One question a lot of people ask me after they learn I have gone gluten free is “how in the world do you do it?” Seems like a pretty basic question, right? Well, I have a very basic answer.
I don’t eat gluten.
Duh.
However, that’s not to say I don’t dream of eating gluten. Sometimes, I really do wish I could eat it. While gluten free products are delicious and nutritious, they don’t taste exactly like products made with wheat flour. The textures are different as well. This doesn’t mean gluten free products “aren’t good” — in fact, they are very good!
I spent the first 22 years of my life eating gluten and not thinking anything of it. For the last (almost) two years, I’ve gone without. Needless to say, I have had a lot of time thinking about what I would eat in a day if I could eat gluten — or what I would eat if I wanted to throw my hands up and say forget about it for a day!
I’m warning you now — this would NOT be a very healthy day.
Breakfast
Don’t even scoff at me — I would still eat oatmeal for breakfast. The only difference is I wouldn’t spend $6 for a bag of it and have to order it off of Amazon. I would gladly pay $3-4 a bag of the organic rolled oats.
Snack
I would totally eat a Double Chocolate Cake donut from Dunkin’ Donuts. By far the best donut on the face of the planet. No joke.
Lunch
I would start out lunch with my favorite kind of bread — a French baguette. There is absolutely nothing better than a bread with a crispy exterior and chewy inside.
To wash down the French bread, I would follow it up with a soft pretzel — preferably coated in cinnamon sugar.
Dinner
For dinner, all I want is to go out for a meal and not have to special order anything or worry about any gluten getting into my food. I think I would go out for a Japanese Hibachi meal and douse my food in soy sauce. I would eat sushi until my pants couldn’t fit anymore.
Snack
While I usually finish my night off with a bowl of granola, I would want to eat my favorite pre-gluten free cereal. I ate Kashi GoLean Crunch! by the boxful before I went gluten free. I’m salivating just thinking about it.
Obviously I feel my best with fruits, veggies, and vegetarian protein, but if I had only ONE day to eat gluten, I would go all out and eat 100% carbs the entire way.
Question: What would you eat on a “free for all” day of eating?
{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been craving for the last year and a half a boston creme donut and lemon filled powdered sugar donut from Dunkin Donuts. I’m doubtful that they will ever go away. Needless to say I’d spend a day just eating those if I could.
Haha this is so funny~! I love how its all carby stuff! I love carbs too! They are my fave food group for sure!!!
My day would probably include nothing but chips and Dean’s french onion dip. Maybe some nachos, but I could happily be sustained for an entire year on Dean’s french onion dip
I TOTALLY agree on the Go Lean Crunch! I had a serious addiction to it and in college I pretty much ate it every meal of the day, plus all snacks. It was a problem. A delicious problem.
I would also eat one of those giant bread bowls with broccoli cheese or potato soup from Panera. Dipping that chewy bread in the creamy soup is to die for.
Wow um..good question - I would probably have huge Mexican chimichanga covered in queso , with a couple high caloric margaritas and finish with a Cinnabon with extra frosting! xoxo from Trinidad
Sometimes I wonder how my diet would be different if I wasn’t allergic to peanuts. Would I like PB over AB? Would I be crazy for Reese’s and On Henry? Would I like PB Puffins over the cinnamon ones? Sadly, I’ll never know
But at least there’s still a bunch of delicious food I CAN enjoy, that’s what counts, right? 
I think the cinnamon puffins are 10x more delicious than the PB ones, if that makes you feel any better
Your “free for all” day looks pretty appetizing! I would eat bacon. All day.
Man thats tough. I eliminated gluten for about 2 months and I thought I was going to die lol. Luckily there are so many delicious gluten free options out there now. If i could just have a free for all day…i don’t even know…huge diner breakfast, mexican for lunch an italian for dinner! Ice cream for dessert
I would feel so horrible though if I actually ate that. My tummy would be giving me the evil eye.
