By Olivia Dupin
Publisher: Fair Winds (2013)
Reviewed by Jeannie Gazzaniga-Moloo PhD, MS, RD
Claims
If you need to eat gluten-free due to a wheat intolerance or digestive disorder, The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods is your go to one-stop reference to going gluten-free naturally and effectively.
Synopsis of the Diet Plan
The book is divided into two sections. The first section provides information on gluten-free eating and conditions associated with gluten allergies. It also provides guidance on shopping for gluten-free foods and ingredients, stocking your pantry shelves with gluten-free foods, and how to navigate choosing foods at restaurants and school lunches for children. The second section includes 100 gluten-free recipes using basic ingredients you will find at most food markets. Recipes include main dishes like Thai chicken peanut curry, side dishes like sautéed kale and apples, and sweet treats like five-ingredient PB&J cookies.
Nutritional Pros and Cons
The author is a professionally trained chef who was diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2009. She includes quick and easy recipes for breakfast, snacks and meals. The pantry list is extensive and thorough. The recipes are easy to follow and will have broad appeal to all cooking levels. Sorely lacking, however, is a listing of the resources used to develop the extensive clinical information presented in the first few chapters. Since the author is neither a registered dietitian nor a physician, content in the book would have been strengthened if the resources used for the clinical information were cited.
Bottom Line
The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods will be a helpful starter manual for patients newly diagnosed with a gluten-allergy or intolerance. It is well written, easy to follow and provides comprehensive advice on eating gluten-free, setting up a gluten-free kitchen, and navigating dining establishments. The recipes are easy to prepare while using fresh ingredients. Most people who use the suggestions in The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods will find it much easier to eat a healthy gluten-free diet.