Celiac Disease & Diet | Q+A

Celiac Disease & Diet | Q+A

by | Nov 21, 2017 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Home, Nutrition

Question:

I have celiac and am lactose intolerant. I have just started working out with a personal trainer. My problem is that I’m not gaining weight (rather than not losing weight). My diet consists mainly of meat, vegetables, and fruit. Any suggestions as to how I should modify my diet in order to gain weight and muscle mass?

– Jerry

Answer:

You’ve got the basics down, Jerry. Building lean mass means having the extra energy and building blocks to create new fibers. You may be eating the right foods, but not enough. Or you could be missing the high-calorie essentials that make gaining weight easier. Vegetables and fruit just aren’t energy-rich, save for avocados, olives and dried fruits. Meats, poultry and seafood can be lean or fatty depending on the cut/fish. Regardless of your present choices, adding sugar and fat are the primary ways to boost calories without straying from current foods.

Normally I’d recommend cheeses, and there are enzymes you can chew for lactose intolerance. Meats can be enriched with true gravies, oil-based sauces like pesto and chimichurri, and sautéed mushrooms or garlic. Complex carbohydrates are a staple for building muscle and there are several gluten-free options like potato, corn and rice. The bonus of these is that they go well with butters or margarines for extra calories.

Here are simple suggestions as to how one could bump up the calories from a basic diet of meat, vegetables and fruit:

plain oats → oatmeal w/ ground pecans, raisins, and honey

fruit or vegetable juice → smoothie consisting of avocado, banana, and coconut milk

grilled chicken breast, asparagus → light and dark meat chicken w/ BBQ sauce, bacon wrapped asparagus, homemade mashed potatoes made with dairy free margarine and unsweetened milk substitute

steak, peppers,  onion stir fry → same, plus guacamole and roasted corn

fresh fruit salad → ambrosia-style w/ nuts, shredded coconut and gluten-free marshmallows

iced coffee → coffee soy dessert

– Debbie J., MS, RD

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This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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Recommended Reading - Q+A

What are some good gluten-free snacks?

by | Apr 7, 2014 | Ask Our Dietitian, Nutrition, Workouts

ask our dietitian your question todaygluten free snacks from Living Healthy

I just found out I have Celiac Disease and must become gluten-free. Do you have any suggestions on gluten-free snacks? Is it unhealthy to be having more intakes of corn and rice based products? – Dena O.

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Snacks based on fruit, nuts, seeds, milk, eggs or meats are no-brainers. Examples include good old-fashioned celery with natural peanut butter, cheese and apples, or hard-cooked egg and grapes. If you want something sweet or savory from a box or bag (think crackers or chips) then it’s trickier to avoid gluten, but many suitable products now line the shelves. You just have to look carefully at the ingredients list if the package doesn’t indicate “gluten-free” or GF.

Some favorite GF snacks of mine include yogurt, edamame (soybeans), sweet potato chips, trail mix, guacamole or salsa with corn tortilla chips, snap peas and carrots with hummus, and GF bars such as Larabar or KIND. I’d recommend you explore options for home and on-the-go that you can stock up on so you won’t be without suitable snacks when you need them.

Corn and rice are fine when replacing wheat as a main carbohydrate source in the diet. Many populations live off these (or potatoes) as their staple food. Your concern should be for how processed your selections are, as products based on these can be wholesome or refined. Popcorn is fine, whereas cheese flavored corn puffs are not. Brown rice cakes or GF wild rice soup are fine, but crisped rice treats are not.

Other readers: Interested in a gluten-free diet for weight loss? CLICK HERE to read our article on the facts.

– Debbie J., MS, RD

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Debbie James is a registered dietitian. Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or recommendations of Fitness International, LLC.

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