Weight gain

Q: Why do I weigh more since going gluten-free? A side-effect of going on the gluten-free (GF) diet is sometimes weight gain. It could be due to several things: Here are some tips to stay healthy on a GF diet: Decreasing sugar: https://nationalceliac.org/celiac-disease-questions/how-can-i-find-gluten-free-items-with-less-sugar/ Decreasing salt: https://nationalceliac.org/celiac-disease-questions/reducing-salt-and-sugar-in-gf-foods/ How to increase fiber in the GF diet: Eat less processed GF foods and …

Playing on wheat straw

Q:  I recently became aware that my child’s after school program used wheat straw in their outdoor play area. I doubt parents think of straw as a problem in the outdoor environment. I did not see much on the internet about this type of exposure. I’m guessing many parents would not think of this. Great question, I can understand your …

Assisted Living Facilities and GF Meals

Q: What is the best approach to take in regard to the gluten-free diet in considering a move to an assisted living facility?  Many offer a meal plan and that can be a problem for a person with celiac disease. So many will respond “oh our chef is really great and he/she can handle this request.” It can be very …

Eating GF when traveling abroad

Q: I’ll be traveling abroad three times in the next year and while I’m excited, I feel worried about food availability while traveling. I really don’t want to get sick while in a foreign country. Do you have any tips for traveling with celiac disease? Traveling while staying gluten-free (GF) can be a daunting task, but is possible with a …

Managing anxiety around eating new foods

Q: I’ve been experiencing increased anxiety around eating new foods and at new restaurants. Do you have any tips for being able to manage this? It is starting to affect my general happiness and my ability to participate in social situations. Eating out can be very anxiety provoking when you have celiac disease and with good reason. In a study …

Serving beer in a GF kitchen

Q: How does serving beer in a gluten-free kitchen work? Would washing the beer glasses in our dishwasher contaminate the water with gluten thus dirtying the rest of our glasses/plates? Washing the glasses or other dishes in the dishwasher should be fine, just make sure to rinse all glasses/dishes and remove any gluten residue stuck on them like pizza, dough, …

Can a chef with CD taste food he cooks with gluten?

Q: Hi! My partner is a chef with celiac disease. Is it ok if he follows a gluten-free diet but still tastes the food? (very small amount of food containing gluten) I just want to know how risky it is. Following a strict gluten-free diet free of cross-contact is the only way to stay safe and healthy when you have …

Support for a low FODMAP diet

Q: I have celiac disease and follow the gluten-free diet. I also have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Where can I find online support for following the Low FODMAP diet? First, a very brief review of the Low FODMAP Diet:  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be a co-existing disorder found in patients with celiac disease and other diseases where the motility …

Electric food smokers

Q: Are electric meat smokers safe for celiac patients? We have learned charcoal and propane may not be safe. Electric smoker uses and electric element similar to an electric oven with woods skips for the smoke taste. The issue with charcoal is if you use briquettes, as they may contain wheat starch. If you use briquettes there is a chance (although small) that …

Crumbly foods

Q: Should I ask my family and friends not to bring crumbly cookies, bars and crackers to gatherings at our house? I feel as if the longer I am gluten free, the more sensitive I have become. Twice in the last couple of months, people have brought very, very crumbly cookies to get-togethers at our house. I do the cleaning …