Bread has gotten a bad rap lately.
Many of the most popular diets – weight loss and otherwise – favor the elimination of bread completely, in place of whole grains, nuts and seeds, and plenty of vegetables and fruit.
If we look at the Paleo diet, The Virgin Diet, or Dr. Mark Hyman’s Blood Sugar Solution – each of these diets eliminates gluten simply by default.
Plus, they go a step further – advising us to avoid any and all baked goods, breads, cookies and crackers that rely on highly processed flours.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The science behind this is that the standard American diet contains way more carbohydrates than the average person needs.
These abundant carbohydrates – or carbs – are converted to sugars in our body, which for many of us leads to weight gain and all kinds of health issues.
But the truth is, we live in a carb based society.
If you think about the typical foods you eat on any given day, chances are the list includes bread, crackers, and any manner of baked goods along with whole grains and sugar.
However, if you’re just starting out with the gluten-free lifestyle, this may not be where you want to begin.
In fact, you might be wondering – where does it all end?
Isn’t it enough that you’ve had to give up gluten, or dairy, or eggs?
What’s a person to do?
Not to worry, I get it.
If you’ve recently been diagnosed as either Celiac or gluten-intolerant, you’re already in the midst of completely overhauling your diet.
The last thing you need right now is being told you can’t even enjoy a gluten-free cookie.
So, if this sounds at all like you, my advice is to take a deep breath and also take a step back.
Forget trying to do everything at once.
Baby steps, my friend.
Baby steps.
Which brings us back to bread.
There are three possible ways this could go. (If you think of another one, by all means leave a comment at the end of this post, and let me know).
Give Up Bread Entirely
Yes, you could certainly go all out, and just not eat bread.
Period.
Many people have done this, relying instead on whole foods and grains as the main focus of their meals.
But if you’re the sort of person who is used to eating a peanut butter sandwich for lunch every day, and your biggest worry right now is:
“What am I going to do for bread?”
The immediate answer is to find a reasonable substitute, as soon as possible.
Cause, chances are, you simply won’t be happy with anything less.
Why?
You’re still in the initial phase of the gluten-free diet, and reeling from a diagnosis that has turned your world upside down.
And what you need most right now, is something familiar.
Buy Gluten-Free Bread
You might not be thinking how lucky you are, to have such wonderful choices for gluten-free breads and other baked goods – but you actually are.
The fact is, we have things a lot easier today than folks did twenty years ago upon learning they were Celiac.
Back then, it was pretty much just rice cakes, and little else.
(Not to knock rice cakes, or anything – they definitely work in a pinch).
Now you can stop by our local Whole Foods or health food store and pick up some ready-made bread off the shelf.
It’s pure convenience.
Exactly what you’re used to, right?
Right now, the most popular gluten-free breads on the market are manufactured by Udi’s, Rudi’s and Food For Life.
The latest newcomer on the market is made by Silver Hills – they proudly state that their bread is gluten-free and vegan.
(A welcome relief for anyone who must also avoid dairy and eggs).
Either of these can be a great place to start – so take your pick!
In a future post, I’ll share with you the third option, which is to bake your own bread.
Along with all the pros and cons that come with that. (Really, it’s not that bad).
But before I scare you away completely, I’d like to leave you with this thought:
Truthfully, gluten-free bread is not difficult to bake!
Now it’s your turn.
Are you a bread lover?
What’s your favorite gluten-free bread?
Do you prefer to bake your own?
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