Okay, so I’ve been trying to cut out gluten for a while, mostly because I feel bloated after having, like, a ton of bread or pasta. But drinks? That was a whole new ballgame. I started thinking, “What am I even allowed to drink besides water?” So, I started my little experiment, and here is my gluten-free drinks diary.
Day 1: The Research Phase
I jumped online and typed in “gluten-free drinks.” To no one’s surprise, the results were all over the place. Some sites were super helpful, others…not so much. I found out that a lot of naturally gluten-free drinks, like juice, most sodas, and coffee, but then the fear began.
Day 2: Double-Checking Everything
I spent a good chunk of the day reading labels. I checked my favorite orange juice – yup, gluten-free. I double-checked my go-to soda – also good! It was a bit of a relief. I mean, I didn’t realize how many things don’t have gluten until I started looking for it, you know?
But after I double-checked all the drinks, I found out that some beer, ale, and some flavored alcoholic beverages are big no-nos. Gotta watch out for those sneaky added ingredients.
Day 3: The Coffee Conundrum
Coffee is my lifeline, so I was stoked to see it’s generally gluten-free. But then I thought about flavored coffees and those fancy coffee shop drinks. I made a mental note to ask about the ingredients next time I ordered. Plain black coffee? Always a safe bet, I figured.
Day 4: Smoothies and Shakes
I decided to make a smoothie for breakfast. I threw in some fruit, yogurt, and…wait, I almost added some protein powder without thinking. I checked the label – gluten-free! Whew, close call. I realized I needed to be extra careful with anything that comes in a powder or mix.
Day 5: Tea Time
I’m not a huge tea drinker, but I knew most plain teas are gluten-free. I made myself a cup of herbal tea in the afternoon. It was pretty relaxing, actually. I started to think about those flavored tea mixes, though. I made another mental note to check those out later. It’s like, once you start looking for gluten, you see it everywhere…or at least, the potential for it.
Day 6: Getting Adventurous (and Cautious)
Checked with the seller, most hard ciders are gluten-free, unlike beer, and Tried some hard cider.
Day 7: Feeling Good
After a week of being super mindful of what I was drinking, I gotta say, I felt pretty good. Less bloated, for sure. It was a bit of a hassle at first, having to read all those labels and ask all those questions, but it got easier. I realized it’s all about being informed and making smart choices. And hey, I discovered some new drinks along the way!