Getting Started with a Gluten Free Kitchen
This might seem like a very daunting task but the sooner you get it done the sooner you can go shopping for missing essential items. I recommend taking out all food items you have, including baking items and spices. I know your counter tops are now entirely covered with stuff!
Now lets create 3 piles:
- Save
- Research/Call
- Donate
If you are wondering what this means, let me explain.
The save pile is obvious, these are the safe foods that you can use so save them.
Research/Call is just that. They are the items that might not have a clear label or you just aren’t sure if they are safe. Call the company if you cannot find it safe online or anywhere else. The old rule of thumb is When in Doubt Throw it Out! I am trying to keep you from this as much as possible.
Last pile is the donate pile. This is the food that must go such as regular pasta. We will be replacing these items with new ones that will not endanger your health.
Safe Gluten Free Items:
Remember this is a guideline. Always check the items yourself to ensure they are safe!! Below are some staple items that will soon become the base for many recipes and meals:
- Tuna, water or oil-packed
- Canned chicken (one of my favorites to whip up a fast meal)
- Lipton onion soup mix
- Prego spaghetti sauce
- Rice-brown, white or basmati (my personal favorite)
- Potatoes
- Corn tortilla shells
- Corn Chips
- Potato Chips
- Canned vegetables
- Swanson natural goodness chicken broth
- Olive or canola oil
- Juices
- Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa
- 100% pure ground meats:turkey, chicken, beef, buffalo
- Fresh meats, poultry, and fish
- Hormel chili with beans
- Progresso Creamy Mushroom Soup
- Hershey’s chocolate bars
- GF Rice Chex: now available in Strawberry, Chocolate, Honey Nut, Rice, Corn and Cinnamon
- Snickers candy bar
- Hershey’s chocolate chips and syrup
- Carnation Creamers
- Carnation Instant Breakfast
- Grits or Cream of Rice
- Egg beaters
- Velveeta
- Tyson frozen breasts, wings and thighs
- Raw or salted nuts or seeds
- Yoplait yogurt
- Philadelphia cream cheese
- Daisy sour cream
- Brown cow yogurt
- Milk-cow’s, soy, rice
- Sargento shredded cheddar cheese, deli cheese slices
- Mr. Dells frozen hashbrowns
Hopefully this left you with a few items in your fridge or pantry. The items I listed are items you can find at most grocery stores. That means no special trip to an organic store. I know some of us don’t have that option all of the time.
You also won’t see the huge spike in your grocery bill if you can come up with some recipes using these staples. I want you to read over the list and see if you can come up with at least 7 meals. If you can, Congratulations!
You have made it through the first week of Gluten Free Living!!
For a longer list of specific items try printing pages from this list: Gluten Free Safe Food This list saved me when I first started on this journey. But do be prepared the list is very long and if you decide to print you will be using a ton of paper. I suggest finding the items you already use and creating a personal shopping list on your computer. As you get more familiar with what your store carries you won’t feel to overwhelmed.