Last Updated on June 5, 2026 by Deliciously Organic Editor
2015 is here! I want to help you improve your health and make positive changes in the kitchen. A grain-free, nutrient-dense diet made a huge difference to my well being. I want to help you make the transition – and make it as stress-free as possible.
I know changing to a grain-free lifestyle can seem overwhelming, but with a few tricks (and solid recipes!) avoiding grains can actually simplify your cooking. Fewer total ingredients reduces work in the kitchen. That’s something we can all benefit from!
Here are my top 10 tips to ease into a grain-free lifestyle:
1. Grill or roast meats on the weekend to have in the fridge during the week. Grilled chicken, hamburger and other roasted meats can be shredded or chopped and tossed in a salad or packed for lunch. It’s a great way to get in some quick protein.
2. Use greens as a healthy wrap. Iceberg is my favorite lettuce to use as a wrap. It’s sturdy, crunchy and makes a great stand-in for bread or tortillas.
3. Make extra. I make double batches of recipes like soups, waffles, muffins, and casseroles each week. Always having some nutrient-dense foods on hand helps us avoid the temptation to eat out.
4. Fill your kitchen with lots of vegetables. When you don’t eat grains, you’ll eat a lot more vegetables – which is a great thing! Stock your fridge and pantry with your favorites.
5. Utilize the crock pot. Chicken or roast in a crock pot will become your new best friend. I make one of these recipes every week. Pair it with a salad and dinner is ready! The leftovers are great for salads or added to soups. I also love using the crock pot for breakfast casseroles and beans.
6. Eat leftovers. If you follow #3, you’ll have leftovers at least a few times a week. I purchased four insulated Thermoses a few years ago and they’ve been incredibly helpful for our entire family. We reheat leftovers in the morning and I send them with the kids and my husband to school and work.
7. Keep baking ingredients on hand. One of the reasons I love grain-free baking is you only need to keep a handful of ingredients around for impromptu baking. Here are the ingredients I always keep on hand:
Almond flour
Coconut flour
Arrowroot flour
Coconut sugar
Raw honey
Maple syrup
Unflavored grass-fed gelatin
8. Eat some saturated fat with every meal. I really can’t stress this enough. Real, natural saturated fats help the body assimilate nutrients, satiate you so you don’t overeat and help reduce inflammation. Here’s a great place to information about the healthy properties of saturated fats . I keep coconut oil, unsalted butter, palm shortening, organic lard, and ghee in my pantry and fridge for cooking and baking.
9. Shop Smart. I recently discovered Thrive Market and I’m incredibly excited! Thrive Market offers real food at wholesale prices and ships it to your doorstep (think Whole Foods + Costco online). You can search by your dietary restrictions like paleo, gluten-free, raw, etc.
The first month is free, all orders over $49 qualify for free shipping, and after the first month it’s an annual $59.95. I think you’ll be shocked at the great prices. This service is going to help my family save quite a bit on our grocery bill!
10. Purchase The Grain-Free Family Table. My new cookbook contains over 125 recipes (over 70% aren’t published on my website) and I filled the book with tips and ideas to help your family eat a nutrient-dense diet.
How can I learn more about the steps I can take for thyroid disease?
I have four fantastic options for you!
- To download my 50 of my top tips to support the thyroid naturally, tap here. I’ll also send you an educational email every few days to help you learn how to support your body naturally.
- If you’d like to learn from first steps you can take to help support your thyroid, check out my class, “5 Keys to Thyroid Hormone Balance”. It’s just 45 minutes and I promise you’ll learn something new!
- If you’re looking for a step-by-step plan for Hashimoto’s that truly works (no more piecing together info!), check out my 90-Day Thyroid Reset Program.
- Book a consult with me for one-on-one help. Here’s info about what working with me looks like.
If I am not celiac and do not have non-celiac issues with gluten, is there a reason to go completely grain free? I’m curious because this seems to now be a very popular way to eat now. I have been eating less grain, but there are some recipes where one cannot sub veggies for grains (such as ones like the chicken enchilada casserole I ate for lunch today that require tortillas). The basic question is, is going grain free healthier for everyone?
