Going Gluten-Free: Foods You Can Still Eat and Love

 For at least five years gluten as been quite the nemesis, and most likely for no good reason. This panic started with the advent of low-carb diet fads. We do not support these fads. But some people are allergic to gluten, and others have a gluten intolerance. For that information, you can go here.

Since we've had a lot of questions about gluten and eliminating gluten from the diet, we've decided to address it. You can totally go gluten-free without feeling deprived. Gluten-free means removing items that have gluten from your diet. The most common one is wheat. 

Going gluten-free means no more traditional burritos (make a taco salad). No more traditional lasagna (use thinly sliced zucchini). It means beings creative. But it isn't so hard. And for those of you who want to eliminate gluten not because of health issues, but because you think it may be the right dietary choice, then go for it. Just plan accordingly.

Just because you've eliminated gluten, doesn't mean you can't have burritos or lasagna ever again. Plenty of companies are making gluten-free pasta and tortillas for those nights you just gotta dig into a taco. But they are very processed and it may be better to avoid them altogether.

Once you've made the gluten-free commitment, you may find yourself asking, "What can I eat?'

Follow this list of foods you can eat, and you will see that living a gluten-free lifestyle is easy as pie:

Fruit: 3 servings max per day. 1/2 cup of berries equals 1 serving. ​Other great sources are bananas, apples, oranges, peaches, nectarines, apricots, melons, etc...

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• Vegetables: 5-8 servings per day.
• Aim for 2 servings at every meal, with one meal consisting of four servings. Great choices include broccoli, bell peppers, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, onions, zucchini, sweet potatoes, celery, kale, etc...Choosing to have a large salad for dinner helps get you to your goal!

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Lean Proteins: 3 servings per day. 4 to 6 ounce servings are ideal and can be added to each meal. Good sources of protein include tofu, chicken, fish, shrimp, lean beef cuts, pork, beans, lentils, etc...

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Grains or Grain-Like Seeds: 1 serving per day. A servings is between 1/2 cup and 1 cup. Good choices include oats, rice, quinoa, corn, and buckwheat

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Seeds and Healthy Fats: 2 servings per day. A tablespoon of nuts equals one serving. A teaspoon of oil or butter equals one serving. Good choices include pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews, peanuts, olive oil, coconut oil, butter...

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