| If you have an allergic reaction to gluten, you | | | | some binders. The same would be true for meat, |
| might find this list of gluten free foods helpful. | | | | fish, or poultry that is breaded. But fresh products |
| Gluten is a protein found in certain grains, primarily | | | | are fine. |
| barley, rye and wheat. Obviously, if a gluten free | | | | Dairy products is another group you can have on |
| diet is your goal, you won't want to include food | | | | your list. Milk, eggs, and cheese are fine, though |
| items containing, or based upon, one of these | | | | you should avoid certain processed dairy products |
| grains. Unfortunately, this is going to put many | | | | such as cheese spreads. Cottage cheese should |
| breads, other baked foods, and cereals, off limits. | | | | be fine however, and the same is true for yogurt. |
| Even oats are a possible source of gluten, | | | | Crackers made from rice or corn will be gluten |
| although this has yet to be definitely proven. The | | | | free, and you can stock your shelves with rice |
| list of forbidden items even includes malt, as in | | | | cereals, popcorn and corn tortillas. |
| beer. And then there are all those processed | | | | Best of all, the list of gluten free foods includes |
| foods, where it's difficult to tell whether gluten is | | | | nearly all the fruits, nuts, and fresh vegetables |
| present or not. | | | | you could think of. Everything from apples, pears, |
| The question is, can a list of gluten free foods | | | | and cherries, to carrots, beans, peas, and spinach, |
| contain anything good at all? The answer is, of | | | | and just about everything else you'll find in the |
| course. For one thing, there is gluten free flour on | | | | garden, or at the farmer's market, can go on |
| the market, so you can still have pasta dishes, | | | | your list. Again there is the cautionary note that |
| pancakes, and a fair assortment of baked goods. | | | | you need to be careful about processed foods, |
| More importantly, the list of these foods is much | | | | even if they are fruit or vegetable based. |
| longer, and in fact much healthier, than any list of | | | | Processed foods may contain fillers, binders, or |
| foods containing gluten. The main things you are | | | | additives, which are not gluten free. Processed |
| missing is, are whole grained food items which, | | | | foods are generally not as healthy as fresh foods |
| while healthy for most, are not good for you. | | | | anyway, so you're not missing out on much. In |
| Let's then get to the point, and take a look at a | | | | summary, between fresh meats, fish and poultry, |
| list of gluten free foods. For starters, and good | | | | dairy foods, and fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts, |
| sources of protein, we have fresh meat, fish, and | | | | supplemented with gluten free flours and |
| poultry. Note the word fresh. Some processed | | | | gluten-free baked goods, you can choose from a |
| foods, especially meat products such as sausage, | | | | very large selection of tasty and healthy foods. |
| potentially contain gluten, which may be present in | | | | |