Just Like Oprah, I Love Bread!

I cannot deny it: I love bread. Toast with peanut butter has been my go-to breakfast for a long time. But as I am now learning, both of these foods can cause inflammation in my body. 

So what’s a bread-loving girl to do? Look for substitutes that taste as close to the originals as possible, that’s what.

I spent a lot of time researching the different brands of prepackaged gluten-free bread. I finally came to the conclusion that I needed to make my own. 

Several years ago, I made bread from scratch at least once a week. That was before I was diagnosed with lupus and all the other diseases that came along with it. 

Now, when I want fresh bread, I use a bread maker and a mix. I still get a great-tasting loaf of bread, without standing in the kitchen mixing and measuring.

After reading reviews for several brands, I chose Pamela’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bread Mix. It has easy dump-and-go directions, which is exactly what I was looking for. I chose the single-loaf package for this experiment, but it is also available in bulk packages. 

Fresh gluten-free bread from a mix. (Photo by Darla Gay)

I ordered online, so I had to wait two whole days for it to arrive. It came today and I was like a kid at Christmas — I couldn’t wait to get started! I carefully measured everything and dumped it into the bread maker. My machine takes three to four hours to make a 2-pound loaf of bread. And then they want you to let it cool before you cut it. Yeah, that ain’t gonna happen. 

I love hot bread, spread with real butter. But on my new diet, I am supposed to avoid all types of dairy, including my beloved butter. 

According to The Spruce Eats, a cooking resource, several nondairy butter substitutes are available. I may try one of them someday, but for now, I’m sticking to my real butter. 

Rather than trying to change everything at once, I’m making changes one at a time. This isn’t a short-term fad diet, but a new lifestyle for me. I need to make changes that I can live with the rest of my life. But right now, I need to go have a slice of hot bread with plenty of butter. 

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Note: Lupus News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Lupus News Today, or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to lupus.