I’ve recently become aware of the fact that more and more people around me are adopting a gluten-free diet. Unlike other popular restrictive diet crazes (low-carb, low-fat, etc.), going gluten-free is most often the result of doctor’s orders, and not an attempt to lose weight or live a healthier lifestyle. Several of the people I know have made this adjustment to combat a diagnosis of Celiac disease.  Others have tried it as a way to remedy mystery health symptoms that their doctors have not been able to identify as anything specific, such as frequent fatigue, stomach pain, and nausea. In either case, going gluten-free seems to have only positive results, as most of the people I’ve talked to started feeling better after being on the diet for only a few weeks.

Going gluten-free, however, is not as easy as pie. In fact, you can pretty much forget about pie if you’re nixing the gluten – at least the traditional recipes. It’s amazing how frequently gluten shows up in the ingredients of our favorite foods. Going gluten-free is a pretty radical adjustment for most people because there are so many things they are no longer able to eat. Pizza? Nope. Beer? Ha. Spaghetti? Fahgettaboudit! Pretty much anything that contains wheat, rye or barley is off limits if you’re gluten-free, and unfortunately these grains are very commonly used ingredients.

Luckily, many brands and restaurant chains have recognized the growing need for gluten-free foods, and have responded by creating special gluten-free products and menus. This includes many local St. Louis businesses in the food industry. Here are some of the St. Louis restaurants that are gluten-free friendly:

Pi - Delmar Loop, Central West End, Kirkwood

Gluten-free pizza crust is available upon request.

Sage - Soulard

Has gluten-free options, but they are not listed on the menu. Let your server know that you can’t have gluten, and he or she will tell you what is available.

Schlafly Bottleworks - Maplewood

Linguini Marinara with gluten-free noodles

Gluten-free Pesto Chicken Pasta

Redbridge Gluten-free Lager

Nachomama’s - Rock Hill

In-restaurant menu indicates all gluten free items including chalupas, a taco salad and rotisserie chicken.

BARcelona Tapas - Clayton

Has an extensive gluten-free menu.

Maggiano’s - Richmond Heights

Gluten-free pasta options prepared upon request.

In addition to the restaurant business taking notice of the necessity for gluten-free items, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Schnucks, and Dierbergs are all making sure that gluten-free foods and products are easily accessible in their stores.

For more information on gluten-free restaurants in St. Louis and other resources, check out these websites: Bi-State Celiac Support Group, Celiac Handbook Missouri Gluten-free Restaurant Guide, and Gluten-Free Registry.

Carlie is the Food and Drink Editor for Girls Guide. By day she is an educational textbook editor, and she moonlights as a foodie and barfly. You can email her at carlie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @carbirwin.