There are grain free alternatives in every recipe. Some of them use coconut flour based substitutions. We often use zucchini noodles or I’ve heard of plantain chips with nachos. I’m pretty sure Against All Grain has an enchilada recipe. Look it up! It made a huge difference in my health when I finally went completely grain-free!
Carrie one only needs to look at your pictures from 2008 to 2014 to see what a difference it makes for you. I am on my path to healing and cannot wait till I reach there. Thanks again for all your help. P.S. Google coconut flat breads…good recipes out there that help with sandwiches or a bread craving.
Thank you! I’m so glad to hear you are on a similar journey! 🙂
Hello I am a very confused consumer my doctor has advised me to be on a dairy free and grain free eating lifestyle Not just gluten but all grains. I have a lot of inflammation in my body and I need to get it under control I am very confused as to what to eat I am a picky eater I do not like certain things and I prefer not to eat if I have to eat those things.I like a few vegetables I’ll eat chicken and some turkey little bit of beef no fish can’t have any dairy nothing from a cow please help a im at a loss. I do not eat peppers or squash or tomatoes or beets or Vegas like that
My cookbook will help! –> https://amzn.to/2SeFStG
No. Grain free is a fad. Eat anything you want in moderation and you should be fine.
It’s actually a very good idea for the 35 million people who are diabetic or pre-diabetic — no matter how organic or fresh, grains — which are generally simple carbs — raise your insulin levels. Even in moderation, grains and simple carbs can lead to further hits to your system, leading to the myriad of complications that are in a diabetic’s future: liver damage, eye damage, nerve damage, pancreatic shutdown. So, yeah — you can call it a fad, but it would be wise for millions people, whose doctors don’t really learn what it takes to manage this disease. If you’d like to learn more, read The End of Diabetes by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.
If you don’t struggle with any health issues then traditionally prepared grains can be a part of a healthy diet. I have been focusing on teaching how to eat a grain-free, nutrient dense diet because it made such a huge difference in my health and this kind of diet can also help others who are dealing with inflammation. Here’s a post about how to properly prepare grains. http://nourishedkitchen.com/soaking-grains-nuts-legumes/
And, I’ve got a grain-free Chicken Verde enchilada recipe in my new book. I think you’ll like it! 🙂
I don’t have health problems but going grain and sugar free has significantly made the difference in losing and then maintaining my right weight. I was doing the usual after age 50 gain weight problem. I couldn’t eat “anything in moderation”. I always ate too much. It’s like telling an alcoholic to just drink in moderation!
The main reason to go grain free is because grains contain very little micronutriants while being very carb heavy. A lack of micronutrients in your food stimulates your body to want to eat more. If the grains are what are available, you will eat more of them and just feed the cycle of eating too many calories without enough micronutrients. Also, if you’re over feeding on grains then you’re also triggering a heavy insulin response which over time is what leads people to develop diabetes. This doesn’t just apply to gluten grains either, corn is a huge contributor to this issue. There are also studies that are finding that the possible reason meat proteins have been shown to cause people to develop cancer isn’t because meat is because of grains displacing vegetables from the diet, particularly green vegetables.
It’s been proven to help lessen tooth decay in studies with the proper minerals and vitamins.
http://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/how-to-stop-tooth-decay
I received the Grain Free Family Table for Christmas. Would love to have access to your two week meal plans and grocery list.
Write us over at info@deliciouslyorganic.net and we can help you out. 🙂
Couldn’t agree more, especially with #5 and #10!! Wishing you and your family a Happy Healthy New Year! I’ll definitely be sharing this via social media this week! xo
Leave it to you to think about grilling all your meat for the week on the weekend. You are the reason for my success in the kitchen. Can’t wait to meet you next week!
Oh man! I just ordered the cookbook last week! Wish I had waited! Thanks for the great tips!
