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While I’ve cut out dairy and gluten before, I only did it for short stints, never cut the two together, nor did commit to it it 100%. In September of 2020, I decided to have my hormones tested. Initially we thought I had PCOS and while we were waiting for test results and ultrasound readings, I cut out gluten and dairy entirely, per my doctor’s suggestion. No cheating, no shortcuts. This went on for about 4 weeks. In the end, I ended up not having PCOS, rather high DHEA. About double over the maximum amount to be exact. My doctor suggested that I still try to limit gluten and dairy, which is why I wanted to write this post. I’ve tried a lot of GF and DF items and to be quite frank, I’d rather go without than “indulge” in some of products. To be fair, gluten free items have come a LONG way in just a short period of time. Dairy free is right behind it.

Side note - when I cut it out entirely, did find that it helped my digestion and I felt better limiting these foods. I also lost a lot of weight… like over 5 pounds in a week and a half. I honestly felt like I was withering away. I think I do best when I incorporate them gently, but that is also something I’m able to do since I don’t have an allergy.

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Nowadays, I try to eat gluten free and dairy free around 80% of the time. To be honest, the best thing to do is eat minimally processed, but even I make exceptions for that. For example, Nick makes homemade sourdough bread. It is obviously minimally processed and has gluten content than traditional bread. For cheeses, it is a little more confusing… Cheese like cheddar and parmesan are lower in lactose, but harder to digest. Soft cheeses like goat cheese, brie, etc have higher lactose, but easier for your body to digest. Which is better?! I will say that I try to use goat butter versus regular butter when I can because that is easier on the digestive system. (We buy Meyenberg.) Grass-fed butter is great too. (We buy Kerrygold.)

ANYWAY, Here’s a list of all my favorite GF / DF products!

Madewell V-Neck T-shirt | Levi’s Jeans | Uncommon James Ear Huggies

BREAD

Coco Bakes Sourdough (baked locally in Santa Monica, though available for shipping)
Siete Tortillas (there are others on the market that taste fine, but Siete’s have the fewest ingredients and are the least processed)
Purely Elizabeth Grain-Free Protein Pancake Mix
Purely Elizabeth Grain-Free Bread and Muffin Mix
Simple Mills Mixes (they hay so many and are so yummy!)
Breadblock

SNACKS

Safe + Fair Popcorn (“dark choclaty” is my favorite)
Safe + Fair Granola (chocolate granola is my favorite)
Simple Mills Crackers
Kettle and Fire Bone Broth and Soups
Trader Joe’s has a pretty wide selection of GF snacks, so does Costco if you are willing to hunt for them
Siete Chips
A lot of chips these days have the GF seal on them, just for reference!

PASTA

Cybele’s Free to Eat Pasta
Jovial Brown Rice Pasta
Trader Joe’s Egg Noodles
Annie’s Organic Mac and Cheese (comes in GF, V, and GF & V boxes)
Rummo GF Pasta
Lotus Foods (they have ramen, soba, and more)
** I haven’t tried it yet, but Jovial came out with a GF macaroni and cheese in a box, and a vegan / DF option at that!

SPREADS

Trader Joe’s Vegan Kale, Cashew, Basil Pesto
Tessemae Dressing and Marinades
Simply Heinz Ketchup (Hunt’s is not GF) or Primal Kitchen Ketchup
Sir Kensington’s Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
Side Dish Dressing

FLOURS

Trader Joe’s GF flour blend
Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour
Iya Foods Cassava Flour
Bob’s Red Mill or Nature’s Path Organic GF Rolled Oats
Now Food’s GF Line

DESSERTS

Safe + Fair Double Chocolate Brownie Mix
Safe + Fair Birthday Cake Blondie Mix
Simple Mills Mixes
Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
Heavenly Hunks Cookies
Sweet Loren’s Cookie Dough
Sweet Laurel Cakes (baked locally in Pacific Palisades, though available for shipping)

NON-DAIRY “DAIRY”

Flavored Culina Coconut Yogurt (Bourbon Vanilla is my favorite)
Plain Culina Coconut Yogurt (I like to use this as sour cream)
Unsweetened Almond Milk
Full fat canned coconut milk
Fresh Craving’s Onion Dip
Fresh Cravings Cashew Queso
Kefir (lactose-intolerance friendly, not vegan - I like this plain goat one and these flavored ones)
Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Yeast
Nutpods
Miyoko's soft herb “cheese”
Misha’s Kind Foods “cheese” spreads
*I typically don’t do anything other than spreadable cheeses. I don’t want to overdo it on nuts because that is possible, and at that point most of the time I’d rather not eat the cheese OR eat “real” cheese. You’ll also see that I don’t list a butter option. Since I don’t have an allergy and am not vegan, I try to use grass fed butter or goat butter.

FAVORITE RECIPES

COOKBOOKS I LIKE

Defined Dish
Oh She Glows (I don’t have her dinner cookbook, but I want it)
True Roots

FAVORITE GF / DF FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN LA

Cafe Gratitude
Sweet Laurel
M Cafe
Gracias Madre
The Butcher’s Daughter
Salt and Straw (they have vegan ice cream!)
F#ck Gluten (their cauliflower wings and V ranch!!)
Erewhon (prepared meals section - GF rice balls, coconut chicken tenders, Firecracker roll, Spicy Crispy Rice, to name a few ;) ) Also has a very niche / high-end GF and V offering
Snap Kitchen (no local, but delivers via subscription)

Cutting gluten and dairy has made me learn a lot, especially regarding reading labels. Gluten is in a lot of things that you wouldn’t necessarily think it is. For restaurants it is even harder. For example, sure fries are naturally gluten free, but sometimes they are fried in the same bin as items with gluten, making them contaminated.

I hope this post has been helpful and that your transition is as easy as possible. If I didn’t list your GF / DF favorites, please list them below so I can try them. Always looking try new things!!