“Cheap food is an illusion. There is no such thing as cheap food. The real cost of the food is paid somewhere. And if it isn’t paid at the cash register, it’s charged to the environment or to the public purse in the form of subsidies. And it’s charged to your health.”
–Michael Pollan
Adopting a gluten-free lifestyle can be incredibly overwhelming, and many are resistant to the idea. Maybe you don’t want to give up the foods you love, or you don’t think you can do without pizza and beer. But the truth is that in order to heal, coping is your only option.
Nadine is here to tell you that going gluten-free is not as difficult as you think. In fact, if it’s hard – you’re doing it wrong! She recommends a number of healthy gluten-free and Paleo-friendly food options, explains how your taste buds will change as you rid your body of addictive proteins, and discusses how to approach your grocer to request gluten-free alternatives. It’s time to stop eating for convenience and begin eating to enjoy high-quality food!
What’s Discussed:
Why going gluten-free can be challenging
- Emotional attachment to food
- Function as reward/comfort
How to change your mindset to embrace the gluten-free lifestyle
- Remember that there is plenty of other food to eat
- Create a new ‘country’
Why celiac patients should avoid eating meat from cattle fed on grass treated with glyphosate
- Celiac patients are trying to heal increased permeability of the intestinal wall
- Chemical in Roundup can cause ‘leaky gut’
Nadine’s tips for realizing a healthy gluten-free diet
- Don’t simply replace gluten-containing with gluten-free products
- Focus on nutrient dense, whole foods high in good fat
- Choose organic fruits and vegetables
- Select 100% grass-fed, antibiotic free meat
- Avoid dairy (proteins are molecularly similar to gluten)
- Use almond, coconut or hemp milk and Kite Hill cheese/yogurt
- Satisfy your sweet tooth with molasses, honey and occasionally maple syrup
- Pick foods that have been processed very little or not at all
- Explore new vegetables
- Try bars when you are on the go (e.g.: Lärabar, EPIC, KIND)
- Freeze fruits and vegetables to savor year round
- Consider going Paleo (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, meat, fish and eggs)
The benefits of turning your lawn into a garden
- ‘Growing food is like planting money’
- Allows you to enjoy kale, tomatoes, beans, peas, peppers, squash, etc.
How to tailgate on a gluten-free diet
- Explore gluten-free alcohol options (i.e.: Ground Breaker, 2 Towns, honey mead)
- Try gluten free snack foods like Kettle Brand or Jackson’s Honest chips and Jilz Crackers
- Enjoy guacamole, salsa, hummus and pesto dips
- Sample desserts like Hail Merry Miracle Tarts
Nadine’s guidelines for selecting healthy foods
- No more than five ingredients
- Should be able to picture each ingredient
Quality sources of fat
- Bacon
- Pumpkin seed and nut butters
- Olive oil
- Avocados
- Eggs
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Nadine:
Books by Nadine:
Dough Nation: A Nurse’s Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism
