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    Home » Gluten Free Living

    How to go Gluten Free - 10 BEST tips for Beginners

    Published: Apr 9, 2020 · Modified: May 31, 2023 by Jamie · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

    Whether you discovered you have a gluten sensitivity or were diagnosed with celiac disease, learning how to go gluten free can feel like a lot to learn in just a short amount of time. But we have good news -- these top 10 tips will help you adjust quickly, avoid common mistakes, and connect with others who are gluten free!

    A women enjoying gluten free food on the beach.
    [social_warfare ]

    What is gluten?

    Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. That means gluten is also find in foods that contain those ingredients, such as bread, baked goods like muffins and cookies, crackers, cereal, and more.

    Sometimes gluten falls under other names for those ingredients such as triticale, spelt, semolina, or durum. We'll look at more hidden sources of gluten later in this post.

    I definitely recommend subscribing to our newsletter to access our free resource library with a full list of hidden gluten ingredients and other resources for a quick and easy transition to gluten-free.

    Jump to:
    • What is gluten?
    • Reasons to go Gluten-Free
    • BEST Gluten Free Tips for Beginners
    • Gluten Free Baking
    • Summary
    • More Resources for going Gluten-Free

    Reasons to go Gluten-Free

    There are many reasons to go gluten-free. Here are a few common ones:

    Celiac Disease

    Celiac Disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease. For someone diagnosed with celiac disease, maintaining a very strict gluten-free diet is necessary for healing and long-term health.

    This also includes avoiding trace amounts of gluten that can make its way into gluten-free food through cross contamination with gluten.

    There are many symptoms associated with Celiac Disease, and some people with the condition have no symptoms at all. It's important to talk with your healthcare provider if you have family members with celiac disease or suspect you have a problem with gluten.

    Gluten Sensitivity

    Someone with Gluten Sensitivity experiences uncomfortable symptoms after eating gluten-containing foods. These symptoms can be digestive, skin-related, or neurological like migraines or brain fog.

    Gluten sensitivity is different from celiac disease in that it does not cause damage to the small intestine.

    While there is more variability in the amount of gluten someone with non-celiac gluten sensitivity can tolerate, eating a super clean gluten-free diet won’t hurt, and for many, it will help!

    Other health reasons

    Hashimoto's Thyroiditis often responds well to a gluten-free diet. Avoiding gluten can also be part of decreasing overall body inflammation.

    Gluten intolerance, supporting a family member who eats gluten-free, an elimination diet while breastfeeding an infant, or wanting to decrease processed foods in their diet are all reasons people choose to eat gluten-free.

    Read on for my 10 best tips to beat the overwhelm and jump start your gluten-free journey.

    The words "gluten-free" surrounded by an assortment of gluten-free grains.

    BEST Gluten Free Tips for Beginners

    1. Replace major sources of gluten first.

    Making the switch to gluten-free can feel overwhelming, but if you stick to easy gluten-free swaps for foods you already eat, it will feel much more manageable.

    Easy gluten-free swaps:

    • Gluten-free bread for regular bread
    • gluten-free crackers for crackers you already ate
    • gluten-free pasta
    • gluten-free versions of your favorite condiments and sauces
    • gluten-free flour

    Check out our Shop for my favorite gluten-free products!

    2. Focus on naturally gluten-free foods.

    There are so many delicious naturally gluten-free foods! Fruits, vegetables, unprocessed meats, fish, eggs, potatoes, and other root vegetables are all delicious, fresh, and naturally gluten-free! 

    Foods that are processed may contain gluten additives, so sticking with the fresh stuff from the start is the best way to beat the overwhelm.

    A farmer's market with fresh gluten-free produce.

    3. Learn to navigate the grocery store.

    The naturally gluten-free foods are kept along the outside of the grocery store (fresh produce, dairy and eggs, and meats and fish).

    Many grocery stores also have a Natural Foods aisle or Gluten Free Foods section to help you with those easy swaps in tip #1.

    Check out our 10 Gluten Free Grocery Tips + Free Printable Grocery List!

    A grocery card with produce, water, fruits, and vegetables.

    4. Find hidden sources of gluten.

    Just because gluten isn’t obvious doesn’t mean it’s gluten-free! 

    Commonly missed sources of gluten in food:

    • Sauces
    • Gravy
    • Condiments
    • Alcohol (see tip #6)
    • Salad dressings
    • Soups
    • Malt vinegar

    The best way to stay truly gluten-free is to become an expert at reading labels.

    5. Learn to read labels for gluten.

    Now here’s the bad news — gluten can go by many different names. Sometimes labeled as natural and artificial flavors, caramel coloring, starches, malt, and more, gluten is not always obvious.

    But here’s the good news — you can use our free printable “Ingredients to Avoid” list to help you find sneaky gluten. I recommend highlighting ingredients you know you won’t remember to make the list easier to navigate.

    Opt In Image
    Get our free printable list of Ingredients to Avoid while Gluten-Free!

    Plus access to our Free Resource Library with grocery lists, travel packing lists, and more by entering your information below!

    You can also look for gluten free labeling and certifications on products to simplify the label-reading process.

