How to avoid the gluten free marketing trap, and add some variety to your diet…..
Just because you have a food intolerance or are trying to cut out certain food from your diet due to health or lifestyle improvements does not mean you need to be heading straight for the gluten free isle, as you think this is the only safe haven in the supermarket you can buy your food from. More often than not these foods tend to be totally inflated in price, highly processed, contain much more sugar and salt in order to give it more “taste” and can therefore provide very little in the way of nutrition for you. The food industry tends to play on the fears of customers that have food intolerances and make bold claims about their products so that you feel a sense of security that you won’t have a reaction if you eat this product, for this security you will pay a premium. Often the foods are bland and uninspiring and you end up eating it, not through choice but because you feel like you have no other options….. well you do!!
Having a food intolerance can make the whole eating experience very stressful especially socially when you are wanting to just relax and go out for a meal, but in the back of your head you’re thinking, ‘am I going to be in agony after I eat this’. I don’t feel that you should have to live your life like this. Food and mealtimes are to be enjoyed and lots of happy memories can be created around this time. I feel if you have more knowledge and are able to be a bit more creative and comfortable in the kitchen while preparing and making food it will help take away this food fear and it will give you the power to make confident food choices so you can relax around food.
Just because it doesn’t say gluten free all over the packet does not mean you can’t eat it, there is an abundance of food choices you can make that are all gluten free. This will give you soo much more variety in your diet and having variety in your diet is key to a nutritional balance that will give you more energy as you are getting the nutrients your body needs. This is why I feel that it is even more vitally important to plan your meals when you have a food intolerance and not fall into the trap of making the same meals over and over as you know it won’t give you any symptoms. Carefully well-planned meals adapted to suit your intolerance and lifestyle can provide a whole new dimension to your eating, giving more variety of food than you ever thought possible.
To avoid the gluten free label food trap, here are my top five
tips that you can start to do now;
Research one new meal each week you haven’t tried and doesn’t contain one gluten free branded product in it!
Eat one food in the week that you would not normally have thought to include in your diet, such as a piece of fruit or vegetable that you haven’t eaten in a long time or even better have never tasted!
Make a shopping list before you go to the supermarket!
Go to that restaurant or coffee shop you want to try and pick something on the menu that sounds appealing and you wouldn’t normally go for and do not be afraid to ask for certain things to be omitted as most restaurants are extremely accommodating! Just research the menu before you go.
Get inspired in the kitchen follow, a new website blog, Facebook page or Instagram account that will give you knowledge and confidence both in the kitchen and when you food shop!
If you like the sound of these tips but you know you will struggle to do it on your own or simply don’t have the time then feel free to give us a try or drop us a note to see how we can help. Having a food intolerance should not consume your life and the choices you make, this is why it is soo important to empower yourself with knowledge and confidence and take the control back, so don’t let the intolerance control you!