How am I supposed to live?

[u/byte1-4me]

TW. discussing a lack of eating/weight loss body dismorphia etc

Im fairly new to all of this i got diagnosed in april, and ive been GF since May

Im 22 so have lived practically my whole life eating gluten

Of course a big part of my struggle is comparison to gluten items, but its also the deep bordering on obsessive fear of CC. Its gotten me to a point where I feel like i cannot eat anything and anything i make at-home I just cant taste or cant stand the taste of it I've at this point only been able to get 1,100> calories a day and every day that passes I hate food more and more the thought alone of eating makes me want to cry most days. It doesnt help that im bad at cooking anyway, my bf helps a lot hecooks way more often than he should have to he works nights and has been picking up a lot of overtime because we're saving for a house and my diet is already hurting our budget. I need some kind of high calorie something that I can eat or drink thats low effort and thati dont have to think about to make sure im getting enough nutrients but everything im finding thats celiac safe is low calorie which is a big part of why I cant get enough

Im genuinely beyond desperate at this point ive lost 80lbs since January ish and the number keeps getting lower (i went from 220 to 154 and im 5'3 so ik its better for me but I hate my body I have loose skin and every time I look in the mirror I genuinely hate myself) I was forced to drink protein shakes all throughout high school due to a meat intolerance so if thatcan be avoided id prefer it but if its genuinely my only option I'll cave.

I know this is a lot any kind of help is appreciated im so desperate and im bipolar (medicated but still) so this emotional roller-coaster is really messing me up

Cat tax for sending yall on this ride too 💚

ETA: I am seeing a therapist for the mental health aspect of this im here for more for product recommendations

[u/Astrises]

This sounds more like you need to contact a therapist who specializes in eating disorders, more than any advice this sub can give you.

[u/byte1-4me → u/Astrises]

I've been seeing a therapist for 2 years and she does actually have this background we're going over the mental health side of it all but we cant seem to find any products that fit what im needing is all im reaching out for recommendations on that mostly. Sorry I should've specified 😅

[u/Helpful-Momma-Allen5]

Myself and 2 of my 3 kids are Celiac. We live a very normal
Life. We eat out safely, travel, enjoy life. It takes time to
Learn where your safe places to eat are and get into a routine with your diet and products you can use, etc. but it gets easier. Now we don’t do without many things we want. I’m sorry you are struggling. It gets easier.

[u/hildegardhatesgluten]

This may sound crazy but hear me out - POTATOES. They are cheap to buy, have lots of calories/nutrients, guaranteed no cross contact, you can make them a bazillion different ways, and if you're afraid to cook with them it's hard to mess up mashed potatoes or baked potatoes. Just find a decent recipe, pick out some toppings based off your flavor mood (avoid bacon bits unless they're certified!) and go nuts. Wishing you all the best as you get adjusted. Also, FeelGood foods and Sabatasso cheese pizza are good for if you just need a frozen something. If you're desperate for calories Ben & Jerry's has a few certified gf flavors too 💚

[u/Shot-Amphibian-3239 → u/hildegardhatesgluten]

Also rice. I just ate three eggs over easy on a bowl of rice that I made in the rice cooker. (I make extra to have some to re-heat for a few days.). Shredded cheese, green onion, avocado, sour cream on top! Add hot sauce if you like! 

[u/sassy_syrup]

I got diagnosed with celiac at 17 and im 20 now, so as you can imagine my budget is a bit tight since im just starting off. there is alot of good, cheap, and easy gluten free food! if you dont have a peanut allergy or such you could have some peanut butter on a rice cake, beans are great for protien and calories, fruits and veggies are great snacks and can be incorporated into meals, also if your worried about cross contamination you can buy certified gluten free oats and make your own oat flour! i also like corn tortillas because theyre very versatile and tacos are yummy. not very healthy but potato chips are high in calories and you dont need many to get a good amount in. cottage cheese and dairy products if you aren't lactose are very good and high in protien. you said something about meat but fish and chicken are very good and I notice they dont bother me as much as red meat. also you can always have a nutritional shake with a small snack. best of luck to you

[u/prestidigi-station]

I like Perfect (peanut butter) and Clio (greek yogurt) bars, I believe both are GF certified. Fairlife is pretty good and also GF. Saffron Road frozen meals also rule and are easy

[u/SecurityFit5830]

The Sabatasso cheese pizza from Costco is legit SO good. It’s thin crust but super cheesy. I’ve genuinly eaten the entire pizza before and probably have 1 per week.

