The Ultimate Gluten-Free Guide to a Delicious and Energised Polish Christmas
Barbara Wicks
Nutritional Therapist and Dynamic Eating Psychology Health Coach / Helping female professionals get their sparkle back after burnout, chronic fatigue and depression.
The holiday season is here, which for many means indulging in delicious but not-so-healthy treats.
If you have dietary restrictions like being gluten-free, it can feel even more challenging to embrace festive flavours.
As someone of Polish heritage, I know how important it is to keep our cultural traditions alive, especially when it comes to food. That's why I'm sharing my tips for a gluten-free Polish style Christmas that will have you feeling energised rather than weighed down.
Being a nutritional therapist for nearly 20 years, I recommended going gluten free to countless clients in the past to see if some of the symptoms they were experiencing might have been related to a food intolerance, which in many cases they were.
And I myself went gluten free too in 2015, after a chronic fatigue diagnosis, which had me looking at all aspects of my health and diet in a lot of detail to find the strategies that might help me recover quicker.
And after some experimentation over a period of time I was able to confirm that gluten is definitely my kryptonite, which causes me to feel lethargic, bloated and not firing on all cylinders as far as my thinking and brain power are concerned either.
Anyway, back to my Radiant Christmas guide and its content.
Why Polish Style Christmas Spread?
Traditional Polish Christmas dishes are heavily rooted in wholesome, earthy flavours like mushrooms, sauerkraut, root vegetables and hearty grains. The good news? Many of these ingredients are naturally gluten-free!
As long as you stay away from wheat-based pierogi and focus on delicious mushroom soups, baked root veggies tossed in dill, and thick ruby-red barszcz (beet soup).
For a grain option, try buckwheat kasza (which is naturally gluten free ) instead of wheat-based kasha.
The same is also true for other traditional Polish Christmas recipes, many of which tend to contain wheat and / or gluten. With a few simple swaps, you can make them gluten-free friendly.
Simply substitute gluten-free flour blends for all-purpose flour in dishes like uszka (mushroom dumplings). For baked goods like makowiec (poppyseed cake) and piernik (gingerbread), use oat, almond or coconut flour or other suitable gluten free alternatives.
You may need to adjust other ingredients slightly, but the nostalgic flavours will be intact.
Polish Hospitality
Part of Polish Christmas is the warm hospitality and abundant food. As the host, make sure to have plenty of safe, gluten-free options for any guests with dietary needs. They'll appreciate the thoughtfulness!
If you're the guest, offer to bring a dish or two to share. That way, you know there will be something you can fully enjoy without worry.
Creating new holiday food traditions can be a difficult at times, especially if you feel like it is a betrayal of the traditions you grew up with, but it's important for feeling your best.
By putting a gluten-free spin on Polish classics, you can still indulge in all the cozy flavours of Polish Christmas food while avoiding ingredients that leave you feeling fatigued or uncomfortable.
Putting It All Together
I have cut out all the guesswork for you and created a beautiful gluten-free guide to some luscious traditional Polish Christmas foods, so that you can sample traditional Polish cuisine without worrying about your gut or brain rebelling as a result of it.
To get you free copy of my of my guide, simply go to:
About Barbara
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style," said Maya Angelou.
I embrace that life philosophy wholeheartedly too and try to encourage my clients to do the same. Take Action Now
PS. Don't let another day go by feeling less than your best. Take advantage of my second offer - your complimentary 30 minute Zoom chat and take the first step towards a healthier, happier you.
During our session, we'll:
- Discuss your current health challenges and goals
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To schedule your free consultation, please direct message me with your preferred dates and times, so that I can check my availability and book you in.