Mmmm cinnamon sugar pretzels! That looks like a pretty solid day. I’m experimenting with a gluten sensitivity, but it’s definitely not an allergy. I still haven’t come to a clear conclusion though. Brown rice wraps have a mind of their own!
And holy moly those oats look goooooood! (I’m an expert)
YUM! I think that I would probably stuff my face with sweets. Fro-yo, ice cream, cake, cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, etc. And then I’d probably feel sick to my stomach haha…but totally worth it.
ugh, I have an unhealthy obsession with soft pretzels. maybe it stems from the fact that I grew up outside of philly..
I would eat a bunch of sugar-filled treats that I normally avoid. I mean the really bad stuff like Cinnabons and Krispy Kream.
Haha, loved this twist on WIAW. I don’t have any diet restrictions/allergies but, if 1 day didn’t matter I would probably go all for the sweets. Chocolate cake, donuts, cookies. I have a serious sweet tooth.
Oh man, someone needs to make a gluten free soft pretzel. Those things are my crack.
I love this post! Give the chance, I’d eat fried, cheesy everything for a day- breakfast of a cheddar cheesy omelette, tater tots with cheese, quesadillas, mozzarella sticks, pizza- yum!
I would put your “not so healthy” day of eats to shame I tell you. Shame! Although I would still have oats for breakfast too. But then bring on the donuts, cupcakes, fro yo, and brownies.
I’ve given up practically all dairy because it tends to give me migraines and an upset stomach. If it were a “consequences-free day” I’d definitely enjoy a huge bowl of ice cream…the kinds made from almond milk or rice milk are delicious, but just not the same : )
I love this. I gave up gluten in January… so I would start my day with an asiago parmesan bagel with egg, cheese and sundried tomato spread from Bruegger’s Bagels… followed by lunch which would be any pizza made by Dewey’s… then I’d eat shrimp tempura sushi for dinner covered in soy sauce. A girl can dream!
I totally miss soft pretzels. The gluten free pretzel sticks just don’t cut it…even with mustard!
HA!… I knew you’d go for the french bread! Saw that one coming from a mile away! (don’t blame you though!)
I would eat ice cream by the tub full and probably a candy bar or two, thing I haven’t had in years…. Lots of sugar!
Those pretzels look fantastic! I now want to eat like…four of them. Thanks a lot
haha have a great day Chelsey!
I’m not sure if you’ve tried it yet, but Trader Joe’s carries their own brand of gluten free, rolled oats ~ 2lb bag for 2.99! Made my day
Oh, free day…I would eat peanut butter on everything.
That looks like Henry’s typical day. ‘Cept the oats…too healthy.
All Mexican food and baguette bread slathered in real butter. Earth Balance is delicious, but sometimes I do miss butter.
Um, don’t be grossed out but I would totally eat a burger. I gave up eating them years ago and not because I thought they were unhealthy or because they were made of meat but because they started making me sick
I would love to eat one again without the fear of having to run to the bathroom right after!
That is originally the reason why I gave up red meat when I was 13. I stopped eating it for lent one year, and then when I tried to eat it again, I got sick!
Lots of cheese, an entire jar of almond butter (I struggle with portion control!), fudge, brownies, pizza, granola…I could go on!
LOTS of chocoalte and cheese would be consumed…LOTS!
A free for all day of eating?! Oh my goodness.. I don’t know where I would even begin. Probably by downing a jar of almond butter, followed by a gallon of ice cream, and topped off with something from a bakery
Hi, new reader, love your blog. I would probably have to go with a Cinnabon (extra frosting)
Hi Ashley! Thanks for reading! Ohhh I forgot about how great Cinnabon’s are!!
I have not eaten gluten for a little over 2 years now also and I really don’t miss it. There are substitutions everywhere and it has forced me to get creative. Plus my taste buds have developed and I can handle very spicy foods. People ask me what I would eat if I let myself eat something with gluten in it, but nothing seems “worth it” to me.