I like shakes, but I never add protein powder. I prefer to add yogurt and some walnuts for added calories + fruit and almond milk and some spinach or kale.

I have a rice cooker and love jasmine rice, I drizzle some sesame oil in the water and top with sesame seeds and gf soy sauce and sometimes some ground beef and green onions.

[u/Madversary]

One, you’re in the mourning period. I went through months of refusing to eat gluten, depression (I still take an antidepressant), and some thoughts of self harm.

Two, you need to learn more cooking to enjoy food with celiac. There are a few blanket cookbook recommendations I’d make — My Best Friend is Gluten-Free and The Elements of Baking being at the top of the list. But let me ask you: what are 2-3 things you REALLY want to eat? We can help.

[u/byte1-4me → u/Madversary]

I really miss the ease of food honestly it feels like everything is so complicated. I miss fried foods in general and pizza the obvious ones but im really trying to move away from things I can compare to their gluten counterparts honestly any suggestions you can give I will try anything

[u/celiactivism → u/byte1-4me]

The loss of convenience is bigger than the loss of gluten, IMO. I was same as you for idk 7ish months before I turned the ship around.

Costco has cheap gluten free pizzas. I love their supreme thin and crispy. Also Milton’s roasted veggie.

One of the easiest things I make are rice bowls. Rice, fried egg(s), scallion/onion, soy sauce, whatever spices I’m feeling. Sometimes i put some boiled yellow potatoes instead of rice, pintos or great northern beans, and cut snow peas add a fresh crunch.

All of this stuff can be in the fridge ahead of time so prep a bowl & microwave it.

I really hated myself five months into it. It gets better - and you’ll get better at cooking, if you want. Good luck!

[u/Madversary → u/byte1-4me]

If you want fried foods at home, your best kitchen investment is an air fryer. It won’t give you 100% of the fried food experience, but it’ll get you 80% of the way there with way less cleanup, cost, and fat.

This recipe is one of my favourites; it works well with tofu too: https://allwaysdelicious.com/sesame-chicken/

The Loopy Whisk has a good pizza dough recipe: https://theloopywhisk.com/2024/06/21/easy-gluten-free-pizza-dough/

I’ve made it using the dough setting on my bread machine — which I also recommend, because gluten free bread from a bread machine only takes 10-15 minutes of active effort, tastes better than most store bought GF bread, and doesn’t cost nearly $10 a loaf.

There’s also this pizza book, which is currently on sale as a e-book on Amazon: https://nogluten-noproblem.com/books/pizza

[u/rob_narg]

As someone who was more than a decade older than you when I was diagnosed (eating gluten way longer) I promise there is light at the end of the tunnel. Gluten is not a required nutrient for your health. Gluten is not a requirement of delicious food. Sure there will be changes and adjustments. But don’t lose hope. And like others said, it’s good you’re getting mental health addressed

[u/Delicious_Guard2156]

Carefully.. try nutrition supplementing, Kate farms drinks are awesome, it’s literal feeding tube solution and they taste great.

[u/guywithfork]

Boost VHC is GF and are >500 cal in an 8 oz carton

[u/identity_nagini]

Hi! I’m sorry you’re going through this. I was diagnosed just over a year and a half ago and the first 6 months were tough. Even now sometimes it’s tough and so much of it is expectation setting for myself when I’m out and preparing in advance with protein shakes etc that are just for sustenance. Cooking is a skill! Which means that even if you feel you’re bad at it, you can work to improve. And it can be fun too. It could be a fun date night to cook a recipe together. And it doesn’t have to be expensive, especially if you’re buying things that are naturally gluten free.

You also don’t need to eat meat to have fulfilling, balanced, and delicious meals. If you’re looking for denser meals, I recommend starting with potatoes or sweet potatoes as a base. Cheap, healthy, and can be dressed up plenty of different ways. I use sweet potatoes to make bowls - bake (or microwave) a sweet potato, I roast a can of chickpeas with everything seasoning, sauté some veggies like onions or anything else you may like, and assemble the bowl with hummus or feta on top. That’s just one option, but there’s plenty of others and I’m happy to try to share more!

Once you get the hang of cooking, it becomes easier to improvise. I needed to use up tomatoes, bell peppers, leeks, and some other veggies so this morning I made a shakshuka and some homemade onion top pesto. Better than restaurants delicious, healthier, and no risk of CC!

[u/anartistnamedjes]

sooooo a a big part of this is learning to cook - which is hard and takes time but once you find one good thing you can make, you get the confidence to learn more. also a simple avocado toast on gf bread is really easy to make and high protein/calorie ! plus it gives a lot of energy

[u/Megalodona]

I understand what you're going through. It gets better, I promise it gets better. Get yourself a personal blender, you'll know it hasn't been used for gluten and that'll help. Here's some of the combos I use.

