If you're familiar with a gluten free diet and are wondering how you can transition to a grain free one, there are a few minor adjustments that you'll need to make. Eating grain free requires that you not only eliminate wheat products but all grainsincluding gluten free ones. Gluten free grains like barley, corn, rice and oats are not permitted on a grain free diet. However, pseudocereals like quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat are allowed in small quantities.
While removing grains from your diet might seem like a low-carb meal plan, unlike the ketogenic diet, a grain free one does not restrict your intake of carbs. In fact, many starchy vegetables with complex carbs like sweet potato, carrot and pumpkin are an encouraged and a valued part of this meal plan. Even more, a gluten free diet urges you to consume high-protein foods like eggs, fish, meat, legumes, beans, seeds, nuts and dairy. Often praised as an anti-inflammatory diet, when eating grain free you are encouraged to listen to your body's needs and remove any foods that may be causing irritation or gastrointestinal upset.
Knowing the difference between a gluten free and a grain free diet can be tricky. While all grain free foods are naturally gluten free, not all gluten free foods are grain free. Gluten is a specific protein found in different types of grains. Some of the most common grains that include gluten are wheat, rye, barley, kamut and spelt.
Gluten is a vital ingredient in many recipes and adds elasticity and protein to baked goods like bread and muffins. While gluten isn't an inherently bad ingredient, it can wreak havoc on your digestive health if you struggle with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. If you notice digestive issues after consuming gluten, we advise you to speak with a health professional about slowly removing it from your diet.
Remember, a grain free lifestyle is not about eliminating gluten, but instead grains as a whole. When following a grain free diet, you will need to eliminate gluten-containing grains like wheat and rye, as well as gluten free grains like quinoa, oats and sorghum.
While a grain free diet requires you to eliminate several foods from your daily recipes, it also provides you with the chance to incorporate more whole foods. Individuals who eat grain free often rely more on fruits and vegetables to add substance to their meals. Fruits are added to delicious baked goods, nuts and seeds are ground into flour and vegetables are spiralized into the perfect plant-based pasta noodles. By getting creative with the foods you can eat, you can expand your shopping list to incorporate more healthy, whole foods guaranteeing a diet rich in essential vitamins and nutrients.
Additionally, many processed foods on grocery shelves today contain grains. This being, these processed foods become off-limits when following a grain free diet urging you to purchase healthier options or make whole-food recipes at home instead.
At Bob's Red Mill, we love making a homemade batch of flatbread and believe that great flatbread should be easy-to-make for everyoneincluding people following a grain free diet. This is precisely why we created the Bob's Red Mill Grain Free Flatbread Mix. Delicious and quick to prepare, this pre-made mix makes it simple to cook up a delightful flatbread entirely grain free. Try it out for yourself and enjoy everything you've been missing!
Everyone should be able to enjoy a moist piece of chocolate cake every once in a while. If you love cake and follow a grain free diet, this Grain Free Chocolate Cake Mix will quickly become your new favorite kitchen staple. Quick to prepare and loaded with flavor, it offers up the melt-in-your-mouth taste of traditional chocolate cake and is entirely grain free. Bake a cake for your next party, or keep one on hand for a mid-week after-dinner dessert.
Now that you better understand what a grain free diet is and the benefits of following one, it's time to head to the kitchen and whip up your favorite grain free recipe. From chocolate cake to blueberry muffins, the possibilities are endless!
