80 Best Gluten Free Desserts For The Holidays
Ever get tired of cooking? Or maybe you live alone and don’t enjoy cooking for one?
One of the best lessons I’ve learned while being gluten-free is that in order to eat the best you possibly can, you’ve got to cook it yourself. You know that gluten-free doesn’t necessarily mean healthy, so you can’t count on just purchasing products to meet the nutritional needs of your body. But I think you already know that, right? (If you don’t, consider one of these options for learning more about being gluten-free AND healthy!)
Though you know you need to cook, I’ve heard the full spectrum of why people get into a rut and feel like they just can’t make cooking a priority. Whether you literally don’t know how to cook, don’t like to cook or just get tired of doing it, eating out (be it take out or buying frozen pre-prepared meals) isn’t the way to go for the majority of your food. Aside from the fact that you’ve really no clue exactly how these foods are prepared, you’re also opening yourself up to a whole host of issues that stem from added sugars, sodium, fillers and other sorts of added ingredients.
But you get tired of cooking, right? Yeah, I know… so do I. It happens periodically especially when life becomes overwhelmingly busy and my own personal need to eat starts to move to the back burner. That’s why I know that everyone, including myself, wants a break from the stove… and we all deserve one as well!
Plus, I know you don’t necessarily want to cook every single meal, every day. That can get old fast if you’re not truly in love with cooking or your actual kitchen.
Here’s 10 tips that I personally use…
…and share with clients to make cooking (even when you don’t feel like it) much easier!
1) Cook extra servings of your meal and box them up before you eat in grab-and-go containers that you can reheat for lunch or dinner.
2) Freeze extra servings of your food in freezer-safe containers that you can pull out in a pinch and reheat.
3) Keep a variety of frozen veggies on hand that can be added to meals to expand them as well as have on their own.**
4) Don’t forget those nuts and seeds which can be a healthy snack, top salads or even added to certain dishes (like pesto). They are excellent sources of fat and protein that must be stored in the fridge or freezer if they’re not roasted and they’ve been hulled (de-shelled).**
5) Get a rice cooker and use it as often as you need to effortlessly make gluten-free grains like rice and quinoa that store well in the fridge. These grains can be added to meals as a healthy starch option.
6) Canned beans are also a huge meal helper. You can add them to a salad, soup, pasta, veggies, whatever actually to again increase bulk, get more fiber and healthy, lean protein.**
7) Plan to cook twice a week and utilize these tips to have a good supply of food on hand to eat throughout the week.
8 ) Get appliances for your kitchen that will actually HELP you like a rice cooker, slow cooker and a steamer (which is sometimes included with a rice cooker). Consider getting a good food processor or a Vitamix. These are definitely worth the investment, but don’t feel that you need to spend a gazillion dollars on top of the line equipment. I assure you that my $17 rice cooker from Target has gone the distance for the past 6 years and keeps on giving.
9) Build up your spice and herb rack. When you don’t have the necessary spicing options, your food is pretty much guaranteed to be boring and tasteless. Food companies know this and act accordingly.
So do the same and treat yourself to a new spice or herb each trip to the store. (Make sure to check that your favorite spice company is gluten-free!) Then you’ll have a well-stocked spice rack before you know it! Just make sure to keep them out of direct light.**
10) Get digital with your recipes! Sign up to receive email alerts from your favorite sites (hint: register your name in the sign up box to your right to receive my eNewsletter!) so that you don’t ever need to scour the internet 5 minutes before you start to cook. Check out the recipes as they come into your email box and file those away in a folder you can create called “Recipes” that you would actually like to make. Those that don’t fit the bill can be deleted.
** Remember — when buying pre-packaged food products (yes, even bagged nuts, canned beans, spices and frozen veggies count), you MUST verify that they are gluten-free. In most cases, it’s an issue of cross-contamination. However in the case of spices, some companies will add gluten for texture purposes, and definitely be mindful of Curry powders as that can be a definite trouble spot. So read your labels and call the company if you are unsure.
