Helpful Tips for Those With Wheat Allergies

Having a wheat allergy can be difficult to navigate, especially if you live in the United States. Bread is a staple in our diet and it is around us 24/7. Whenever you sit down at a restaurant you are usually bombarded with bread. And typically at any event you attend, wheat products will be served. Wheat is everywhere and sometimes it can be overwhelming at first to navigate avoiding it.

Gluten-free vs. wheat-free

One important thing to keep in mind is the difference between being gluten-free and wheat-free. Remember that gluten is found in wheat. And when labels say they are gluten-free it can still mean wheat is present and just the gluten is extracted. Therefore if you have a wheat allergy be very careful to read labels. Just because it is gluten-free, does not mean it is wheat-free, although it can be!

For example, some fast food chains offer gluten-free bread but most of the time, they are just taking out the gluten from the wheat. So in this case, since I can’t have wheat, I still cannot indulge in the bread they offer, because it is made out of wheat. This is most cases in restaurants and fast-food chains, although always ask to be sure.

At the grocery store however, I have found gluten-free bread without any wheat involved in the ingredients. Tapioca flour, potato flour, and things of this nature are used instead, therefore those are a yes for me. So be sure to read labels always, and to ask questions so you don’t mistakenly ingest wheat.

Sneaky ways wheat can show up in food and drinks

Another important reminder is that wheat can be found in foods we wouldn’t particularly think of. For example, a lot of people forget that wheat is found in beer. Nowadays, there are lots of alternatives and you can find beer made without wheat, but you have to ask and do some digging. For the most part, beer is a big no if you have a wheat allergy.

And surprise, there is wheat in most gravy and soups! Oh yes, they are in the ingredient list if you take a close look. So again, make sure to read those labels and find alternatives as there are many out there.

Wheat-free alternatives

Thankfully for pasta lovers, there are a million wheat-free options to choose from like Banza which is made with chickpea flour. At Trader Joes, I buy wheat-free bagels which has been so nice, as I love a bagel in the morning. When it comes to cookies, I like the brand Simple Mills which is wheat-free. And then of course, you can always make your own baked goods and cookies by following wheat-free recipes online.

Overall, it is not the end of the world if you have a wheat allergy. There are many alternatives and options for indulging in your favorite foods without sacrificing taste.

How about you? Do you have any tips you’d like to share for navigating a wheat allergy? What are your favorite alternatives? Share with us below, we would love to hear from you.