You may not want to hear it, but if you desire to thrive through Hashimoto’s, you should go gluten-free.
In 2010, going gluten free was HARD. When I got diagnosed, I tried to go cold turkey and y’all, if you’re thinking about it, don’t do it…please. This left me running on an exhausting 900 calorie diet because I didn’t understand what else to eat. Celiacs, I am not talking to you. If you have a full on allergy, you must go all in.
If you are struggling with transitioning yo gluten-free, here are 5 tips you can start implementing right now:
1. Identify The Sources:
Log your food for 3 days. Identify the foods you eat that contain gluten. This will be very eye-opening. Easy? Just swap flours.
2. Move, Move, Move:
Move all the gluten items to one location in your pantry. This will allow your brain to trigger you before you go in for your nightly snack and say “You better drop that. That has gluten in it.”
3. Master One Meal:
Breakfast – the best meal of the day, right? The first one you’ll be trying out as you go gluten-free. Master this one meal first. Find the foods + meals you love so that you can always keep them in your back pocket. Personally, I found potatoes are my go-to. Once you get the gist, move to lunch + master it and repeat for dinner + snack time.
4. Read The Labels:
Gluten isn’t always as obvious as a loaf of white bread. It can be in cheesecake batter, seasoning on chips, mixed spices, sauces, etc. Check your labels to identify your safe brands, then stock those at home.
5. Leave The House:
Once you master eating GF at home, it’s time to learn to eat out. Most large chain restaurants have a gluten-free menu. Call your favorite places and ask! Some spots have “secret” GF menus. If a GF menu is not available, choose wisely. Make the server aware. Want a safe bet? Ask for a piece of grilled protein, sauce on the side and pair it with a baked potato and veggies. When it doubt, keep it simple.
Going gluten-free isn’t easy for most of us, but it’s so worth it! I did an entire year gluten-free and concentrated on healing my gut, before I started to work certain foods back in. I don’t have an allergy, so a slice of real sourdough bread every now and again doesn’t really hurt. I am 85-95% gluten-free now that I’ve healed my gut, but I still do a complete RESET twice a year and cut gluten entirely.
You can do this HashiGirls!
And if you need help make sure and join my FREE Private FB Group where I answer questions daily!