Keeping a GF journal is like giving yourself a gluten free gift. A GF journal is simply a tool to help you organize your new found knowledge of and experiences with gluten free products, recipes, restaurants, and related information.

There is an ever growing assortment of gluten free products out there. As you try different brands you'll want to remember which ones work for you in general and for specific recipes in particular. The journal will make this easy. It'll save you time and frustration.

If you finally cook or bake something and you actually like it doesn't it just make sense to keep notes about how you achieved the feat?

Any Notebook Will Work

My advice is to start out with a simple spiral bound notebook; 4x6, 6x9, 7x10 - something small and inexpensive. The gluten free gift if in the information not the container. Consider your first notebook a trial. As you keep the journal you'll discover different ways of organizing information and learn which lists you want to keep. You may even discover, like I did, that a combination of paper and web-based works best.

Keeping the notebook you all times is a good practice. At the least take it shopping with you and have it handy in the kitchen.

Some Things To Document In Your Gluten Free Journal

• list of your favorite baked goods you'd like to find a gluten free version of (my example = carrot cake)
• brands you like
• brands you don't like
• recipes you have tried and the outcome
• recipes you'd like to try and who recommended it
• information about the grain flours you enjoy and the ones you don't
• websites you've found with recipes you have actually used
• information about online ordering resources
• list of your favorite gluten free products

It's your journal, use it to record any and everything that will make eating gluten free simple and enjoyable.

A Gluten Free Gift Idea Worth Sharing

If you have a gluten free child or spouse share the journal idea with them. Writing about what you eat is a good exercise for everyone and especially useful for those of us living with intolerances and other food related issues. Reading your child's notes may help you both with shopping and gluten free cooking.