I’m excited to be sharing a simple 2-week gluten-free meal plan today! Click here to download it! After sharing that I went gluten-free and then following up with my post about healthy living, I had a lot of readers ask me for favorite recipes and tips. I don’t claim to know everything but I’m glad that I took control of my diet back in February. This meal plan contains a lot of the same types of produce (zucchini, salad greens, tomatoes) but also allows you to choose a lot of your favorite veggies and protein. I eat a lot of the same meals so you’ll see some repetition which will make grocery shopping easier.
Often times I hear people complain and say that eating gluten-free is expensive. I wholeheartedly disagree. Most of my diet is made up of eggs, fruit, veggies, rolled oats and meat. The only “gluten-free products” that I tend to buy are pizza crust mix, granola, and frozen meals for lunches. As I mention in the meal plan, we spend about $125-150 per week on groceries and try to only eat out 2-3 times.
Lastly, I want to encourage those thinking of trying a gluten-free diet to just give it two weeks. Not because 2 weeks will cure all your problems but I found that it started to feel like a natural part of my life after 2 weeks. I don’t promote gluten-free living as a fad diet. After suffering from fatigue, migraines, bloating, and depression for most of my adult life…I view my gluten-free diet as medicinal. It allows me to have the energy to workout daily, balance my schedule, and really enjoy my life. As Shauna (Gluten-Free Girl) said, “Let’s help some more folks to be well.”
I hope that this meal plan will help some of you to be well.
I’ve been waiting for this. I’m thinking two weeks is a perfect way to try it out and see if gluten free is the way yo go for me. GRACIAS for the free download :) and thanks again for sharing your personal experience.
You are very welcome!! Let me know how it goes Jenn!
Allison, are you Celiac, or did you just eliminate gluten, felt better, so now you do it? I’m the later of these two, been gluten-free for 6 months (with a few minor, regretable lapses).
Do you know if an intolerance runs in your family. Thanks for sharing, I agree wholeheartedly with what you have to say about the benefits of going gluten-free–I’ve experienced the same myself!
We are the same! I decided to go GF without getting a blood test or a biopsy first. Now that I haven’t had gluten in 6 months (and I feel so much better), I’m not really comfortable with eating gluten just to get officially tested.
My sister has celiac and my mom had a gluten intolerance – which is why I thought to even try it!
Thank you for this! I’ve been considering cutting out gluten from my diet for the same reasons as you, and hopefully this post will be the push I need to get going!
I hope it helps!! Keep me posted :)
it can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. i buy udi’s bread and pretzels…but mostly stick to rice, fruit, veggies, and meat.
2 celiacs and a type 1 diabetic in our household and we eat very well for $100 a week!
Yum! Love Udi’s! I agree, it definitely CAN be expensive but so can any grocery trip if you buy anything that looks good. Planning our meals out in advance really helps too.
Great menu! I went GF last summer (I miss beer so much) and now my stomach doesn’t constantly hurt as it has all of my life. Celiac and intolerance runs in my family and I wish some of my sisters would try it out. I’m constantly trying new recipes – trying to cook GF from scratch, so it’s always great to have some new ones!
(your links are opening in same tab in the menu, so I had to tab back and forth – if you can switch them to open in a new tab/window, it may make it easier for others so they don’t lose their place . I often forget to change that setting in my posts, so Ithought I’d let you know in case you were able to change it)
Hi Val! Glad to hear from you and I hope your family gives it a try soon! I hope some of those recipes can be helpful :)
As for the links, are you referring to the links in the PDF? I’m not sure how to change that since I add the links in my design software. Clicking COMMAND when clicking on a link should open a new tab if you’re on a Mac. If it still gives you trouble, maybe save the PDF to your desktop and then it will open all the links in your browser!
I’m not gluten intolerant, but I love a good meal plan to help take that off my hands! I’m gonna try yours out with the veg substitutions. Yay! Thanks for the awesome resource! Which Amy’s frozen meals do you like? I’ve never gotten any but I should to save some $$$ during lunch.
So glad it can be helpful even for non-GF people!! Let me know how you like it.
As for Amy’s, I really love them all. The Indian meals are great and I love the enchiladas and bowls. Let me know which ones you end up trying!
Thanks for posting this! I’ve been thinking I might have a gluten intolerance for a while and I’m looking forward to trying this!
I hope it helps, Jessica! Keep me posted :)
I am excited to try this! I have Type 1 diabetes and so food is naturally a thorn in my side. ;) I am definitely tired of the chronic fatigue and all the other symptoms that go hand in hand with elevated blood sugars. So, I am going to look into this and see if it aids in getting my numbers under control! Thanks for sharing this! :)
Hi Ashton! So glad that it might be helpful. Keep me posted!
My daughter and I have celiac and my husband has type 1 diabetes…we’ve found that gluten free grains are generally higher in carbs than regular grains. However, I tend to try to cook with lower Glycemic Index foods to sort of meet in the middle (not to mention that lower G.I. foods are better for my daughter and myself anyway!).
I’d highly recommend some Glycemic Index conscious cookbooks! :D
I love that you have this shared in such a clear, easy to follow format. I’ve actually been trying to go gluten free with the goal of two weeks because I heard you really feel the difference. I was curious, so I gave it a shot. It wasn’t as hard as I thought, except after 1 week, I cheated, which I regretted. I’m now redoing again, so this is timely. Thanks so much!
I also just found your blog for the first time. I love it! Can’t wait to keep discovering more goodies.
I’m so glad that it’s useful!! And I wanted recipes included that I use day to day! Thanks for visiting and saying hi!!
I love this allison!! I blog about gluten free living. I was diagnosed with celiac’s several years ago, and also have a severe allergy to dairy and eggs so we are also vegan. There is so much to eating gluten free, and even more to actually eating a healthy diet WHILE eating gluten free. I think that’s what a lot of folks don’t understand. I love that you’ve created this reasource! I am trying to brainstorm ways I could help your readers as they have questions about gluten free living. If you would want to team up you can always feel free to contact me:). Since I’ve made the change, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge (and I work at a Naturopathic Physician’s office so that helps too) about gluten free, natural and healthy living:). Have a happy day!!
megnewsom@gmail.com
Hi Meghan!
Thank you SO much for commenting – I am LOVING your blog. We should totally collaborate!!! I’ll email you when I’m back from vacation and we can chat.
Thank you for the meal plans. I just tested positive for celiac after my brother was diagnosed. I’m trying to follow a “natural” food plan. This will be a big help.
I’m so glad, Stacie! Let me know if you ever need any tips!