Gluten-free Diet For Breakfast

About one in every 133 people in the United States has celiac disease, a digestive disease in which a person's intestines become damaged due to gluten consumption, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Following a gluten-free diet is currently the only treatment for celiac disease. Fortunately, eating gluten free still leaves you with plenty of delicious foods to eat, especially when it comes to breakfast.

Prohibited Foods

As the Celiac Sprue Association explains, gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Grains related to wheat, such as spelt and kamut, also contain gluten. People following a gluten-free diet need to avoid these grains and all products made from them. Breads and cereals containing gluten are obvious culprits that you'll need to ditch from your breakfast routine, but gluten may also be hiding in many less obvious processed foods.

Reading Labels

In order to ensure that your breakfasts and all other meals remain gluten free, it's vital that you learn to read labels on food, as the Celiac Sprue Association advises. As the American Dietetic Association points out, gluten may be added to a wide variety of processed foods, such as candy, chips, soy sauce, broth, sauces and processed meats. Remembering to read labels may be difficult at first but will soon become second nature.

Gluten-Free Breakfast Foods

A gluten-free breakfast can still be delicious, nutritious and satisfying. Most whole foods are gluten free, so try centering your breakfasts on foods like eggs, dairy products, meats, fruits and vegetables. Scrambled or fried eggs, fruit smoothies, yogurt, breakfast meats and porridges made from gluten-free grains all make excellent choices. If you're missing your old gluten-filled standbys, gluten-free breads, cereals and pancakes are becoming increasingly available to consumers.

Eating Out

Eating a gluten-free breakfast at home is fairly easy, but trying to eat breakfast out presents a new set of challenges. "Gluten-Free Living" magazine recommends that, if possible, you contact the restaurant ahead of time to find out what gluten-free options it has. When it comes time to order, explain your gluten-free needs to your server. Make sure that your server thoroughly understands your restrictions and that you feel confident that you can enjoy a meal without endangering your health.

More Help

If you're still struggling with gluten-free breakfasts, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse advises that a dietitian can help you in selecting gluten-free foods and provide support in coping with your more restricted diet. As a result of the growing gluten-free community, there are also many cookbooks and Internet resources that offer recipes, tips and support for people living the gluten-free lifestyle.