Re: thought i'd introduce myself and more questions

[Guest guest]

Debbie and , I appreciate all your help. I am already looking

forward to attending the conference at Stanford, just based on what

you've said.

I have so many questions, but I think I need to start at the

beginning - or at least go back a bit.

I'm in my mid 20s and moved back in with my parents about a year

ago. I was having some serious medical issues, which we now think

were caused by CD. I work really unsteady hours and have short

lunches, so I usually end up ordering in or going out for lunches

and/or dinners. I'm also dealing with extreme fatigue and just have

no motivation to cook right now.

, to answer your question, food ideas would be great. My

parents (whom I'm planning on continuing to live with until I get

this diet/lifestyle figured out-hoping that will only be about 2

more months!) don't get it at all. My Mother continues to try, but

ends up thickening sauces with unsafe flours.

I'm planning a trip to Whole Foods on Tuesday and would like to

stock up with all the basics that I'll need. I've cleaned out some

cupboards here so I will have a few shelves just for myself.

Things I like and don't like:

1. I crave salt. Forget the sugar, give me salty things like chips

or pretzels. When I was in university I lived on Chex Mix.

2. I love ethnic foods - pad thai, eggplant in garlic sauce,

tamales, burritos, etc. I usually eat one of the above with rice 3

or so times a week.

3. I'm not a breakfast person. If I do manage to eat it, it's

usually just fruit or yogurt or granola out of the bag (sansmilk).

4. Frozen or prepared foods are my favourite kinds. I like easy,

easy, easy. For lunches I try to take the least amount of time as

possible, so I can go home early. (I'm on my feet all day at work

and it's hard when you're so exhausted)

5. I eat alot at night after work. I usually go for salty carbs as

mentioned above - goldfish crackers, graham crackers and peanut

butter, or whatever is left over from lunch.

6. I'm allergic to bananas and raw carrots.

I just don't know where to start. Breakfast isn't difficult. Are

there any frozen foods that would work for me? Is this something I

should mention to my co-workers and boss? Are any energy bars gluten

free? What items should I always keep on hand? What should be on my

shopping list for Tuesday? (price isn't a factor - other than going

out to eat, I rarely spend anything and heck, I'm living with my

folks-so no rent!)

I really appreciate everyones help. Knowing you're out there makes

me feel less alone.

Carla aka Piglet

> >

> > Hi, all. I was just diagnosed this week. My friends call me

Piglet

> > (no, I am not kidding!) and as you can tell, I live in

> Hill. I

> > don't have an appointment with a nutritionist for a few weeks,

and

> I'm

> > feeling very lost, so any help you can offer would be very

> welcomed! I

> > am reading all I can get my hands on, but I think it's making me

> more

> > confused.

> >

> > Thx in advance,

> > Piglet

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Carla-

> Things I like and don't like:

> 1. I crave salt. Forget the sugar, give me salty things like chips

> or pretzels. When I was in university I lived on Chex Mix.

Most potato and tortilla chips are GF (especially the plain flavors-

the more flavoring, the more chances that wheat flour etc. is in

there). I like the Terra Blue Potato Chips, and tortilla chips are

great for homemade nachos.

You can also try premade (or microwave) popcorn, Trader Joe's Savory

Thins (make sure you get the rice variety!!!)- these have a shared

equipment warning so it is up to you if you want to risk it, but I

eat them and they are GREAT, popcorn/rice cakes, nuts... There are a

few cereals. You can get Peanut butter panda crunchy corn cereal at

Trader Joe's, which is a fun " kids " cereal for grown ups. It's my

current favorite, although I also like the healthy tasting " Mesa

Sunrise " .

> 2. I love ethnic foods - pad thai, eggplant in garlic sauce,

> tamales, burritos, etc. I usually eat one of the above with rice 3

> or so times a week.

Many Thai restaurants have naturally gluten free items- just ask

about soy sauce, oyster sauce, wheat used as thickener, and you may

want to be careful of fried spring rolls (they don't always know if

the wrap is rice or wheat). You can get prepared indian meal pouches

that are gluten free at Trader Joe's, health food stores, or

international markets. Tasty Bites is reliable about

labeling " gluten free " on their packages. You can pair that with

Trader Joe's frozen white or brown rice and you have a meal!

Actually, just spend time at Trader joe's- they have (frozen) GF

tamales (I like their green chili cheese)- they have fresh but I

wasn't impressed, your taste buds may differ, and may have some

frozen corn tortilla things- read label carefully. Burritos are

pretty much off the menu at restaurants. At Whole foods you can find

Food For Life Brown rice tortilla wraps that are the biggest and

best thing out there to simulate homemade burritos. Corn tortillas

are your new best friend as well- they will be your option at

restauarants and at home. You can do so much with a corn tortilla!

dip it in salsa and saute it in nonfat cooking spray with cheese or

potatoes or beans or Whatever! inside... bake it for homemade crispy

lowfat chips, melt it in the microwave with cheese, salsa, green

chilies, put cream cheese, pastrami, fresh basil and tomato in a

warmed one for an easy lunch snack... Consider Japanese sushi as

your new favorite ethnic delight- if raw fish is not your thing, get

a philadelphia roll (smoked or non smoked salmon with cheese) or an

avocado roll.. avoid the unagi eel, tofu pouches (simmered in soy

sauce), and lightly flavored egg.. also avoid the fake crab which is

in most california rolls. I like " chirashi " which is a rice bowl

topped with different kinds of sashimi or seafood.

*consider Taste of Thai microwavable meals- GF and DELISH! (read

labels) I like the ones in the carton but they are a little spendy:

http://www.atasteofthai.com/products.cfm

add some fresh spinach and it's practically gourmet.