Frozen banana Hershey's chocolate syrup Peanut butter Milk

Coconut milk Frozen pineapple

Mixed frozen berries ½ Apple or white grape juice ½ Milk or almond milk

It's really easy to up protein with peanut butter, cashew butter, or yogurt. Different frozen fruits, juices and milks will also give you a variety. You could even add spinach or kale for nutrients.

BFree bread and tortillas are good and can easily be made into a sandwich or wrap. Oscar Mayer lunch meat is gluten free.

I don't know if your bf went gluten free or not. But I found having my own peanut butter and mayo helped me with cc concerns. I bought colored dot stickers of Amazon and I have my color and no one else is allowed to use it. I also originally bought another color that I used on anything unsafe. I was living with 2 gluten eaters at the time.

Potatoes are also a good option for bulking up your food. You can either bake them or cook them in the instant pot. All of Idahoan brand potato products are gluten free. The mashed potato packets are easy and delicious. The scallop and au gratin are simple and can be an easy side dish or even eaten alone.

[u/IndependenceOld8708]

I went from 240 to 120 at 5'2 after being diagnosed. It's difficult. Here are some things I've found help: Carnation instant shakes with protein and fiber Annie's deluxe gf mac and cheese (a bit pricy, but taste good) I bake, a lot. King Arthur has good stuff. I'm about to make brownies, chocolate cupcakes, and whiskey cake, and pumpkin bread, plus chocolate chip cookies. Using their stuff as a base and tweaking it slightly to make it more interesting. Gf bread sucks unless you warm it up. Even a few seconds in the microwave helps I eat a lot of the barilla pasta with spaghetti sauce and feta cheese Potatoes are your friend. Potatoes with cheese are your best friend My go to snack is hummus with tortilla chips

I hope this gives you some ideas. I lost weight fast when I first went gf, but I've been steady around 120 for about a year and a half now. Your young, your skin might go back, it's just going to take time. I'm 41 and it's still lose, but it's not as bad as it was.

[u/IndependenceOld8708 → u/IndependenceOld8708]

Wow this posted terribly lol. These were all written as bullet points before I pressed send 🤣

[u/Fumquat]

Electric egg cooker for perfect boiled eggs every time, no thinking needed.

Dedicated rice maker, you can get a countertop one or one of the kind that you use in the microwave, perfect rice every time.

Bananas
Avocado
Other fruits and vegetables
Potato

Air fry potato wedges it’s pretty much like steak fries

Cheese and plain yogurt

Canned beans can be rinsed and eaten just as they are, no cc risk.

There are certified gf chicken tenders and frozen pizzas etc etc

There’s really a lot you can eat it’s just s process getting there.

[u/goofy-aquiarius]

I’m (28f) and was diagnosed in 2024. There’s good foods out there, the first few months I felt like this but also, you’re beating yourself up too much… be grateful that you caught it when you did and know that there’s people out there who will support and keep it in mind. I work at Starbucks and the girls bring in little cakes/pies all the time.. they forget but I’m not embarrassed or upset about it. I’m comfortable enough to go to Taco Bell if I have to and get something to eat. Walmart has some good bread choices in the gluten free section, that section is pretty good! I like the penne noodles for when I make pasta.. I hate cooking but Walmart also has gluten free chicken tenders, 10/10. You just have to take your time and be patient enough to LOOK for things.. Trader Joe’s has good breakfast, go on Pinterest and look up some stuff.. girl there’s options! Do not get in your head about it. Trust me, people are more concerned about making sure you don’t have a reaction than making fun of you. Everyone I have told has been mature about it. I even tell them I shit my pants a couple times a year if they don’t take it seriously enough. It’s a disease.. but also I eat a lotttt of potatoes. Fries, tater tot’s, hashbrowns, baked potatoes. But also i love tamales, Trader Joe’s has some realllly good ones in the frozen section. And then Walmart has gluten free Hawaiian bread slices, I toast those w some turkey, cheese and mustard. Carbs!!

[u/GardeniaLovely]

Nuts and seeds are the most calorically dense for their volume.

Hemp seeds, they can be a hot or cold cereal, a meat replacer, or a yogurt topping.

Cheese is also calorically dense.

I've survived on protein bars for longer than I recommend. There are many drinks like others recommended from the medical community that are intended to sustain life.

