I created this dairy free quiche several months ago, and it’s been one of my greatest hits on this site.

At the time, I just wrote it to see if I could make it work. I didn’t realize thatI would want to eventually try living without certain foods that don’t agree with me – like gluten.

Gluten is the protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. Though  I have tested negative for Celiac Disease, I’ve noticed a few things that have made me suspect that I have a gluten intolerance.

One is that my skin gets itchy and I break out with eczema when I eat foods that contain gluten. Second is that I have a history of underactive thyroid. After doing some research, I saw that gluten intolerance can be linked to both conditions. But what really made me decide to change what I was eating was a spring cleanse that I did this year. I made a dish with barley, and felt sick after eating it. It’s been an off and on kind of process, but I realized that I feel much better without it.

The challenge is that gluten is in so many foods that you wouldn’t expect it to be in – sauces, soups, dressings, and restaurant foods are all suspect. What to do?

I’ve started cooking at home more often. I ask about foods in restaurants, but I don’t always trust that something has no wheat in it. I will eat Japanese food if it’s not breaded and without the soy sauce. I eat salads, and try to bring my own salad dressing. I avoid beer, breads and most grains in general. But sometimes I’m still not sure that what I’m eating is totally gluten free.

Did you know that even non-food items like these can contain gluten?

• Food additives, such as malt flavoring, modified food starch and others
• Medications and vitamins that use gluten as a binding agent
• Lipstick and lip balms
• Toothpaste
• Postage stamps
• Play dough

For celiacs and people with gluten intolerance, it’s not always easy to comply. But it doesn’t have to be impossible either. There are many chain restaurants that now have gluten free menus. And there’s always the health food store for special gluten-free product. If you don’t have a good one near you, there are plenty of excellent products in the Gluten-Free Mall. I’m experimenting with some of them and will let you know which ones I like as I try them.