Here goes nothing

Today may be an interesting day.  I am going to attempt to follow a gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet.  It wouldn’t be too terrible if carbs and dairy weren’t my two favorite food groups, but I start most meals with one, and top them with the other.

Last week my doctor recommended I try this diet to see if gluten and casein sensitivities might be the causes of my tummy troubles, which have been plaguing me for years, and seem to be gradually getting worse.  In the office, I just nodded in compliance, having no idea how restrictive this diet is.  After coming home to a house that had almost no eligible food in it, I realized that this was going to be a challenge.  Willpower and self-discipline are not my strongpoints when it comes to taking care of myself. Sad, but true.

After researching what I could actually eat, I discovered loads of information on the topic.  I knew that the GFCF diet was necessary for those with celiac disease, but it is also used to treat autism.  GFCF diets are thus becoming more popular, and there’s a wealth of information on the Internet, and lots of specialty grocers making GFCF products that resemble their wheat- and milk- based counterparts, much like the Atkins diet’s specialty carb-free bread products.  There’s not, however, a ton of meal plans for attempting the diet without resorting to specialty store items, which are a tad expensive.

Since I’m not ready to try pasta made from tapioca flour, I tried to devise a meal plan, at least for the short term, that didn’t require anything more than a trip to the local Whole Foods for one or two things.  The first week’s proposed menu is not bad, but I’m still hoping the doc comes back with the lab work and tells me there’s an easier solution.  I thought I’d list what I came up with for Day One, in case anyone else had a hard time finding meal ideas (that weren’t full-blown 15-ingredient recipes).  I’ll post a progress report and another day’s menu tomorrow.

A word of caution: I am following this diet because I may be sensitive to gluten and casein, but I am not intolerant, nor allergic.  If you want to try one of the meals below, please do your own fact and label checking to ensure that these foods do not contain gluten or casein.  I have no food allergies, and don’t have to avoid other foods, so they may be included.  To the best of my knowledge these foods, brands listed when necessary, are GFCF, according to sites on the subject.

Day One

Breakfast: Black coffee, apple juice, scrambled eggs with onions and bell peppers, Quaker Country Bacon Instant Grits

Snack: Sliced apple

Lunch: Hormel Chili with Beans (No bean chili is not GFCF) and Fritos (My own Frito Pie)

Snack: Quaker Lightly Salted rice cakes with Skippy Natural Peanut Butter and SunMaid raisins

Dinner: Baked chicken (olive oil, sea salt, garlic powder), brown rice and cut green beans

Beverages: Water, one Coke, unsweet Lipton Tea