a full shopping cart behind and hyperventilated in my car the first time I shopped after diagnosis. I barely made it home from the dizziness and cried for like an hour.

In my opinion, you need to eat meat. Sorry! With dairy and soy out for you, and your body needing to heal going meatless will be very hard. Beans are going to be tough on your wounded digestive system right now and you will have a tough time getting enough protein. You will be slowing down your healing in my opinion and it's not worth it.

Eat a clean diet for the first couple of months so your body can heal. Don't go nuts eating gluten free sub foods.

If you can get one good bread, a good pasta and a sweet treat that will get you on the right path. You can venture out and try more things later.

Here are my suggestions.

Gluten Free Pantry Basic White Bread mix. Excellent taste, easy to make and doesn't fall apart. Actually makes a real sandwich!

Arrowhead Mills Gluten free all purpose baking mix for pancakes (1 cup mix, 1 cup almond milk, 1 egg, 1 tbsp oil for pancakes)

Tinkyada pasta

Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookies. MUST use real butter to make them taste good.

Here is a flourless cookie recipe that kept me going in the beginning.

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 egg

Mix and form into balls. Flatten balls of dough on cookie sheet. Bake 350 for 10 minutes until they just start to brown. Let them cool before eating or they fall apart.

Hope this helps!

For TG ask them not to put stuffing in the turkey.

Thanks SansSurfGirl! I have plans to go to Trader Joe's and maybe even Whole Foods (though they are more expensive than TJ's) today to stock up on some things. I have no clue what brands to buy and what will taste good. Last night all I could come up with to eat after the cabinet purge was some fresh broccoli and miso soup. For breakfast I had two eggs. I am eager to get gluten out of my life so that I can start feeling better!

Thanks for the responses so far!

My brain is telling me that I ought to eat meat since I do have problems with dairy (and soymilk gives me gas, all brands) and even goat milk can be troublesome. I also suspect I have been malnourished because, as my hair stylist noticed, I've lost about.. 20% or so of my hair in under a year.

But my heart is saying no

I am thinking about seeing a nutritionist/dietician that is affiliated with my GI specialist.. but I'm not sure if insurance will cover that and I also don't know if she will have time for an appt before the holidays.

Hi,

I am 28 and for years I've always had stomach "issues" that I just chalked up to stress. This past year though it was getting steadily worse, and for the past couple of months I was having stomach pains and nausea every day, all day long.

Yesterday I had an endoscopy and biopsy and my GI specialist said that I have Celiac Disease. I'm starting my research on it and I am feeling completely overwhelmed. A few hours ago I went through my cupboard and cleaned out everything containing gluten... not much left! I love to drink tea and now that I know that some tea bags are sealed with wheat paste I don't even feel safe drinking that!

I am also concerned because I've been meat-free for about 10 years, but I am not sure I can continue to be and still be healthy with my diet so restricted and so many non-meat sources of protein having to be taken out.

I'm not really sure where to go or what to do or how to start. There's just so much to research and recipes to find... and the holidays! I am supposed to bring something for thanksgiving dinner next week and I haven't the foggiest on what to make, considering whatever I make might be the only food option I can eat there. Eeeeek!

When someone first learns that they have Celiac, what are the first things they should do? Do I need to start eating meat?