Gluten-free Entree Idea

[rhundt67]

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My MIL had to leave an Alaskan cruise early and landed in the hospital recently. She was informed that she needs to go on a Gluten-free diet. My BIL was at a wedding last week with her and watched her down English muffins. I emailed my in-laws about a Gluten-free store in my area and offered to help with any menu planning needed since I'm somewhat familiar with cutting out those necessary items in my diet. But since we are not 100% Gluten-free I want to make sure I do make a meal 100% Gluten-free on Saturday when they are here visiting - so she doesn't get sick and to show her that it is possible to do. However, at 69 I'm not sure if she'll take the need to be on this diet seriously. Help on a menu for that evening - we could grill chicken or something, but I'd have to get special bar-b-que sauce; anything else?

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[Agee]

If she doesn't take it seriously she's going to eat herself into an early grave. I can't believe she can stand the way she feels when she eats that cr*p.
Anyhoo - I'm gluten intolerant and it's surprisingly easy to feed someone like me.
Marinade the chicken in Italian dressing. (Read the menu: avoid anything that says wheat (duh) but also modified food starch or soy sauce. Newman's Italian is fantastico, then grill. Make sure you clean your grill really well, although I've never gotten sick off a grill.
Serve a veg, plain
Serve rice for a carby option or some kind of potato.
For dessert - fruit, ice cream, etc.
Ta da! Gluten free.

[rhundt67]

Got to love it - it's basically everthing (except the rice thing) that I would eat on South Beach. Thanks for the Newman's idea - was thinking that there had to be a GF Bar-b-que sauce, but wondered about the $$$ so that's an easy and inexpensive idea.

Still want more suggestions!

[JeanneOh]

I've recently had 2 friends diagnosed with Celiac Disease. (Don't know if that's your MIL's dx, but they are on gluten free diets.) Anyway, I don't have recipes but I know they have adapted well and eat great food. If you do a search on gluten free recipes or Celiac Disease you'll find lots if menu/recipe ideas. A lot of the larger grocery stores carry a few gluten free products, but you may find more at health food stores. I went to a Wild Oats for the first time last week and they had tons of GF products. Reading labels is one of the most important things. Good luck. It's cool of you to go out of your way to cook for your MILs special needs.

[rhundt67]

Just down the road from us is the only Gluten-free store in the US and down another road (less than a mile) is the Outpost - Organic. Just want to get a menu idea before I head to either and drop a bundle.

[Agee]

I eat mostly whole foods - that's how I stay gluten free. It's so much less expensive than buying the special gluten free stuff, and since I also eat LC it's the only thing that makes sense.
I guess if you wanted to be thoughtful you could get a package of gf cookies, or gf brownie mix actually creates a nice brownie...but why not just make real food? The gf food is all kind of weird and funny textured.
Anyway - good luck with her.
A

[Agee]

Here are some more ideas:
anything on the grill, green salad (check dressing label for modified food starch - that's usually the only thing that comes up in dressing that is suspect), fruit salad, deviled eggs, coleslaw, potato salad (all these should be homemade), 3 bean salad...

Inside food: roast pork tenderloin (do not get the marinated kind), green veg, roasted potatoes...

Just think the way you would eat LC and add a non-wheat carb for your guest.

A

[qwertyui]

I find it realy easy if you are already low carbing to eat gluten free. I have been a celiac for about 10 years. Whole foods is the answer. Grilled or roasted meat, seafood, salad with homemade dressing, steamed or roasted vegetables, rice or fancy pototes for your guests.

It makes me fearful that you MIL will not stop eating gluten. She will eat herself into an early grave. I was glutened last week by cross contamination, it is not pleasant and I have not fully recovered yet. This is very serious. It's too bad that some people have a denial thing going on............I mean it's only food. Food is easy! If you crave something bad enough, there is a replacement for it! I make my own pizza dough, my own cakes, brownies etc, on occaison. A low carb cheesecake is awesome.

Just don't let her cheat in your house! I think that it is awesome that you are interested in looking after this for her.

[locarbruth]

Originally Posted by rhundt67

Just down the road from us is the only Gluten-free store in the US and down another road (less than a mile) is the Outpost - Organic. Just want to get a menu idea before I head to either and drop a bundle.

Wow, that store must have a terrific marketing department (the ONLY Gluten-free store in the US is a bit overstated).

There is a great magazine geared towards gluten free folks called "Living Without" it might be nice to recommend it to her or even get her a subscription as a starting point and so she will see just how serious this is, but that it is very doable to live without gluten.

[rhundt67]

When I was reading up on the Gluten-free store, a newspaper article referred to it as the "only Gluten-free store in the U.S." I don't recall when the article was written so that may have changed since then, but it is strictly Gluten-free items. GLUTEN-FREE TRADING COMPANY, LLC.

Snacks of cheese, sausage (gluten-free crackers?)
and something else - have to decide.

I'm having grilled, boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
My SIL is making a garden salad with mayo.
Steamed vege platter - probably cauliflower and asparagus.
Fresh fruit platter.

Dessert - GF Brownies and or Lemon Bars
GF Ice Cream with a berry topping

AND I need my regular birthday cake.

[Agee]

You don't need to buy special gluten free ice cream. Just buy the good stuff that doesn't have many ingredients - it'll be naturally gluten free.
Good luck -
Agee