Archives for June 2013

Happy 4th Of July!

IMG_0542Many of us are taking time away from our busy schedules this week, to celebrate the 4th. of July.

Whether barbecues or fireworks are your thing – the festivities usually mean that summer is now in full swing!

So, real quick, I wanted to share a few easy tips for your holiday celebration – so you can enjoy your summertime barbecues without feeling left out.

(That’s the worst place to be).

First, if you’re wondering where to find gluten-free hamburger and hotdog buns, check out these suggestions:

*Of course, I can’t offer guarantees, but if you order today, chances are good you’ll have these in time for the 4th! (Check with the bakery to find out for sure).

Or – grab a bag of gluten-free hotdog or hamburger buns at your local grocer.

Second, if you find yourself sharing a summertime grill with gluten-loving family members or friends, be sure to save a safe spot on the grill for yourself – so your food won’t be contaminated from things like pesky bread crumbs.

Third, for an easy summertime dessert that takes it’s inspiration from the 4th of July colors [Read more…]

Does Your Kitchen Need A Makeover?

fried eggDoes this sound like you?

You’ve recently eliminated all gluten from your diet, and you’re feeling so much better.

You want that great feeling to last – well, forever.

A clean, healthy diet is certainly the easiest and quickest way to support your health.

So, kudos to you for coming this far!

What you may not realize is that there are other ways your kitchen could be undermining your best efforts.

Yes, this goes beyond food and what you might be eating on a daily basis.

Here’s another way of looking at it.

There are actually three different ways that foreign substances enter our bodies:

  • We ingest them
  • We breathe them
  • We accumulate them on our skin

 So, why should you be concerned?

Well, if you’re dealing with any health issues whatsoever – in addition to your food sensitivities – then this is definitely something you want to consider.

For example:

  • Weight Gain
  • Behavioral problems in children
  • Anxiety or Depression

Truth be told, there are numerous household and environmental chemicals that we’re exposed to every day.

(If you’ve already downloaded your copy of the HEALTHY AGING TOOLKIT, you’re already a step ahead – good for you!)

[Read more…]

How to Customize Your Diet in 3 Easy Steps

Almonds and avocado slicesFirst of all, here’s the good news:

Even before you became gluten-free or learned you had food allergies, you were already customizing your diet.

You did this every time you decided there was a food you didn’t like!

Don’t care for fish?

Spinach?

No problem.

(When I was growing up the culprit was oranges). 

Most of the time, you can easily choose not to eat what you don’t like.

(Unless your parents are telling you otherwise)

We’ve all done this, right?

The challenge, then, is when you are given a specific medical diagnosis – be it Celiac Disease, or a food allergy that requires a special diet.

In other words, your choices have now been taken away – or, at least, that’s how your brain perceive it.

What seems like a logical solution becomes, instead – a threat!

 (Our brains don’t like to feel threatened, either).

“What do you mean I can no longer order my favorite pizza?”

“What do you mean I can no longer eat eggs for breakfast?”

Are you kidding me?!

You become defensive, angry.

After all, there’s a big difference between deciding for yourself what you like or don’t like – versus being told what to eat.

[Read more…]

How To Make Your Own Vanilla Extract

Coffee Vanilla Latte with two tied beans in tall glass on hessiaOkay, you might be wondering why you’d even want to do that.

After all, can’t you go to any grocery store and snatch a bottle of vanilla extract off the shelf?

Already prepared and manufactured?

And isn’t it gluten-free?

And yes, the answer to each of those questions is likely “Yes”.

(Although you might want to call the manufacturer to see whether it’s indeed gluten-free).

So, the real issue here is Corn.

If you are sensitive to corn, or avoid it for any reason, please note that most extracts are made from alcohol.

And those alcohols are typically corn based.

When I stopped eating corn products several years ago, I was stumped by several things.

Including the fact there’s cornstarch in powdered sugar!

(I went through an entire holiday season with powdered sugar in almost every holiday treat I baked, and was totally clueless).

[Read more…]