List of Gluten-Free Safe Foods

Celiac disease is genetic disorder that makes a person intolerant to gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley and possibly in oats, although there is some debate over whether oats are toxic to people with celiac disease. The symptoms of this disease vary widely by the individual and can range from gastric issues such as abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea, to malnutrition without any gastric discomforts at all. It can also mimic the symptoms of anemia, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and even parasitic infection, which can make celiac disease difficult to diagnose.



The only way to treat celiac disease is to eliminate all gluten from your diet. This doesn't mean you can't eat tasty food, though, just that you have to be aware of what foods are safe. Processed foods are often questionable, because you don't always know where an ingredient comes from. Even some common food additives such as artificial coloring, caramel coloring and modified food starch can contain gluten. It's best to eat freshly prepared foods, or to be very familiar with the ingredients of the processed foods you eat. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Milk Products

Many products made from milk are safe for a gluten-free diet. Milk, cream and buttermilk are all safe. Be aware of the additives in any ice cream you eat, although many are safe. Plain yogurt is safe, as is cheese, cream cheese and cottage cheese. Sour cream is questionable, depending on the additives, as are things like cheese sauces, and frozen or flavored yogurts. Malted milk is unsafe.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fresh, frozen or canned fruits and fruit juices are safe, as are fresh, frozen, dried or canned vegetables. However be cautious of any processed fruits or vegetables, such as fruit pie fillings, dried fruits or sauced vegetables or juices not made with 100 percent juice. French fries are also a worry, especially in restaurants, where you're unlikely to get a complete list of what's in the food. Know the ingredients of any such foods before you eat them.

Meats

All fresh meats are safe, including poultry, fowl, fish and lamb. However, preserved or processed meats are something you should investigate before eating. This includes products such as packaged lunch meats, ham, bacon, meat pastes or spreads, sausages, hot dogs or pre-packaged hamburger patties.

Drinks

Some alcohols are made from barley, wheat or rye and are therefore unsafe. However, ciders, rums, gin and wine are all safe. Teas, coffee---whether instant or ground--soft drinks and cocoa are all safe. Instant tea may or may not be safe, depending on its additives, and this also goes for fruit-flavored drinks, chocolate drink mixes and some flavored and herbal teas, so know the ingredients before you drink them.

Desserts

Most ice creams are safe, as well as sherbets, egg custards and gelatin desserts. There are cakes, cookies and pastries that are not made from flour and gluten-containing ingredients, and those are safe, but be sure that they're gluten free before eating them. Puddings made from milk or mixes are something you'll need to investigate.

Grains

There are ingredients used to make breads and other grain-products that do not contain gluten. These include grain products made with arrowroot, corn meal, corn flour, cornstarch, legume flours, potato flour, potato starch, rice flours, soy flour and tapioca. Be careful of products containing buckwheat flour, though. While buckwheat itself is safe, some of the flours contain additives that are not.