However, I am studying abroad in Paris in the Spring and I am nervous about living in another country while not eating dairy or gluten (especially since France is notorious for cheese and bread). I feel so much better when I don’t eat dairy or gluten, but I fear that it will be impossible for me to dine with others in France.
I have always been very adventurous with food so I am willing to try anything, but I am strict when it comes to no gluten and no dairy. Do you have any advice?
I wish I did! I traveled to Fance before I went gluten free so I didn’t have to give up those indulgences! I am sure you’ll be able to find something!
Elise over at hungryhungryhippie just recapped her trip to France where she was and still is vegan and gluten free:) maybe you’ll glean some knowledge off of her: )
I’m interested to read about that!
Really delicious with olive oil and balsamic. All day. Plus brownies and french fries.
Toppers Stix/ takeout pizza, potato pancakes and LOTS of cake.
honestly? I would eat en ENTIRE JAR OF NUT BUTTER!! heck maybe even 5 jars
I love this post! For breakfast I would have a donut (any kind-not gonna be picky here)… lunch - peanut butter and banana sandwich with a side of more pb… snack-luna bar… dinner-mexican…. dessert-some sort of chocolate cake pie combo! ahhhh this is making me hungry!
I’m not sure but for a snack I would adore to have a mint cornetto (dairy). I try not to eat dairy for ethical & health reasons. Same with peanut m&ms. I would have peAnut m&ms for breakfast lunch and dinner! Yum!!!
Pizza, a loaf of fresh bread w/ butter and olive oil, mac and cheese, wine, ice cream. Oh yeah….
Fro-yo!! I’m severly Celiac and Lactose and have been since I was a toddler—I really have no idea what I’m missing, so I have no fun cheat day foods!
I eat boxes of the Kashi Go Lean crunch…that stuff is NOT safe around me…
I’m with you! A crusty baguette is the way to go! I would eat every single pastry in sight: croissants, cookies, cupcakes, every type of bread possible! Unfortunately, I’m GF too
haha I totally agree with you on the oatmeal bit - I just really LOVE it. It looks like you definitely make the most of your situation- so kudos to you!
donuts, steak, cake, ice cream!! oh man, all those sound good now
Sam @ fitness food & faith (giveaway today!)
I would eat a cake. An entire cake. That’s it!
Oh my gosh, there is SO much I would eat if I weren’t allergic to nuts… I’d try PB on my oatmeal, Love Grown Foods Granola, Larabars, a cashew-based vegan cream in my dessert, Thai take-out… I’m compiling a list in my head of what I want to eat for the day when they finally come up with a cure for allergies LOL!
There will be pretzels for you in heaven, girl (0:
Love this! If I could splurge on gluten all day, I’d go for some fluffy banana pancakes! Then for lunch an incredible loaf of bread dipped in olive oil and spices. For dinner maybe a calzone and then dessert endless amounts of cake.
Okay, now I’m salivating. I need to stop
I adore this post. I could eat carbs all day, every day too…and now I’m craving a soft pretzel. Especially the knot in the center where it’s the doughiest!!
I wonder what my bro would eat if he could eat GF… hmmm…. a bakery bagel or a donut most likely =)
If I went GF, I think I would miss bread the most. And all bread-like food substances.
Pizza. Bagels. Biscuits.
I’m a sucker for carbs. I’m not GF, but I really did enjoy this post. It made me appreciate what I do have and respect the trouble others go to in order to keep their bodies happy/healthy
If I could eat whatever (usually I’m GF), I totally get a blueberry cake bagel from Dunkin Donuts. I love those things. Crazy thing is that I never really craved them until I gave up gluten a year ago.
My total splurge day would be
1. Blueberry cake donut (like 2!)
2. Fresh, homemade Pizza and salad. I just haven’t found a GF crust that I love for a price I’m willing to pay. I still like veggies, what can I say.
3. Big juicy hamburger on big ol’ kaiser roll with cheese-lots and lots of cheese.