Celiac disease, according to the Mayo Clinic, is the inability to eat foods containing gluten due to an immune response in the body that limits the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. Avoiding gluten all together is the best way to manage Celiac disease; although it can be tricky to remember which foods contain gluten.
Bread and Baked Goods
Gluten is found in most grains, including wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat and bran. Because most breads are made with wheat flour, this limits the diet of a Celiac disease patient considerably. Look for breads made from arrowroot, corn, potato, rice, or soybean flour. Note, though, that these breads are difficult to find;check in health food stores. Assume that unless a bread is labeled "gluten-free," it probably contains gluten. This rule also applies to baked goods like muffins, cakes, cookies and pies, as well as waffles, pancakes and waffle and pancake mix.
Fruits and Vegetables
Although fruits and vegetables themselves do not contain gluten, gluten may be present in the sauce of some canned or prepared fruits or vegetables, vegetables as part of a frozen dinner, fruits in a syrup or canned creamed vegetables. Celiac patients should avoid prepared fruit and vegetables and eat them fresh as much as possible.
Meat
Meat does not contain gluten when cooked with no additional ingredients, but gluten may be added to some prepared meat products. Processed lunch meat, breaded meats like orange chicken at Chinese restaurants, hot dogs, sausages and frozen dinners containing meat usually include gluten, unless they are labeled otherwise. Breaded meats, like chicken Parmesan, also contain gluten, as well as most frozen and canned meats.
Condiments
Condiments, including soy sauce, ketchup, white vinegar, mustard, malt, horseradish and curry powder may contain gluten and should be avoided.
Beverages
Celiac disease patients should avoid any beverages containing malt, including malted hot chocolate, malted milkshakes, some chocolate milk, beer and ale. Additionally, alcoholic beverages containing rye, wheat, oats, barley or buckwheat must be avoided. Beverages that may also contain gluten include instant coffee and root beer.
