Guide to Gluten-Free Grains

Once you discover the possibilities of these delicious and healthy gluten-free grains, you won’t miss traditional bread and pasta.

Eating gluten-free means you don’t eat gluten or foods contain it. That means baking with regular flour or even whole wheat flour is a no-go. Pasta, breads and standard pizza are out, as is couscous, soy sauce and lots of marinades and bottled salad dressings. Fortunately, there are naturally gluten-free grains, pseudo-grains and other side-dish-worthy products that are wonderful stand-ins.

Gluten-Free Baking

Gluten-Free Flour

If you’re looking for a gluten-free alternative in order to make fluffy white pancakes or muffins, we like Cup4Cup Multi-Purpose Flour. It’s the brand that Thomas Keller (from the famed French Laundry Restaurant in CA) and his crew came up with. It is a corn/rice blend (and just FYI, does contain dairy).

An Alternative to “Brown Flour” Whole Wheat

If you’re looking to make baked goods that are heartier (think LOTS more fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals), we like buckwheat and teff flours. At first they can be kind of intimidating because, well, they are really brown. But they are both nutty-flavored and delicious.

Buckwheat flour

Chocolate-brown in color, it is yummy in pancakes and has 19 net carbs, 4 grams of protein per ¼ cup as well as vitamins B1, B3, B6, copper, magnesium, manganese and zinc.

Teff flour

Also, dark brown in color, This flour has 5.3 g of protein per ¼ cup, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, folate, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc.

Naturally Gluten-Free & Delicious Grains

Brown rice

An easy swap for white rice (and still kinda “normal” given that you can order it at Chipotle), brown rice still counts. It contains selenium, a potent antioxidant, as well as copper, magnesium, manganese, zinc and vitamins B1, B3, B5 and B6. It is WAY better than its bright white counterpart.

Gluten-free oats

While oats do not contain gluten, conventional oats are readily contaminated with gluten during processing, so be sure to look for those labeled “gluten-free.” Bob’s Red Mill is readily available at grocery stores.

Quinoa

This gluten-free grain is now readily available and more common than it used to be. It is an ancient grain and superfood and is considered a complete protein (6 g per ¼ cup dry). It contains lots of B vitamins and minerals. Quinoa pairs well with sautéed veggies and is a yummy rice substitute.

Amaranth

Also considered an ancient grain and superfood, amaranth is a pseudo-cereal because it’s actually a seed. It is a blond, small, round granule; is simple to make; and is considered almost a complete protein because it contains the hard-to-get lysine. It is also a protein powerhouse (13%-14% protein). After it’s cooked (~20 min), it has a toasted, nutty flavor that works well at breakfast, lunch or dinner. Look for it next to the quinoa.

Millet

Millet is also a seed that varies from a creamy texture to one that is a bit crunchy depending on how you cook it. It cooks very quickly (4-5 minutes) and can be served as a breakfast porridge or a variety of side-dishes/stuffing. Millet is a good source of protein (5.1 g of protein per ¼ cup dry) as well as B vitamins and minerals. Its fiber content is just over 4 grams per serving and it helps to slow digestion, keeps you fuller longer, and keeps blood sugar balanced.

How we go gluten-free

While going gluten-free can do wonders for health, we know that changing what you habitually eat can be a challenge. At Healthy Nest Nutrition, it’s a step-by-step process towards a new diet regimen. It is NOT a one-day switch. Our goal is to fill your plate with naturally delicious foods so that you really won’t miss the wheat, barley, spelt or rye.

We are here to help

Cooking with gluten-free grains is easier than you think and nutritious, too! We have many recipes at Healthy Nest Nutrition to keep you inspired and satisfied. If you’re interested in how going gluten-free can benefit your health or need some help making the transition, click here to schedule a free 20-minute consultation with a holistic nutritionist.