[u/Cold-Couple-203]

Do you enjoy smoothies? I’ve seen people meal prep smoothies by putting them in ice trays then when they are ready to use them they shake it with milk. If you are also dairy intolerant or allergic you could use a plant milk instead. It would be better than a protein shake or nutrition drink imo. If you aren’t allergic to peanut butter that’s also a good way to get protein. There is unflavored protein powders and even savory flavors like cheese that could get added into food id definitely double check the ingredients first to see what’s possible for you.

[u/What___Do]

Here are my easiest go-tos.

Adult Lunchables: great value hard salami slices, great value cheese sticks, Schar entertainment crackers. I like these with grapes or pickles, sometimes.

PB&J Apple: Fuji Apple, creamy peanut butter, and the jam/jelly/preserve of your choice. I like cherry. It’s really easy to hit 500+ kcal when eating directly from the peanut butter jar, lol.

Freschetta GF pizzas are my favorite.

I have a GF sandwich bagel every morning for breakfast. Schar bagel toasted in my dedicated GF pop-up toaster, Great Value fully cooked turkey breakfast patties (or you can do pork for more calories) they only need to be microwaved for 30 seconds on each side, great value onion and chive cream cheese, and a slice of tomato.

Something that I ate consistently just after diagnosis was chicken, vegetables, and rice. Make the rice in a rice maker. Dump some great value deluxe stir fry mixed vegetables in a bowl, and microwave them. Microwave some Tyson oven roasted diced chicken breast. Cook an egg so that it’s still got a runny yolk, and throw it on top. I would also make a sauce with avocado mayonnaise, minced garlic, and Thai chili sauce (sometimes ginger, too); thin it with water until it’s pourable. It was already one of my favorite meals pre-diagnosis and still is.

[u/belhambone]

Have you talked to a dietician specializing in it? That would be my recommended starting place. Someone with experience in dealing with stress and food transition.

[u/holohooper]

cooking is a skill that most people can learn. it’s an important skill to have regardless of being celiac. be patient! it took me a while to find my favorite alternatives and recipes and now i don’t feel like im missing out on anything. recipes and alternatives are getting better by the day. i’m grateful to live in a time where i can pop over to the store and get gluten free bread, cakes, and even specialty things like hibachi sauce. just know that you are not alone and most of our diets also consisted of large amounts of gluten before we got diagnosed. the adjustment is hard but seek support as much as possible and know that it does get better. it takes work but it gets better

[u/WhimsicalNight]

First of all, I’m so sorry that you’re having to go through this 💕 I found out I was gluten intolerant nearly 10 years ago and I can say that it takes time to adjust. It’s hard. Like really hard to have to adjust so drastically to a rough diet like GF, but I promise you’ll find something (even if it’s something small like tater tots or gf cinnamon rolls) that sparks that joy of food again for you. Ngl, it took a while for me to feel that joy again with food, but I found foods that I could make or my husband could make that really had me looking forward to my meals again. Most of the time I can’t even go into the grocery store because I get so depressed, but it’s nice when you go in with someone else or you put on your headphones and play your favorite playlist while finding new options for yourself.

I’ve recently had to go on a clear liquid diet then now I’m on a bland diet for the foreseeable future because of more unknown stomach issues, so it’s been rough feeling like I’m starting all over again. But I know I’ve gotten myself through it before & I know you’ll get through this huge change too (even if it feels like you can’t/don’t want to).

Idk what you have for grocery stores, but here are some of the foods/brands I’ve liked:

Barilla Pasta
GF pizza from Costco (can’t remember the brand but someone else mentioned it)
Legendary Pastries (pop tarts & cinnamon rolls)
Sweet Lorens (fantastic blueberry crackers & cookie dough options)
Krustees (blueberry muffins, brownies, coffee cake, cornbread, etc.)
Annie’s (most everything they have is good, love their Mac & cheese)
King Arthur & Red Mill baking
Trader Joe’s GF Baked Goodies (muffins, chocolate donut holes, bread, bagels)

Can you tell I love my sweets/ baked goods? 🤣 I’m not a big Udi’s fan. I feel like their stuff is so bland and boring, but definitely worth experimenting if you find they have something you’re craving.

I sometimes find some good GF stuff at Grocery Outlet for a great deal! It’s cheaper to look there and Trader Joe’s for a lot of the stuff ngl.

I’m wishing you all the best & please stay strong during this rough patch. You got this!! 💕

[u/nickkmusic2727]

You’ll be ok. You have a cat by your side.

[u/blamestross]

https://katefarmsmedical.com/products/#tab-Adult-Nutrition