HOW TO: Choose A Gluten-Free And Dairy-Free Meal Delivery Service

Meal prep services have become commonplace today. It seems like everywhere you turn, there’s a new company offering healthy meals to fit your lifestyle. The bad news is that most of these companies tend to provide cookie cutter options with no real room for customization or personal needs.

While some of these meal prep companies offer well-rounded meal plans, few offer alternatives for certain diets—namely Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free.

According to clinical studies, medical researchers now believe 6% to 7% of the US population may have a gluten sensitivity issue. That’s almost 20 million people in America that may be allergic to gluten!

When it comes to dairy, the statistics are even more staggering. The National Institute of Health says that 65% of the world’s population suffers from a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy.

With such a staggering number of people suffering from these allergies, it’s surprising to hear that such few companies offer meal prep services catered to these individuals.

At Taylor Made Cuisine, we deliver prepared meals in Newport Beach and we strive to offer alternative meal options like Gluten-Free meals, so that you can live your best life by following a meal plan that's catered just for you!

So, let’s dive in and take a look at Gluten Intolerance, including what it is and what foods to look out for!

Gluten Intolerance: Symptoms and Foods to Look Out For

Since gluten intolerance is a fairly common problem, here are some symptoms you should look out for to determine if its affecting you:

1. Bloating: If your stomach feels swollen after eating, you may be gluten intolerant

2. Diarrhea/constipation: People with gluten intolerance tend to experience excessive inflammation in the small intestine after consuming gluten

3. Abdominal pain: The most common symptom found in nearly 80%+ of people with gluten intolerance

4. Headaches: Gluten intolerant people are more sensitive to headaches and migraines

5. Fatigue: If you feel extremely tired after consuming large amounts of gluten, you may have an allergy

TIP: Just because a restaurant lists their meals as Gluten-Free, it doesn’t always mean that you’re in the clear. In fact, a brand new 2019 study found that in 5,624 tests on 804 users, gluten was detected in 32% of foods labelled as gluten-free. These findings raise concerns about whether following a Gluten-Free diet while eating out is possible. Your best option might be a Gluten-Free meal delivery service like Taylor Made Cuisine, instead of rolling the dice and eating out!

Foods to Look Out For That Contain Gluten

If you think you might be allergic to gluten, here are some common foods to avoid:

• Pastas

• Breads

• Pastries

• Baked goods

• Cereals

• Breakfast foods

Gluten-Free Meal Options

At Taylor Made Cuisine, we are proud to offer a plethora of healthy Gluten-Free menu options that taste great!. In fact, about 95% of all of our meal prep menu items are Gluten-Free, including, but not limited to:

• BBQ chicken

• Beef and broccoli

• Beef chili

• Brazilian-style skirt steak

• Enchilada chicken

• Mixed veggies

• Brussels sprouts

• Grilled fajita peppers and onions

And so much more! Gluten allergies don’t have to take over your life. At Taylor Made Cuisine we offer Gluten-Free options so you can stop worrying about cooking, and focus on more important things in your life - like your health!

Lactose Intolerance: Symptoms and Foods to Look Out For

Lactose is a type of sugar found naturally in the milk of most mammals. Although milk can provide valuable vitamins and nutrients to infants—most adults don’t need it.

As humans, we possess an enzyme known as lactase, which helps to break down lactose based products for digestion. Although infants carry high amounts of this enzyme, it generally declines as we age.

As we’ve discussed, two-thirds of all adults don’t produce the lactase enzyme resulting in a potential case of lactose intolerance.

Here are some common symptoms if you think you’re suffering from lactose intolerance:

1. Stomach pain: if the body is unable to break down lactose, it simply moves through the gut and into the colon

2. Diarrhea: lactose intolerance can cause diarrhea or an increase in the frequency, liquidity or volume of stool

3. Increased gas: may be caused lactose fermentation

4. Constipation: caused by an increase in methane production in the colon

Although many food products contain dairy, the good news is there are alternative options out there. At Taylor Made Cuisine we provide a number of dairy-free menu items you wouldn’t normally find at restaurants and grocery stores such as: dairy-free cookies, pastries, and more.

Foods to Look Out For That Contain Lactose

If you’re lactose intolerant, you should avoid all products containing lactose including:

• Milk

• Cheeses

• Buttermilk

• Cheese spreads

• Creams

• Chocolate

• Ice cream 

• Sour cream

• Cream cheese 

• Party dips

Lactose intolerance affects a large portion of the world. So, choosing a meal prep delivery service in Newport Beach that offers dairy-free meal options should be of the utmost importance for you.

P.S. If you’re looking to take it a step further, we offer the highest-quality meal prep options in Orange County. We specialize in low FODMAP meal delivery, keto meal delivery, vegan meal delivery, pescatarian meal prep and vegetarian meal prep. We are the #1 catering company in Orange County, & we deliver customized, fresh meals throughout Los Angeles County.