That’s a wrap! I just finished the 7-day gluten-free challenge!ย Overall, I was quite surprised that I didn’t need to make many drastic changes to what I eat. I dislike eating the same thingsย day in and day out, so I make a concerted effort to stock my pantry with a variety of grains (both wheat-based and gluten-free). I certainly had to be more thoughtfulย when planning out my meals and careful aboutย readingย packaging labelsย thoroughly.
Most importantly, I never felt like I was on a “restrictive diet” during the 7-day challenge. Of course, I avoidedย wheat and otherย food products containing gluten, but I always foundย substitutions that suited my tastes. The key to finishing the challenge was focusing on the vast variety of gluten-free foods available to eat rather than foods I could not consume.
Here are the gluten-free recipes I created during the challenge (clockwise from the upper left):
- Caramelized Onion Hummus
- Plantain Fried Rice
- Coconut Quinoa with Tamari Tofu & Vegetables
- Chili Cauliflower Rice Bowl
- Banana Bread with Chocolate Swirl
As the challenge lasted for only 7 days, I cannot attest to the physical effects of a gluten-free diet. Amย I going to continue this gluten-free lifestyle? Alas, I am about to begin my bread-making adventure in the kitchen, which will involve a lot of gluten. I’ll still create gluten-free recipes, though!
Here’s a quick list of interesting articles from the interwebs!
A list of 14 foods you should buy organic. || Food52
How many of these Mexican snacks have you seen and/or tasted? || Serious Eats
Tips for eating healthy on a tight budget. || Teaspoon of Spice
Now that you’ve read about my 7 days of going gluten-free, here’s another account of aย gluten-free journey ||ย Nutritious Eats
Why there’s no such thing as “healthy” sugar. || Huffington Post
I have been oblivious to all these keyboard shortcuts on social media sites. || Buffer
Perhaps it is a carb in wheat that causes gluten sensitivity. || NPR
As much as I loathe the smell of durian, here is a great article on different varieties of durian in Southeast Asia. || NPR
Totally digging these DIY color block candles. || Brit + Co.
I’m going to need to put these skills to the test soon: picking a watermelon. || WikiHow
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I am so happy you didn’t feel restricted! Once you actually make the jump and do it, it really is not hard and can be done healthfully and easily! Especially for us Celiacs, we do not need to be scared that we will miss out. That is what I always try to assure anyone who is upset or scared that they have to go gluten-free! Thank you so much for taking the challenge last week ๐
Lisa says
Thank you, Rebecca, for coming up with the challenge! You’re absolutely right–I think that having an open mind about trying new foods and ingredients is key. I genuinely didn’t notice much of a change in my diet other than being a bit more mindful about what I cook and reading food labels.
Joanne says
Go you for taking on this challenge and rocking it! I think when a lot of people are diagnosed with a gluten allergy they think their lives are over in terms of food…but obviously that isn’t true!
Lisa says
Thanks, Joanne! It’s funny, before starting the challenge, I was worried about craving foods that were off limits and needing to make drastic changes to my meals. Once I got into it, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it all went!
rika@vm says
Congratulations on completing the 7-Day Gluten-Free challenge! Itโs amazing how there are tasty and enjoyable gluten-free dishes to try without realizing that youโve to cut grains out. But I love my grains and bread, and as a vegan, itโs hard to resist them. I really want to make bread someday. Iโve a list of recipes to make and one of them is Japanese sweet bread, which is gonna be challenging to make esp with vegan ingredients. I like airy, sweet and soft Asian breads. Haha, I donโt even like durian, but what interesting articles, I must peruse them! Thanks for sharing the links!
Lisa says
Thanks, Rika! I LOVE going to Asian bakeries. Freshly baked pineapple buns are one of the best things in the world!