Does Gluten-Free Food Taste Bad?

A client of mine recently commented that the gluten-free oatmeal she’d eaten for breakfast was “pretty awful”.

That surprised me.

Gluten-free oats shouldn’t taste any different from regular oats.

The primary issue with oats (which are inherently gluten-free) is cross-contamination from other grains.

This means that oats labeled as specifically gluten-free have been grown in dedicated fields – without any danger of cross-contamination.

Does that affect the taste?

Not that I’m aware of, but I’d welcome any feedback on this issue!

So, does gluten-free food really taste bad?

In a word, no.

Sure, there might be some products that are below par, but isn’t it that way with everything?

For those of us who are gluten-free, it’s a fairly common complaint that gluten-free cookies, breads and so forth pale in taste when compared to the “original”.

In our minds, we can still “taste” the fluffy pancakes or artisan breads that we were accustomed to eating, before we gave up gluten.

We’re forever making comparisons.

And disappointed by the results!

I think there’s another way to look at this, which is that gluten-free baked goods may taste different, yes.

But more times than I can count, what I’ve baked in my own kitchen tastes not only just as good, but often even better!

It’s a misconception that gluten-free equals an inferior product.

Or worse – that they’re actually bad for us.

Keep reading for some easy to implement tips for getting past this mindset.

 

Acceptance

The best thing you can do for yourself is simply accept that gluten-free food won’t taste like the original.

Whenever you have the expectation that things will taste – or be – the same, you will be disappointed.

It’s almost guaranteed.

And on the occasion when you take a bite of a fresh baked, gluten-free cookie and realize, hey – this is really good! – you’ll know everything’s  going to be just fine.

 

Have An Open Mind

The next step is to be open to new experiences, and new flavors.

There are so many foods that are inherently gluten-free – like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

You can create a gluten-free feast with those foods alone!

Then again, living gluten-free isn’t meant to be a deprivation diet.

That’s why I always encourage my clients to invest in a good cookbook and experiment with different gluten-free grains for your own baked goods.

True, they may not taste the same.

But chances are, they might even be better!

 

Be Adventurous

Acceptance, an open mind and experimentation all lead to the same thing:

You’ll feel more adventurous!

As you become more comfortable with the gluten-free lifestyle and the choices available to you in the marketplace, you will likely surprise yourself from time to time with your own adventurous spirit.

Just think – if you’d never learned you were Celiac or Gluten Intolerant, you might never have experienced this wonderful new world of gluten-free foods that is out there waiting for you.

How great is that?