You can still get the meal plans! Clock on the link above and fill out the form. If you have any issues, write us over at info@deliciouslyorganic.net and we will help you out. Thanks!
Hi, Carrie
I’m going thru a horrible time i have Hashimotos Thyroiditis & purchased almond butter because i thought i read it was on a Paleo diet. Now it isn’t. I am just getting started eating grain free would really luv some more input & prayers. Luv your site Carrie & so glad i found it.
Sorry for the delayed response. I was traveling last week. Almond butter is on the Paleo diet, so no need to worry about that one. 🙂 I think my cookbook – The Grain-Free Family Table would be a huge help to you. It’s all of my best advice and info consolidated into one book! http://amzn.to/1lsXvWb
It’s peanut butter that’s not considered Paleo because peanuts are legumes like lentils and beans while almonds are actual tree nuts which are considered Paleo.
Hello Carrie, To say the least, I’m very excited about your new book. I’ve recently discovered your site and noticed that I look just like your 2008 photo. I too suffer from thyroid disease, IBS, and more recently, eczema. I’m thankful I do not have the migraines. I’m going to be using your new book as a tool to help me overcome these health issues. Excited to get started, your book arrives on 1/5. I’m so glad I found you. Happy New Year & Thank You!!!
I need some help with this. We already eat gluten-free due to sensitivities. But, we also have tree nut allergies. So, my problem is that my husband has severe arthritis, and we want to use diet to help combat this, but one of a big substitutions is tree nuts and tree nut flours. Is there any other thing we can use to substitute? We are just starting to cut out sugar, and that means minimizing the rice flours that we use. AHHH, there are so many things to think about!!!
WHOA!!! This is my first time seeing Thrive and WOW! I’m really impressed with the prices! I love Amazon Prime for staples, but they have a very limited selection on the specialty-ish (especially the gluten free pastas, etc.) This looks like just what I need! Thanks for sharing!
(I realize that this sounds like an advertisement for Thrive, but I’m really just this excited. Anything that keeps me from more trips to the grocery store and lets me have exactly the brands/items I want is pretty darn awesome!)
Hi, thank you for the recipes for coffee creamer. Do you mean coconut milk in a can ? Or box ?
Thanks,
Marcia Hull
Canned coconut milk works the best.
I agree with Tammy. I’ve been grain free a week and I honestly feel less bloated and have more energy. I also do not eat red meat or pork, so many of these recipes do not work for me. However, I have found alternatives and am increasingly happy with my nutrition. Thankfully, I enjoy 90& of vegetables and fruits. I took a Nutrition class in college and research constantly. Change your eating patterns to fit what works best for you. Don’t let anyone sway your beliefs!
Hi, Thank you for sharing all your wonderful recipes and story with others. I am trying to go on a grain free diet as I am gluten intolerant and also have alot of astma and reflux. I am trying to find recpies which do not use nut flours, specifially almond and coconut , as I have reacted to them to make muffins, biscuits etc. Does your new cookbook include any recipes that would work to do this? I have been thinking of buying it, but want to avoid these flours.
Thanks,
Sandra
I have a free meal plan subscription after purchasing the cookbook, but I can’t access it. Not sure what I’m doing wrong. Where do I get help? LOVE the cookbook!
Thank!
Gerri
Write us over at: info@delociouslyorganic.net and we will take care of you!
Thank you so much for sharing your stories and the wonderful recipes. I LOVE your cookbook! I got it from a local book store last week. Will you still give an access to the free meal plans?
This is very helpful! It’s been sitting in my email for a month and I totally missed it! Going to share it with my peeps now! 🙂
Hi Carrie, I came across your new book on Amazon today. I am currently reading William Davis’ books. He has a cookbook of 30 min recipes which seems to be very well received. I am 78 3/4 years and live with a lot of pain due to scoliosis, sciatica; I do have difficulty if I have to stand too long so his cookbook is capturing my attention. I am checking it out from the library.
