People living gluten free want more that a diet free of wheat, barley, rye, and oats. However, when we google the term “gluten free diet” we are inundated with suggestions for eliminating gluten but no advice about how to eat a healthy diet.
We need a simple and straight-forward “total” diet plan; simply living gluten free is complicated. We want to do more than that. The best tool I’ve found for that is the Department of Agriculture’s food pyramid.
Keep in mind that there is new version (introduced in 2005) and an older version. References to both systems appear on-line, The best way to tell the difference is that the graphic for the old system (the one we learned about in elementary school) has horizontal bands while the newer version has vertical bands and is referred to as “My Pyramid”.
I suggest that you browse through this site. FYI, you will not find any recommendation (or even suggestion) that you eat gluten toxic grains. You’ll be pleased to note that the pyramid now states all measurements as “cups” or “ounces” rather than the elusive and vague term “servings”. Keep in mind that I have no academic or medical credentials. I relay information and occasionally state personal opinions. I do not give advice.
Unfortunately, the food pyramid is only the most general of guidelines for those of us who have long lists of food intolerances because of the damage. Besides, gluten, my list includes (in order of their disappearance from my diet): dairy, all soy (including oil), nightshades (tomato, pepper, eggplant, potato), nuts, eggs, and legumes.
I am hoping that many of these will come back (I’ve been GF for six months), but there is the distinct possibility that some of this (besides, the gluten, of course) that this may be permanent.