So, you’ve just found that you have either a gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease and now you’re wondering what to do next? Unless you’ve had prior exposure to a friend or family member living a gluten free lifestyle, it will likely be a very difficult adjustment for the first month or two. The good news is that it is the 21st century and you have the internet and all of its resources at your fingertips!

Those that have been struggling with the disease for a decade or longer know how far we have come, and the future holds a lot of promise for people destined to live their lives gluten free. Whether it is popular restaurant chains releasing gluten free menus or supermarkets carrying gluten free products, we have come a long way.

The first thing you need to do prepare yourself mentally for the lifestyle change that is to come. Once you’ve mentally prepared yourself for the change in your life, there are some other things you can do to ease the transition. Here are a few:

Preparing Your Home For a Gluten Free Diet

Unless your entire family needs to live gluten free, the first thing you’ll want to do is create a section of the kitchen for gluten free supplies. Create a “gluten free shelf or drawer” in the kitchen that will only be used for gluten free products and make sure everyone knows that is your area.

Another important factor is cross-contamination. This means that you will want some kitchen appliances around the house that are only for gluten free products. Depending on what you can afford, this includes things like a bread machine designed for gluten free bread, toaster designated for gluten free toast and bagels, or whatever other kitchen supplies you commonly use.

Lastly you’ll need to find some good gluten free recipes to make your favorite foods. Gluten free products have a little different taste, but you’ll get used to the taste in time.

Find Gluten Free Stores in Your Area

Supermarkets have started to make some progress in this area, but you will want to familiarize yourself with the local health food stores that carry gluten free food. You’ll quickly notice that gluten free foods aren’t very cheap, so you may also want to consider buying your food online once you’ve figured out which gluten free products you like the best.

Practice Gluten Free on the Go

Depending on your profession, finding gluten free on the go can often be difficult. You can’t just stop somewhere and grab something to eat if circumstances warrant it. You’ll first need to make a habit of always preparing yourself for the day ahead and always carry some gluten free foods with you wherever you go. Some good examples of gluten free foods that travel well are breakfast bars or snack bars, a small container of gluten free peanut butter to use with crackers or pretzels, or even nuts and dried fruit. You will also need to familiarize yourself with what restaurant chains have gluten free menus (including fast food). This can get you out of a jam when you are away from home.

Join a Gluten Free Community

There are a bunch of ways to go about this, and nothing is stopping you from doing more than one. I usually recommend people join a gluten free support group in their area, as well as become involved in a gluten free forum online. If you aren’t sure where to start, you should be able to easily find both from our Celiac Resources page.

There is no better resource than those that have been through what you are going through, so make some friends and don’t be afraid to ask questions. In my experience, the Celiac community is always glad to help!