How to get going on your new eating lifestyle!
Firstly, before you do anything, check in with yourself and see how you are feeling about this process. Notice if you are feeling bitter, happy, excited, or stressed out about this new change in your diet. Make sure you take care of these feelings and keep checking in back with yourself throughout this process.
- Fresh start Get rid of all the wheat/sugar/dairy food in your house. Donate it, share it, or just toss it out! If it’s out of sight, it will be out of mind.
- Brainstorm Write a list of foods you can eat on your new diet that you already enjoy. It’s important to remember there are many foods you can still eat! Next, make a list of foods that you enjoy that you might not be able to eat on your new diet. Start researching and exploring good alternatives/substitutes for these foods (my blog can help you with that).
- Menus Take the first list of foods and begin planning menus for yourself (check out my recipes and my menu.) Try out new recipes and balance them with some dishes you know well (that already are w/s/d free, or can be adjusted to be.)
- Stock up on w/s/d free goodness Based on your food list and menu, go grocery shopping. Health food stores and even major grocery stores now have gluten-free sections, etc. Check out my shopping list!
- Put on your reading glasses Get used to reading labels. Allergens appear in all sorts of foods that you never would expect: wheat in your soy sauce, sugar in your peanut butter, milk in your gluten free rice chips! You have to learn the lingo and understand what the ingredients are. For example, "evaporated cane juice" means sugar. Or if you are gluten-intolerant you need to know that barley/barley malt has gluten.
- Eat out Research restaurants that accommodate folks like us. Check out my favorite places to eat out in the Bay Area and NYC! Make sure to ask the waiter about ingredients and tell them what your limitations are. Don't be afraid to speak up! As they say, "Closed mouths don't get fed."
- Friends/Support Find other w/s/d free folks and begin building your community. Host a potluck or plan a night out at a great w/s/d free restaurant!
Final tip: Keep in mind that this is a big change, but you are completely capable of doing it! You might make mistakes or have some set backs, but remember not to be too hard on yourself. There is no "being bad." This is about learning to make conscious choices with your eating and taking care of yourself! Have fun, get creative, and be inspired!
