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10 Easy Gluten Free Dinner Ideas
Saying Goodbye to Gluten
When I found out in May 2012 that I was gluten intolerant, I felt as though my world had crashed.
Cutting out all forms of wheat and rye and going over to a gluten free diet at the age of 29 when I'd been eating perfectly fine until this point without any problems...really?!
- No more chocolate brownies, no more delicious white pasta and creamy sauce. And no more eating whatever I felt like whenever we went out to eat.
My whole mindset had to change. I panicked because I thought I'd need to spend a fortune on healthy foods and buy them at specialty shops. I thought I'd spend forever in the kitchen chopping up vegetables and missing out on life.
Boy, was I wrong.
I wasn't missing out on life.
For the first time in my life I was eating properly. I had more energy. I could concentrate longer. I didn't feel bloated.
I started enjoying my food.
And best of all - I fell in love with cooking.
Are you currently on a gluten free diet?
What Does Gluten Intolerant Mean?
In a nutshell, if you're gluten intolerant, it means that your body can't properly digest forms of wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes even oats.
Vital nutrients aren't absorbed in order for the body to function properly.
Stress is a major factor of a person becoming gluten intolerant, but it's not the only reason.
Symptoms that your body might not be able to handle gluten based foods could include:
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Cramps
- Infections
- Gastro-intestinal problems
- Aching joints
- Depression
- Eczema
- Head aches
- Exhaustion
- Irritability and behavioural changes
The most sever form of gluten intolerance is called Celiac disease which is a chronic digestive disorder. The only treatment for this is to go onto a gluten free diet.
Gluten Free Dinner Ideas
Believe it or not, there are tons of ideas out there to try if you're already on a gluten free diet, or planning to go on one.
Here are 10 of my favourite gluten free ideas for supper time:
Beetroot Soup with Gluten Free Bread
- I made this soup yesterday. My husband was a bit weary, but after trying it, he admitted that it was actually pretty good! For a man to say that - you know, it's got to be filling and delicious! There are potatoes added in to give it some bulk, but if that isn't filling enough, you can always add a slice or two of gluten free bread or toast.
Click here for the recipe.
Roasted Butternut Salad with Feta, Rocket and Balsamic Dressing
- This is a great recipe if you don't feel like spending too much time in the kitchen. Plus it packs in a lot of flavour. Simply roast some chopped up butternut in the oven for 30 minutes while you do something else, and then put together a quick salad, and bam! You're done! I make this at least once a week. It's that good.
Click here for the recipe.
Home Made Nachos with Guacamole and Salsa
- This is a fun meal to make together or as a family. Simply buy a packet of corn nachos and fill the bottom of each plate. Then layer with chicken or your favourite meat - I normally make a marinaded chicken stir-fry You can also use pulled pork, etc. Then add your beans or any other veggies you want to use. This is a great recipe for using left overs. Throw over your guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. Delicious!
Click here for the recipe.
Butternut Pizza
- This is another quick and easy recipe to make if you don't feel like standing over a stove. You can use leftovers and all your favourite toppings as you normally do with a pizza, only this time you're going to be using half a roasted butternut as the base instead of ordinarly pizza dough.
Click here for the recipe.
Rice Noodles and Chicken Salad
- I only discovered rice noodles earlier this year and I have to say that I much prefer them over regular noodles on most days. They're light and they don't leave you feeling bloated. So this is a great idea for lunches too. We make rice noodles with veggies, or with tuna and salad, but you can use anything you like really. This recipe calls for soy sauce so just make sure to use one that's gluten free.
Click here for the recipe.
Baked Filled Potatoes
- One of my favourite "go to" recipes is the baked potato. All you need to do is rub some sea salt and a little olive oil over the skin, pop it into the oven for an hour and fill it with a topping of your choice. So easy and so delicious. I first came across this recipe while watching Jamie Oliver on TV one day. He made it look so easy, and it was!
Click here for 101 baked potato ideas.
Steak, Eggs and Chips
- If you have men in the house, they will love this meal! I first came across it while watching the movie Shirley Valentine years ago. It looked so good, and when I eventually first made it for the first time, it tasted just as good. You can even have chicken or any other meat here that you want, cook the eggs how you like them - I like them a little soft so that I can dip my chips in...that's the best part, and oven bake the chips if you're more on the healthy side.
Click here for the recipe.
Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken
- You don't need to eat a pie in order to have spinach and feta together. When stuffing chicken breasts, you can literally use any type of filling you like. I love the taste of feta and pepperdew, but you can use a stronger cheese, or other veggies - even bacon, inside the chicken breast.
Click here for the recipe.
Tuna and Veggie Quiche
- This makes a great light lunch or tea time snack, but if you want to turn it into a dinner meal, simply add a large salad, or a slice or two of gluten-free bread. Quiches are great because you can add so many different varieties. Chicken and sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and feta, etc.
Click here for the recipe.
Chinese Chicken Fried Rice
- I made a similar dish last year and packed the meal into hand-made take-out boxes as a surprise date with my husband. He loved it. There's just something so delicious about Chinese fried rice and chicken. You can replace the chicken with pork, beef, or even seafood.
Click here for the recipe.
Whether you're gluten intolerant due to health issues, or you've chosen to go onto a gluten free diet in order to improve your lifestyle, cutting out gluten shouldn't be seen as "missing out" on life.
Embrace it, tap into your inner Masterchef, and enjoy getting creative in the kitchen!
I hope you enjoyed these gluten free recipe ideas and give a few of them a try!