    6. Learn which alcohols contain gluten.

    Or better yet, focus on what you can drink!

    Safe gluten-free alcohols include:

    • Wines and brandy without added flavors and colors (that’s most of them)
    • gluten-free hard cider 
    • gluten-free beer
    • Spirits distilled from non-gluten grains (like potato vodka and pure tequila)

    Always be wary of drink mixes (like margarita mix) and cocktails or other mixed drinks that were made in an unwashed shaker or blender.

    And avoid these gluten-containing alcohols:

    • Regular beer
    • Spirits distilled from gluten-containing grains (like whiskey)
      • Note: Some people say the distillation process adequately removes gluten. As someone very sensitive to trace amounts of gluten, I find that I still react to these alcohols. I recommend avoiding them, at least at the beginning of your gluten-free journey.
    • Anything you're unsure of
    Red wine, which is naturally gluten-free, is poured into a large wine glass.

    7. Look out for cross contact (also called cross contamination).

    Cross contact with gluten occurs when a gluten-free food is prepared on the same surface or with the same utensils as foods with gluten.

    Common areas of cross-contact in your home:

    • Peanut butter & mayonnaise jars where the utensils are double-dipped after spreading on wheat (gluten) bread and gluten-free bread
    • cutting boards and food prep surfaces
    • Eating and serving utensils

    As a new gluten free eater, I greatly underestimated the power of a cross-contact reaction. My strong reaction to cross-contact is part of the reason my family eventually became an entirely gluten-free household.

    Check out our tips for avoiding gluten cross contamination at home.

    You also need to worry about cross contact at restaurants. The tips and resource below will help you to navigate this challenge safely!

    Chopping onions on a wooden cutting board with a knife.

    8. Learn to dine safely in restaurants.

    There are gluten-free apps that help you locate 100% gluten free restaurants (where you don’t need to worry about gluten at all) and others that gluten-sensitive and celiac diagnosed people trust to feed them safely.

    Our How to find Celiac Friendly Restaurants post has you covered on the best apps, questions to ask, and meals to order!

    9. Find easy gluten-free meals you enjoy!

    I’m sure you already have meals you love to make and eat each week. Many of them can be made gluten-free with easy swaps. You may even find that they were gluten-free to begin with!

    Some of my favorite easy gluten-free weekday recipes:

    • Super Easy Paella Recipe
    • Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
    • Thai Chicken Soup
    • Creamy Avocado Pasta
    • Salmon Quinoa Salad
    • Arugula Quinoa Salad

    Explore more great gluten-free recipes in our Recipe Index!

    A bowl of gluten free pasta with creamy avocado sauce.

    10. Join a gluten-free support network

    Whether you like facebook groups, connecting on instagram (my personal favorite since instagrammers show you exactly what they eat in all sorts of situations), or joining a blog community like Vibrantly G-Free, having people who get what you’re going through is so valuable.

    It’s something I took way to long to embrace -- I wish I found more gluten-free friends online when I first went gluten-free!  You can also share your own journey through blogging or creating a gluten-free foodie instagram account to help others.

    A supportive group of friends with arms around each other looking over the water.

    Gluten Free Baking

    Once you've mastered the basics above, your next step in "how to go gluten-free" is to explore gluten-free baking recipes!

    Some of our reader favorites include Gluten-Free French Baguette, Gluten Free Chocolate Muffins, Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins, Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, Gluten-Free Monster Cookies, Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread, and Gluten-Free Apple Coffee Cake.

    Summary

    • A strict gluten free diet is necessary for anyone with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.
    • Making easy gluten-free swaps for your usual favorite foods is a great way to beat the overwhelm at the start of your journey!
    • Fresh produce, unprocessed meats, fish, and eggs are the safest gluten free foods and the easiest to source since they don’t require much (if any) label reading.
    • Learning to read labels and avoid cross contact is necessary for anyone on a strict gluten free diet.
    • Having a support group not only eases the emotional and social burden of the transition, but it’s also a ton of fun!

    More Resources for going Gluten-Free

    Ready to tackle the next step? Take a look at these other awesome gluten-free resources! Or explore our gluten-free resources page.

    • A grocery shopping bag with "Printable Gluten Free Grocery List" text overlay.
      Printable Gluten Free Grocery List + 10 Tips!
    • Celiac Friendly Restaurants Pin 3
      How to find Celiac Friendly Restaurants near you
    • A variety of healthy naturally gluten free foods
      The Best List of Naturally Gluten Free Foods + easy recipes!
    • gluten-free friends
      10 things I wish my Friends knew about Celiac Disease

    Looking for more support?

    Check out our Free Resource Library! It has pages of useful information on how to go gluten-free, plus travel resources to help you jump back into your best life:

    Opt In Image
    Want to make Gluten-Free easier?

    Get unlimited access to our Free Resource Library with Grocery Lists, a Travel Planner, Packing Checklists, and more!

