| There are many different alternatives to wheat | | | | mainstream grocery stores are starting to allocate |
| products. Ironically, the hardest to replace are the | | | | some space to these types of products. As with |
| products that one would not associate with having | | | | anything purchased, however, the consumer should |
| any wheat protein or bi-products at all; those that | | | | carefully review the ingredient label to verify that |
| use gluten as a thickening agent such as ice cream, | | | | what they are buying is indeed gluten free. |
| soups and sauces. With careful attention and planning, | | | | There are also several cookbooks available on the |
| however, a person who is wheat intolerant can find | | | | market that is based on gluten free dietary needs. |
| many different types of foods to enjoy and can | | | | These can be found in the dietary or cooking section |
| develop a diet that is wholesome as well as satisfying | | | | of just about any bookstore. Additionally, the internet |
| and great tasting. | | | | is a great place to identify gluten free recipes and |
| People with wheat allergies have many dietary | | | | cookbooks. |
| alternatives. Most gluten free foods are made with | | | | The entrees in many of these food preparation |
| starches, such as maize, potato and buckwheat. | | | | reference books range from gluten-free pasta and |
| Gluten free baked products do not rise when baked, | | | | pizza to pies, cakes and cookies. They also offer |
| so they are great for cakes and biscuits, but not so | | | | ways to incorporate a wheat-free diet into a |
| good for bread or pastries. Most gluten free products | | | | person's daily life and ways to merge that diet with |
| are low in fiber, so the person eating them should | | | | the dietary preferences of those who are not wheat |
| purchase a fiber powder or similar substitute. | | | | intolerant. Finally, they all usually have an outline for |
| As far as pre-made substitutes, the most basic are | | | | putting together a wheat-free diet that still maintains |
| gluten free baked products. These include rice | | | | taste, nutrition and vital fiber content. |
| crackers and corn chips (made without hydrogenated | | | | One key when deciding on wheat and wheat product |
| oil), brown rice tortillas, corn meal pizza crusts and | | | | based foods is to make sure the diet is balanced. |
| rice cakes. Bread that can be eaten includes rye and | | | | Embarking on a wheat allergy diet and cutting out |
| brown rice bread, wheat free hotdog and hamburger | | | | wheat products does restrict a person's options, but |
| buns. Other options include wheat free baking and | | | | these can be replaced with a little research and |
| pancake mix and numerous types of rice flour and | | | | planning. There are several websites that outline how |
| meals. | | | | to plan the diet, alternatives to wheat foods and |
| Substitutes that use gluten as a thickening agent | | | | provide tips on how to best plan the diet to meet all |
| include many different types of organic ice cream, | | | | nutrition and taste needs. Another benefit is that |
| soups, sauces and gravy. These can usually be found | | | | many websites offer advice on incorporating wheat |
| in alternative and natural food stores. As gluten free | | | | free and regular diets to meet the needs of |
| products have become more popular, even | | | | everyone in a family. |