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Two years ago I was diagnosed with wheat and egg allergies along with a life threatening dairy allergy. It was life changing in more ways than one! I’ve learned a lot over the years from research, talking to friends, and lots of trial and error. If you’re new to the gluten-free lifestyle check out my 6 tips for your for 6 months of living with a gluten or wheat allergy.
6 Tips to Creating a Gluten Free Safe Kitchen
1. Set up a separate shelf in your pantry for all your specialty foods and flours. Also, make sure to have a separate shelf in the fridge and also in the freezer too. Keeping things accessible is a total must.
And make sure to tell your family to stay away from your selves and all your yummy new foods, especially the kids {I speak from experience here…my kids think it’s neat to try my food, but then they end up eating it all.}
2. Keep everything clearly labeled! I can’t stress how important this one is. Keep everything labeled; hand write labels or use a label maker to organize your gluten free flours, just make sure everyone knows that it’s special for you. And, more importantly, you will know what you can eat and what you can’t at a quick glance.
3. Get a new toaster and only use the new toaster to be used for your gluten free breads. Toasters keep too many crumbs so it’s best just to get a new one especially since they are so cheap.
4. Buy products that you will use only for your gluten-free items such as peanut butter, jelly, butter, cream cheese, etc. These products end up being hidden sources of wheat because they are easily shared with wheat products. Think about all those knives and spoons going in to dip and then smeared on wheat products and then dipped back in. All those wheat crumbs could accidentally end up on your gluten free bread. Having separate containers eliminates the possibility of possible contamination.
{I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again….I’ve tried so many products, but Udi’s makes some of my all time favorite gluten free breads and products. I just love being able to work with them too…it’s an added bonus for me. Make sure to give them a try if you haven’t already!}
5. If you’re using an kitchen gadget that’s only to be used for gluten-free products, then label it. Use a fancy label maker, a permanent marker, or a premade label to label all of your special gadgets (like that new toaster you are going to get).
We have two milk frothers for our morning coffee. They were pretty cheap, only about three dollars each, so we labeled one dairy free. Hubbyman and the kids use the normal one and know not to touch my dairy free labeled one. I don’t have to worry about dairy accidentally ending up in my coffee which would send me to hospital.
6. Have a specific spot in the oven and on the grill for your gluten free meals. Make sure who ever does the grilling or oven cooking understands how important is to keep your items separate from theirs.
Check out these other great tips for creating a healthy gluten free {or allergy friendly} family and lifestyle! {Click the images to be taken to those articles.}
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of GF Kids & Family. The opinions, images, and text are all mine.
I love their products.
i really love the tips.I didn’t know much about gluten free
I’ve wondered if going gluten free would maybe help me.
I love your products, Thank you for the great tips.
Those are some really great tips.
I think it is really neat that there is a specific brand for products like these, especially since it is more of a common diet
Thank you for the gluten free information.
thanks for the tip on glutin free living
One of the things that comes to mind whenever you hear about a gluten free item is the fear that it may also be taste free. I think things are progressing though where this is concerned and foods are now tastier than ever while being free of things we don’t want.
I have question what do about the toaster.I had new one for a couple of months the my husband used it, and problem wont touch it again for couple of months. I cant afford replace it what do you suggest? Please email..
Fortunately my daughter and I are in need of switching to gluten-free lifestyle. Thank you for the tips, even with it just us in the house we do have friends and family who visit. Having our food items separate (especially due to cost) will be extremely helpful.