    Share your best tips or questions for starting a gluten free diet in the comment section below!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle

      October 24, 2021 at 9:16 am

      Hi Jamie. Thank you so much for posting this. You are helping more ppl than you know. I have been dealing with tremors for years now. My Doctors have ran tests that all come in normal. They’ve told me that some ppl just have tremors and there is nothing they can do about it. On top of the tremors, I suffer from feeling exhausted all the time, bouts of depression, bloating, joint pain, and now I’m gaining weight and not able to do anything to loose it. It wasn’t until a friend of mine was describing their symptoms and diagnosis of Celiac disease that I saw similarities. I am concerned about changing my household to a gluten-free home since I have two teenage boys that thrive on sandwiches and pasta, but you’ve given me hope, confidence, and a guide to make this change. Thank you again.

      Reply
      • Jamie

        October 28, 2021 at 9:06 pm

        Thank you so much for the kind words Michelle! There are loads of good gluten-free pastas and breads these days that will hopefully make your transition easier. I definitely eat better (and feel *way better*) now than before gluten-free. I wish the same for you too. Please let me know if I can help!

        Reply
    2. Susan

      February 20, 2021 at 6:19 am

      Hi Jamie,
      I have been sooo tired for years now. I have suffered depression all my adult life. I will be 60 in a couple of weeks.
      I have been going through many blood tests, top and tail oscopies etc in the last 6 months, because it was accidentally discovered that my iron (ferritin) was absolutely rock bottom. 4 in Australian medical terminology.
      I had a large iron infusion, which did not give me the pep I was told it would, and had hoped!
      I have tested negative for coeliac disease.
      Whenever I put in my symptoms on google it always came up coeliac. So I asked my GP a couple of days ago if it is possible to be gluten intolerant if the tests for coeliac come back negative?
      Apparently yes! There is no way of testing for intolerance.
      So, here I am, after looking on Pinterest for foods recipes etc, I found your page!
      I am feeling extremely overwhelmed at the moment at the thought of changing my entire relationship with food!
      I love your first suggestion, change my regular foods with gluten free versions! ??
      I have not eaten well consistently for years now, as I work from home, and I am too exhausted and fluffy in my head to give food much thought!
      I am very fortunate to have a wonderful husband who takes good care of me emotionally as well as physically.
      Thank you so much for your page and suggestions!
      Here is to finding out if this is where my problems lie!
      Of course I will be talking with my doctors about what I am going to try, I need all the help I can get.
      Much kindness to you and your family.
      From Australia
      Susan H. ??

      Reply
      • Jamie

        February 23, 2021 at 9:57 pm

        Thank you so much Susan! I really hope you get your energy back soon and the diet change helps.

        I definitely like to keep recipes simple since I make nearly all my own food. I hope you find more posts and recipes you enjoy here! The gluten-free smoothies have spinach which is a great source of iron:

        Welcome to our gluten-free family <3
        Jamie

        Reply
    3. Katerina

      April 12, 2020 at 4:49 am

      You have the best guides and printables, Jamie! These tips would be absolutely priceless for someone trying to navigate the gluten free world - like me! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!

      Reply
      • Celiac Sojourness

        May 04, 2020 at 7:24 pm

        Thank you so much Katerina! This is the sweetest message and I hope you find the tips and resources helpful <3

        Reply

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    About Jamie

    A headshot of Jamie, the blogger behind Vibrantly G-Free, outside in a forest wearing a blue top.

    After a celiac diagnosis, I went from a food lover to eating because I had to. Then, with the help of this blog and community, I re-worked my life and my recipes to love food again. Thank you for being here.

    More about my journey →

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    About Jamie

    A headshot of Jamie, the blogger behind Vibrantly G-Free, outside in a forest wearing a blue top.

    After a celiac diagnosis, I went from a food lover to eating because I had to. Then, with the help of this blog and community, I re-worked my life and my recipes to love food again. Thank you for being here.

    More about my journey →

    Reader Favorites

    • Three crusty gluten free french baguettes freshly baked on a pan.
      Foolproof Gluten-Free French Baguette
    • Hero image of a slice of dairy free tiramisu with fresh berries on top and a piece of chocolate with a mint leaf on the side of the plate.
      Impossibly Authentic Dairy Free Tiramisu
    • Side view of a bowl of coconut dairy-free whipped cream with a scoop removed to show the light and fluffy texture.
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    • A women enjoying gluten free food on the beach.
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    • A grocery shopping bag with "Printable Gluten Free Grocery List" text overlay.
      Printable Gluten Free Grocery List + 10 Tips!
    • An easy shrimp paella served in a bowl with a lemon wedge and garnished with parsley.
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    Trending Summer Recipes

    • Pie Iron Apple Pie PIN 2
      Pie Iron Apple Pie >> make dessert over a campfire
    • A zoomed in view of the corner of a piece of gluten free rhubarb cake to show the layers and crisp topping.
      Gluten Free Rhubarb Cake with strawberries
    • A serving of Stracciatella Dairy-Free and Vegan Gelato in a small clear glass mug.
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    • Pieces of S'mores rocky road arranged for serving and ready to eat!
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    • Two stacked gluten free blueberry muffins with a bite removed from one to show fluffy texture and tons of blueberries!
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    • A tall glass of strawberry basil smoothie with a strawberry and basil leaves to garnish.
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