How time consuming are your recipes? Also, since there is only me, I want recipes that can be frozen.
Thanks for what I’ve seen so far.. Sincerely, Sandra
Many of the recipes can be made in about 30 minutes. Of course, there are some fancier recipes that require a bit more time. Aside from the salads, almost all of the recipes can be frozen (soups, breads, muffins, biscuits, casseroles, etc.)
I’ve never heard of grain free diets? Are they heavy in meat and dairy?
They don’t have to be, although I did use quite a bit of healthy saturated fats and pastured meats to help support my system while recovering from Hashimoto’s Disease.
Hello Carrie,
I discovered grain free eating after researching ways to heal my persistent knee pain and looking how to change our diets to help heal my son’s dental issues. Anyway, I have cooked a couple of your recipes, the Teriyaki Salmon with Cauliflower Rice and the Pad Thai. Both were easy to prepare with not a lot of hard to find crazy ingredients. I find everything right at my local organic market where I already shopped. My question is which meal plan is right for me? I am interested in going grain free for the reasons I stated, to reduce/eliminate inflammation on my knees and joints, but want to know if I should do paleo or grain free? They seem very similar. Can you help?
If you need to avoid dairy and legumes, then the Paleo meal plans would be ideal. If you don’t need to avoid dairy and legumes, then I recommend the Grain-Free plans.
What would you recommend for someone who is Celiac, with a latex allergy that reacts to a variety of latex cross-reactive foods and who has variant PKU? I can’t eat anything cooked on an open flame, can’t tolerate leftovers, and latex cross-reactive foods I have to avoid: can’t eat these raw, can eat them cooked: apples, bananas, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes or cherries; can’t eat these at all: jicama, agave, passion fruit or almonds.
I would start with the GAPS diet. This diet specifically addresses healing the gut and helping to reduce food intolerances. Here’s a link to a post my nutritionist wrote on this topic: https://deliciouslyorganic.net/the-gaps-diet/
When I eat a grain-free meal I tend to feel hungry, or less energetic, or less grounded. (Sample Meal: sardines, avocado, sprouts. Or: celery, soaked sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, cashews.). When I gave in and added sprouted corn tortillas, I felt better. Thoughts? Doctor says I have hypothyroid, although I have virtually no symptoms. Starting to have arthritis. Thanks.
As someone who suffers with IBS and BFS twitching I’ve noticed a great reduction in all of these symptoms by going gluten-free and then eventually grain free. For me, I think a lot of this had to do with sugars and how grains affect the gut.
Hi Carrie! I’ve so enjoyed your website and have found so many helpful tips and recipes. Thanks for all your hard work compiling these articles and recipes! I have had Hashimoto’s for about 8 yrs and have experienced more serious symptoms the last 3 due to stress and a big move for our family. I have been gluten free for 4 yrs (oh my!!) and that has made a huge difference in my symptoms. I have also avoided rice and most corn products for a few years. And no coffee as of December 1. I drink home made Kombucha weekly, as well as Kefir milk from the store. I take probiotics daily. And I am on medication for my Hasitmoto’s. I have considered trying to reverse Hashi’s but feel I am too far along. I have recently stopped eating all grains (4 wks ago) but don’t notice any benefits. I find I am hungry all the time, exhausted from all the extra meal planning, shopping and cooking and overall frustrated! I have three children and a hungry husband to cook for as well – all of whom have been an amazing support to me! I am wondering how long you would recommend staying off grains to notice a difference and then how do I re-introduce the grains after being off them for a period of time?
I apologize for my delayed response. I somehow missed your comment. It’s hard to say without knowing your full health history, but in general, I would recommend going grain-free for at least 6-12 months and when you see your symptoms dissipate and your labs move in the right direction, you can often take steps to slowly add back some properly prepared grains (I usually start with soaked brown rice first and then try fermented sourdough).
This all sounds great! I truly believe in this, my daughter has had inflammation issues and Doctors calling it this autoimmune JIA Arthritis.