Do you have any other tips that keep you cooking less and eating more GLUTEN-FREE?
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These are fabulous tips! Thank you for sharing them 🙂
Love Aunt Jayne
You are wonderfully welcome, Aunt Jayne!
I have been doing #1-3 for years. It is the best way to eat well with miminal cooking. All of your suggestions are great.
Great tips! Do you know which frozen veggies and canned items have no risk of cross-contamination?
Honestly Krysten, I’m a little weary of posting a list and then a manufacturer could change their recipe or procedure tomorrow and you (or any other reader) assume what you’re buying is fine since you read here on my site that it was gluten-free. I can’t EVER guarantee that any products have no risk. You’ve got to research the brands that are available to you and call them to make sure that nothing has changed. I’m gluten intolerant so I tend to be ok with products marked GF (after years of eating this way). One of my favorite brands is Eden Organics, but even they have a disclaimer… if you want to see their food list, visit http://www.edenfoods.com/store/product_pdf.php?show=eden_is_ng
Great Tips! I am currently having a love affair with Basil, Chives, and Garlic Powder. I like the idea of cooking at least twice a week. This is something I’m working on because I was in such a rut but now I am really enjoying cooking.
I think you’ve really nailed the problem on the head… you’ve got to work on things like cooking. When you get into a rut, cooking can just plain suck. So find something about the act of creating food that you do enjoy, or dare I say love, and get to it!
I love leftovers. Most of the time they’re the only reason I have lunch to eat at all the next day. I’ll have to try to remember to save some in the freezer. Great idea! I already have those freezer-safe containers. Just have to make use of them.
Once you have a well-stocked spice rack, you’ll be able to make your own seasoning mixes and curry powders. I like to buy whole spices cause they last longer and you can toast and grind them as needed. There’s nothing like freshly toasted spices to give you enthusiasm for cooking!
I totally agree with you Laura! Love the idea of buying the whole spices. They certainly do last longer and yes, you can totally make your own mixes and blends. All you need to grind them is a coffee grinder (well cleaned, obviously) or a spice grinder. I got my spice grinder from Bed Bath & Beyond for like $10. It’s been a great investment. I even use it to grind up flax and chia seeds!
These are great! Spices help make meals so much less blah. I love my crock pot – it lets me cook when I have time and make lots of extra portions. Did you know you can cook rice in a crock pot?
I actually have never tried cooking rice in a crock pot since I generally use my rice cooker, but if you have a good recipe, please share it here!
Well said, Jen! Love your ideas. Gets me pumped to get in my kitchen and cook! 🙂
I definitely cook double and triple of everything so that I have things for lunch and and diner when i work nights and long days. i have been doing quicker meals when I am home nights that I don’t work. i will keep in mind the freezer options. This will probably help.
I’ve had my rice cooker for to many years to count now and couldn’t live without one. The same thing with my slow cooker. And I’m working toward cooking only two or three times a week.
I have been working on making enough to freeze, increasing my spice selection and adding more veggies and beans to my meals. It is nice to have these articles to read for reinforcement. I love my rice cooker and my crockpot. They are certainly getting quite a bit more use since I started Following Jennifer!
I love your articles on Facebook during the day. They Make me feel like I’m not alone. You have wonderful Ideas for when I run out. This was one of those weekends I got glutened so I needed ideas of what was safe to eat again ( this product was suppose to be GF certified maybe there was something else in it I’m not sure but it was a miserable few days) You made me smile again with this article. Thank you very much.
Betsy
Do you have tips anywhere, that maybe I’ve missed, on eating gluten free AND dairy free? I have to avoid both and sometimes finding things that are both GF and DF is difficult.
I love the above tips and plan on implementing them very soon! In fact, I have to go to Target, I may pick up a Rice Cooker 🙂
Thank you so much for everything you do to help keep us informed and eating healthy!! And for making at least me not feel like I’m alone!!
Hi Debbie,
Most of the recipes here are gluten-free and dairy-free. If they do include a dairy option, I usually notate what you could swap it out with.