A Comprehensive Guide

Gluten-Free Diet Help

Once celiac disease is diagnosed, food shifts from a source of worry to something you can navigate with confidence — once you know what to look for. This guide covers the essentials: which foods to avoid, what’s naturally safe, and how to build balanced, satisfying meals day to day.

What to avoid

Wheat, barley, and rye are the three grains that contain gluten — and they show up far beyond bread and pasta. Watch for: traditional bread, pasta, and baked goods; most breakfast cereals; beer (unless labeled gluten-free); soy sauce; malt vinegar and malt flavoring; and many pre-made soups, sauces, and gravies thickened with wheat flour.

What’s naturally gluten-free

Plenty of everyday foods are naturally gluten-free: rice, corn, quinoa, potatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, plain meat, fish, poultry, beans, lentils, nuts, and dairy. Certified gluten-free oats are safe for most people. The safest approach is building meals around these whole foods rather than relying only on packaged gluten-free substitutes.

Common Swaps: What to Avoid vs. What to Choose

A quick-reference guide to the most common gluten sources and their safe alternatives.

Contains Gluten
Gluten-Free Choice
Regular bread & bagelsMade with wheat flour
Certified gluten-free breadOr naturally GF options like corn tortillas
Regular pastaMade with wheat
Rice, corn, or legume-based pastaWidely available at most grocery stores
Regular soy sauceTraditionally brewed with wheat
Tamari or soy sauce labeled gluten-freeAlways check the label — not all tamari qualifies
Most beerBrewed from barley
Gluten-free beer, wine, or spiritsDistilled spirits are naturally gluten-free
Regular breakfast cerealOften contains wheat or malt
Certified gluten-free cerealOr naturally GF options like plain rice/corn cereal
Malt vinegarDerived from barley
Apple cider or wine vinegarNaturally gluten-free
Regular oatsHigh cross-contact risk
Certified gluten-free oatsIntroduce gradually — a small number of people react to avenin

Building a Balanced Gluten-Free Plate

General guidance for structuring meals around naturally gluten-free whole foods — not a clinical prescription. A registered dietitian can help tailor this to your specific needs.

35%
30%
25%
10%
Vegetables & FruitFresh, naturally gluten-free
GF Grains & StarchesRice, quinoa, potatoes, certified GF oats
ProteinMeat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils
Dairy or AlternativesMilk, yogurt, cheese, or fortified plant milk