The biggest question I’ve had to answer myself and others after trying a grain-free diet for a month is – “Why did we quit?”
The fact was, we felt great, liked the food, and knew this was good for our bodies. Why did we go back to eating grain (and raw milk, some sweeteners, and other stuff we’d cut out)? Here’s the three reasons:
1. Financial
Cutting out grains means increasing your intake of more expensive foods like meat, veggies, and nuts. I did my best to be frugal by…
- choosing chicken over fish
- making my own yogurt, kefir, and even some butter
- buying things like nuts and coconut oil in bulk
…but the simple fact was, we could not afford the increased food costs beyond the 3-week mark, and had to go back to a diet that included the cheaper component of grains.
Estimated two week's worth of produce on GAPS
I have heard (but can’t for the life of google find the link) that GAPS can increase your grocery budget 30%. Can you afford the GAPS diet? I believe Cara puts this question into perspective…
“The cost of food on the GAPS diet is often a shock- adding up the cost of meat alone is enough to make frugal grocery store shoppers twitch. There’s no doubt about it, grains are cheap fillers to round out meals and fill up bellies. I look at GAPS as being a medically necessary diet for my family. If a prescription medication could do all of what GAPS does, with no side effects, I know I would find a way to pay $200/month for this ‘medication’. In the same way, I see the money spent on food as an investment into my children’s health- money spent on the GAPS diet is money that isn’t spent on doctor’s visits, missed work due to health issues, tutors, adaptive equipment, and prescription medications.” – Cara at Health, Home, and Happiness (the full post is excellent GAPS info!)
We see our food budget as an investment in our family’s present and future health. As we can afford it, I will continue to implement as much nutrient dense foods as possible. Currently, I’m resting in the fact that our children do not have allergies or illnesses that require us to eat a diet we can’t afford. Which brings me to my next point…
2. Health
GAPS is specifically a diet to heal disease. As our family does not currently suffer from any allergies or on-going illnesses, I did not feel it was necessary to continue on the diet once we had accomplished our goals. The fact that we had very little die-off and no food sensitivities came to the surface indicated to me that our normal diet (based on the principles of the Weston A Price foundation) was working well for us.
3. Biblical
In the New Testament, Jesus calls himself the Bread of Life. I have a hard time believing that Christ would compare himself to something He created that we weren’t supposed to partake of. I believe grains, when prepared properly, can be a regular part of our diet, just as it was in Biblical times. The key is making sure our gut is healthy enough to digest grains, and then to make sure they are soaked, fermented, sprouted, or otherwise prepared for ease of digestion.
To hear how we actually felt on a grain-free diet, check out this post.
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Best of all, she said I could start having bread again – ever other day, and only if I make it myself, pre-soaking the grain. I am so excited – I am planning my first baking in months – my favorite Peach Almond Muffins.
I'm Trina, and I'm so glad you've stopped by. Here in this space we encourage each other to Nourish our Families, Celebrate the Beauty, and Choose to Thrive. See you in the comments.... 
