Each year thousands make a major lifestyle change and start to eat gluten-free. The reasons why vary. Some think it's a healthier way to live while it becomes a necessity for others who have been diagnosed with celiac disease. At first it looks like you can no longer enjoy some of your favorite comfort foods like paste, pizza and cookies. We've come a long way since the early days of gluten free living. There are now thousands of products and many thousand gluten-free recipes out there for you to enjoy. Here's one of my favorites, for a delicious gluten free oatmeal cookie.

Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/4 cup table sugar

• 1/2 tsp vanilla

• 3/4 cups gluten free flour

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• dash of salt

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1 large egg

• 1/2 tsp xanthan gum

• 1 1/2 cups gluten free oats

• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Soften the butter on the counter so it will be easier to work with. Get out a large bowl. Add the butter and both types of sugar to it and use a hand-mixer to cream everything together. Next it's time to beat in the egg and vanilla. Be sure to keep mixing until everything is smooth and well combined.

Get out a bowl and add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt. Give those dry ingredients a good stir, then work it into the egg mixture. Add the oats and then the raisins (if you are using them) to the batter and stir until they are well mixed in.

Line some cookie sheets with parchment paper and drop the cookie batter on, about one tablespoon at a time. I like to work with two large spoons to do this, but a melon scooper or small ice cream scooper work as well.

You should bake these oatmeal cookies a good ten minutes. A golden brown color will let you know that it's time to take the oatmeal cookies out of the oven. Cool them a bit, then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling. The cool cookies can then be stored in an airtight container.

You should end up with about 24 cookies.

Of course you don't have to bake all your cookies and other gluten-free treats from scratch. You can get all kinds of baking mixes and even finished gluten free products at local grocery stores and online at websites that specialize in gluten-free products. They are always a good alternative. You can even find some gluten-free cookies, already baked and everything that taste pretty good.

In short, you do not have to give up on your favorite treats when you have to switch to eating gluten free.