If you’re gluten-free and feel as though the wonderful world of modern conveniences has vaporized, I have some good news for you. You CAN be gluten-free – conveniently.
And that’s important, because quick and easy meals aren’t just a convenience – they’re a necessity. We’re all too busy to be spending hours slaving in the kitchen making the nutritious meals we strive to feed our families. Sometimes it feels like we have to sacrifice nutrition for convenience, and other times it seems we have to sacrifice convenience for nutrition, especially when living a gluten-free lifestyle. The good news is you really don’t have to sacrifice either. It’s true that the days of mindlessly plucking products off the grocery store shelves are gone…so are the days of making a quick phone call and getting a piping hot pizza delivered minutes later.
But so are the days when gluten-free products were as rare as three-headed pigs and labels were vague and incomplete. I’ve been “doing” gluten-free for more than 17 years, and let me tell you – things have come a long way, Baby.
Until recently, many labels were confusing and vague, leaving us no choice but to call the manufacturer for clarification on ingredients such as modified food starch, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and other questionable ingredients. Today, not only must manufacturers clearly identify any sources of wheat, but many are labeling their products “gluten-free.”
Many of you probably still call manufacturers and it’s a good idea to do so if there’s any question about ingredients. It may seem like a pain to call those toll-free numbers, but be grateful that most products have a toll-free number listed. For years, products only listed the manufacturer’s name. Prior to the internet, it was tough to find the phone number, only to reach a customer service representative who had absolutely no clue what gluten was. Conversations generally went something like this: ME: “Can you tell me if your product is gluten-free?” THEM: “You betcha, Honey. There’s no sugar whatsoever.” Ugh.
Thankfully, new and improved products and labeling are making the gluten-free lifestyle a lot more convenient than it used to be. Hain Celestial is one company leading the charge with its new gluten-free product initiative. Not only do they offer more than 200 gluten-free products, but they make spotting those products a breeze with their new gluten-free logo and clear “wheat-free” and “gluten-free” labeling. While manufacturers are beginning to do their part, there are things you can do too to make your life easier when you’re living a gluten-free lifestyle. One recommendation I have is to choose convenient “foundation foods.” “Foundation food” is my term for the basics of the meal, and they’re fundamental to making impressive meals in minutes.
Here’s an example: You want to make an impressive soup, but you’re short on time. You’re aiming for something more exciting than a can of chicken noodle, but not as much work as a recipe out of Bon Apetit Magazine. Try this -- start with Imagine ® Seafood Bisque –it comes in an easy-to-open, easy-to-store aseptic (recyclable!) package, and while it’s great on its own, it’s also a good foundation food if you want to really impress your guests. Just open the box, pour it in a pan to begin heating, add some scallops, shrimp, and calamari, toss in a few seasonings (you don’t need them, but you’ll want your guests to see them so it looks homemade), and for that extra pizzazz that’s sure to dazzle ‘em, top it off with a sprig of parsley and a lemon wedge. You’ve just created a gourmet meal in minutes.
Another favorite foundation food is lasagna. With DeBoles Gluten-Free pasta, you don’t have to cook the noodles! Just assemble the dish as you would any lasagna, using the noodles straight out of the box. It’s easier than making a “regular” lasagna with wheat-based noodles, because you don’t have to cook them. As you already know, you can make lasagna 100 different ways, but I’ve included one of my favorite recipes at the end of this article.
While convenient foundation foods are a great way to simplify your life, there’s nothing simpler than popping a frozen meal into the microwave. Think you can’t find a gluten-free frozen meal? Think again. A new line of frozen entrees called Gluten-Free Café offers a wide variety of fortified gluten-free meals. They’re delicious, nutritious, and the epitome of convenience.
The gluten-free diet can be one of the healthiest ways to eat. Don’t mourn your loss of convenience – celebrate your gluten-free lifestyle by taking advantage of convenient products that are available today. You’ll find lots of other ideas for simplifying your gluten-free lifestyle in the “Tips” section of this website.
Gluten-Free Lasagna
By Danna Korn
Ingredients (measurements are approximations)
- 1 pound lean ground turkey (omit for vegetarian version)
- 1 package gluten-free lasagna noodles (DeBoles brand)
- 2 jars gluten-free pasta sauce
- Cheese (I mix ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and cottage cheese)
- Mozzarella and parmesan for topping
- Sliced or diced veggies - anything you like (this is your chance to sneak in extra nutrients – it’s called “stealth health.”). Suggestions include: spinach, zucchini or yellow squash, olives, mushrooms or onions.
- Basil (fresh, if you have it – chopped finely)
- Pepper (a dash)
Key ingredient: CREATIVITY!
- sauce (on the bottom of the dish)
- uncooked noodles (just enough to cover the dish)
- ½ of the meat/pasta sauce mixture
- ½ of the cheese mixture
- ½ of the vegetable mixture
- layer of pasta sauce
Tip: Since the hardest part of making this lasagna is preparing the “innards,” I suggest you make two at a time and freeze one of them (make sure to cover it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap). When you’re ready to eat the second one, don’t bother defrosting it -- just heat it an additional 20 minutes or so.
