People who follow a gluten-free diet will be the first to tell you how difficult and annoying it can be to pass up a bowl of homemade pasta or a slice of birthday cake that hasn't been prepared with gluten-free alternatives. This is where gluten-free meals come in, to make sure every family member or guest can find something on the dinner table that works with their dietary restrictions. Some of these gluten-free recipes are entirely grain-free, while others make it easy to swap a few ingredients so you can cater to everyone's diet.
If you don't have a family member or friend who is gluten-free, you may not be familiar with celiac disease, a digestive and immune disorder. A reaction is triggered when someone who is celiac consumes gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, as well as bread, pasta, cookies, and cakes. Symptoms can vary widely among individuals, but some common signs to look out for are bloating, abdominal pain, and even lactose intolerance. You can treat celiac disease by following a gluten-free diet, which means baking gluten-free desserts and researching gluten-free snacks.
This may sound daunting, but there are plenty of gluten-free recipes that are naturally grain-free, so you won't have to jump through hoops for weeknight dinner ideas. We've rounded up some of these light and easy family-friendly recipes you can prepare for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, whether you just found out that you have celiac disease or one of your kids has always needed to eat gluten-free.
