SCD-friendly flour alternatives

[Lexie]

I'm guessing nut flours and coconut flour are the only ones that are legal. I don't think my babe's allergic to any nuts, but I haven't had much and I haven't had it often, so there's no telling really. My husband is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, but I'm not sure how much of it may just be cross-contamination. I'd like to find a good source of various nuts for him to test. He isn't so severely allergic that he needs an epi pen and he knows his limit. Just to be safe, I got some organic coconut flour in hopes of making stuff we can all eat together.

I'd just like to get him off wheat and apparently coconut is my only real choice. I would have liked to try almond flour and milk since I've heard good things about both, but I'd need to test him with almonds first. And it may be too dificult to find a good source even if it's just a matter of cross-contamination affecting him.

Has anyone used any of these flours? Any advice or just useful information?

[Wonder-Full]

Sorry no advice about using any I haven't delved into flour alternatives yet as they are a bit expensive and I'm not much into baking anyhow. Actually, I do have a bag of LSA mix (linseed, sesame, almond) which I sprinkle onto yoghurt, or mix with egg and make cookies or add to thicken up vege mash for making patties, but that's my limit. I do intend on making some almond milk, and was disappointed no almonds arrived with our latest co-op order. My kids eat through quite a few nuts and nut butter, so it's certainly a staple in other forms.

[Lexie]

Do you have a special appliance for the milk? Or just going to use the good old blender?

[Wonder-Full]

I was just going to use a blender, the recipes I have seen online seem really simple.

[Lexie]

Yeah, I think I've just been trying to justify getting something fancy like the SoyQuick...

[Serephina]

Nut and seed flours would be the only legal ones I would think. If you can find a source of contamination free nuts it's easy enough to just whizz them up in the food processor to make nut flour.

I haven't tried coconut but I have used almond, pecan and hazelnut meal in baking. I wouldn't use LSA for anything heated because of the flaxseeds.

[Lexie]

Oh, I thought flax wasn't allowed at all.

[Wonder-Full]

The GAPS book doesn't mention flax seeds specifically, but seeds in general are ok if there is no diarhoea.

The SCD site does say that flax seeds aren't recommended in the early days of the diet but doesn't specifically say absolutely not to.

From Elaine: "lignin is found when the whole seed (and its stiff coat) are ground up. I think it is harmful for people just starting out on SCD. I think some bacteria feast nicely on lignin - it is tough like bark."
So I think i'm ok with it and it doesn't react with DS.

I have been looking into the heated flax seed issue and it seems there is conflicted advice about it - ok to baked temperatures. Hmmm, I only occasionally use it as it is about $15 for 500gms, so not something I use that much heated. DS mostly has it sprinkled on his yoghurt.

[Lexie]

Ahh, good to know then...cause I have a lot of flax left.

You know, the only time I used it with heat was when I was making vegan ice cream. But I filtered out the actual seeds and just used the hot water it soaked in briefly. I don't know if that's good or bad...but I haven't used it like that in years.

[magical1]

quinoa flour? have you tried it... it's kinda nutty tasting. Haven't used it myself but had a cake the other day at a friends and it was lovely.

[Wonder-Full]

No, quinoa is no good either - about 60% starch apparently.

Quinoa's good though and it's going to be one of the first grains we bring back in...

[Lexie]

Hmm, I've never had it. Would have never imagined it had a nutty kind of flavor.

So you plan to reintroduce starches? I figured SCD was supposed to be for life.

[Wonder-Full]

Nope, not for life!

They suggest it being a diet for 2yrs-ish which gives the gut time to heal and then able to tolerate all foods again (apparently even coeliacs which my son is) are able to eat small amounts of gluten foods. I'm going to stick to it for 6mths at least while my son is on the steroids he's on and see if this helps him remain in remission once the drugs are tapered out of his system (and will probably remain on the diet for a bit longer while his immune system returns to normal and we heal any remaining damage in his gut when the drugs are gone).

[Lexie]

Ahh, well that seems reasonable. Never did care for wheat, and I love coconuts...so this is giving me an excuse to make some welcome changes... ;) I hope the flour works well.

[deesalie]

We use coconut flour ocassionally, but only for things like muffins, sweet loaves etc. It is absolutely delicious, but it's a little more crumbly than other flours. I would recommend it though, it's got a lovely taste & texture

[Lexie]

Thanks for that! Haven't tried it yet, but that makes me more hopeful. :)