Thai Kitchen is also convenient and cheap- they have rice noodls

dishes, some like ramen that you just add hot water to. I like onion

or garlic- their rice noodle instant bowls are ok on an airplane,

but I like the microwavable ones better. Some flavors are icky, they

are all salty so you may like them.

> 3. I'm not a breakfast person. If I do manage to eat it, it's

> usually just fruit or yogurt or granola out of the bag (sansmilk).

Consider breakfast for dinner- potatoes are wonderful, microwaved

and then shredded for hash browns, or cubed for home fries.. eggs

(or sauteed tofu), i don't like eggs myself, and fresh fruit. Or a

gluten free pancake made from GF mix! I like many of GLuten free

pantry's mixes, esp. their cornbread and favorite sandwich bread- I

mix my own pancake mix from a Bette Hagman recipe so can't comment

too much on pancake mix.

> 4. Frozen or prepared foods are my favourite kinds. I like easy,

> easy, easy. For lunches I try to take the least amount of time as

> possible, so I can go home early. (I'm on my feet all day at work

> and it's hard when you're so exhausted)Are there any frozen foods

that would work for me?

You are going to (i hope) love Amy's frozen GF foods. Get them on

sale and stock up. She has tons of great (veggie) stuff- breakfasts,

GF enchiladas, enchilada meals, rice crust pizza, corn tamale pie,

even GF lasagna, and GF mac n' cheese! Not to mention GF

international meals, including indian and japanese-ish noodles. I

also like her canned GF soups. Read the labels carefully as she

makes GF and non GF products- should be labeled GF!

Is this something I

> should mention to my co-workers and boss?

This is entirely up to you... I don't tend to bring it up, but when

I moved to Japan I emailed the school I was going to be teaching at

because I knew that the food/hospitality culture might be an issue.

They had sushi and tamari (which turned out to contain some wheat,

but it was a low level contamination issue and I didn't feel it too

much after) waiting for me. I often explain it to casual

acquaintances as a " wheat allergy " because they understand it

better. Then if someone knows about Celiac and brings it up I say,

why yes, actually, it's Celiac. And we all get a nice warm fuzzy

understanding buzz going.

Are any energy bars gluten free?

Yes- you can read the labels, but in general, all (Healthy tasting)

Lara Bars are GF including her new chocolate line (I like the

chocolate espresso! too bad about the nuts, ha), a few Cliff bars

are GF, Nana's No Gluten cookies and bars are GF (they are

severely " healthy " tasting but I like the vanilla berry bars- it's a

local Ca company), and some Bumblebee bars are GF. Watch out for

Oats- this is contraversial and not an ingredient I have chosen to

experiment with, but some co's think of it as GF. (questionably)

What items should I always keep on hand? What should be on my

shopping list for Tuesday? (price isn't a factor - other than going

out to eat, I rarely spend anything and heck, I'm living with my

folks-so no rent!)

Lucky girl! heh heh. Us Ca folks are hit hard by the price of

shipping things, so things liek Whole FOods GF Bakehouse products

cost more here than at other locations. I recommend the sun dried

tomato bread VERY MUCH- great for grilled cheese sandwiches! (you

should have your own toaster and sandwich grill for cross

contamination reasons!)- try with Amy's tomato soup! Mmmmm! The pies

etc. are overpriced, IMO but if you don't bake you may enjoy them.

If you decide you want to learn to bake your options will skyrocket-

we can recommend fabulous bread etc. cookbooks if you're interested.

Also, keep an eye out for " I can eat that " frozen breads. You thaw

them on your counter for 4 hours and they rise and you pop 'em in

the oven and bake 'em for a respectable, homebaked GF bread with no

(little) effort. THey're cheap too 'cause they're local. You can

google their web page, or find them at the Mountain View Spica

coffee shop on Castro. THey have pizza crust, bread, and

occasionally (maybe special order) rolls.

Hope this helps- pick up a GF foods list at Whole Foods, spend lotsa

time in the frozen foods aisle to see what your options are, and the

international aisle. Also, all the veggies and meats are GF (not

breaded or marinated ones tho), so go wild. WF has the best

selection of Lara bar flavors, and competitive prices. Consider

picking up some San J wheat free tamari as a substitute for soy

sauce- can't use that stuff- it's full of gluten! You can also order

individual packets of GF soy sauce online, for travel and visiting

sushi restaurants.

You may want to experiment with products by a canadian company,

kinnikinnick. THey have donuts, bagels (LOVE their plain tapioca

bagels, so chewy and good). http://www.kinnikinnick.com/ You'd have

them shipped, but their shipping rates are way reasonable.

I recommend this web site, especially for their description of

various stores. http://www.bayareaceliacs.org/

Harvest HOuse is a drive (for me anyway) but has a great selection

of GF goodies- whole aisles! and freezers full of kinnikinnick

products. if you get discouraged, please visit this store.

http://www.harvesthouse.com/

Best wishes and happy shopping. Hope this helped! Let us know how it

goes. You're very welcome.

-

> I really appreciate everyones help. Knowing you're out there makes

> me feel less alone.

>

> Carla aka Piglet

[Guest guest]

> > >

> > > Hi, all. I was just diagnosed this week. My friends call me

> Piglet

> > > (no, I am not kidding!) and as you can tell, I live in

> > Hill. I

> > > don't have an appointment with a nutritionist for a few weeks,

> and

> > I'm

> > > feeling very lost, so any help you can offer would be very

> > welcomed! I

> > > am reading all I can get my hands on, but I think it's making

me

> > more

> > > confused.

> > >

> > > Thx in advance,

> > > Piglet

> > >

> >

>