Archives for August 2013

My Top 3 Rules For Dining Out

Dining OutA few months ago, my husband bought a book called “Younger Next Year”.

(The title alone is intriguing).

He took it along on our vacation to Hawaii this past June, and read it cover to cover.

Chapter 3 was titled “How’s Your Wife?”

What the authors were getting at was whether or not your spouse, or significant other was also on board with any lifestyle changes you might be contemplating.

To drive home their point, they were strongly recommending that your partner in life also read the book.

So I did!

Because really, when you think about it, change is hard enough – but if we don’t have the support of our loved ones, it can be that much harder, right?

The book focused mostly on exercise and lifestyle changes, taking an extensive look at the science behind human behavior.

(The authors, Chris Crowley & Henry S. Lodge M.D., have also written a companion book for women – “Younger Next Year for Women” – which you can be sure is next on my list).

Of course, I especially enjoyed the chapters on food!

Even though being gluten-free wasn’t part of the conversation, it didn’t matter.

That’s because the rules sometimes apply across the board – regardless.

And when it comes to eating sensibly, well, that’s something that most of us can benefit from. In any case, their advice for dining out was spot on, which is how I came up with my own, slightly altered version:

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A Totally Awesome, Dairy-Free “Yogurt”

Breakfast ParfaitSome recipes are a happy accident.

And today’s awesome Yogurt is one of them!

I call it yogurt because that’s exactly what it tastes like – even though it contains no dairy, or starter and doesn’t require any fancy equipment like one of those yogurt makers.

So, how did this recipe come about?

Well, what I refer to as a happy accident was a simple case of a smoothie recipe that was a bit too thick – it wasn’t something I couldn’t even drink.

In fact, it was so rich, thick and creamy, that eating it with a spoon was the only option. Yum.

With the first bite, I knew right away that I was onto something.

The two secret ingredients are coconut milk and creamy avocado. (Trust me, this is a wicked combination!)

And the wonderful, yogurt-like tang comes from frozen mango and honey.

It’s really that simple!

My imagination went a step further as a leafed through the luscious-sounding recipes in Kris Carr’s “Crazy, Sexy Kitchen”.

(Note:  Even though she caters to a mostly vegan crowd, that doesn’t mean you won’t benefit from these amazing recipes created by Chef Chad Sarno and others.

At least, I don’t let minor details like that keep me from trying new things).

After drooling over some of the photos – things like French Toast (which I love & haven’t had in years) or a Breakfast Scramble – what really caught my attention was the Breakfast Parfait.

There was just one small problem.

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The ABC’s of Gluten-Free Bread, cont’d

BreadLast week, we explored a couple of options for living a fabulous gluten-free life, with a ready supply of bread.

Those options, of course, are to either purchase your bread, fresh off the shelf – or give it up entirely.

However, not too many of us are ready to do the latter.

That’s why I think the best option – even it it’s a bit more challenging – is to simply:

 

Bake Your Own

If you’re feeling ambitious, or adventurous – or a little of both – then by all means why not try your hand at baking your own gluten-free bread?

Sound daunting?

The best part about baking gluten-free bread is that there is NO kneading, and it doesn’t take long to rise.

I actually prefer to bake my own gluten-free bread.

Because that way, I know exactly what’s in it.

I’ve baked my own gluten-free bread many times, and it takes maybe two hours, tops – start to finish!

If you decide to go this route, the first thing you’ll need is a good recipe and you’ll find numerous resources online, or at your local bookstore.

My favorite recipes come from sites like Whole Life Nutrition or The Gluten-Free Goddess.

And don’t overlook The Gluten-Free Girl!

Personally, I think a good quality mixer is essential, but not everyone would agree.

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The ABC’s of Gluten-Free Bread

CautionlBread has gotten a bad rap lately.

Many of the most popular diets – weight loss and otherwise – favor the elimination of bread completely, in place of whole grains, nuts and seeds, and plenty of vegetables and fruit.

If we look at the Paleo diet, The Virgin Diet, or Dr. Mark Hyman’s Blood Sugar Solution  – each of these diets eliminates gluten simply by default.

Plus, they go a step further – advising us to avoid any and all baked goods, breads, cookies and crackers that rely on highly processed flours.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

The science behind this is that the standard American diet contains way more carbohydrates than the average person needs.

These abundant carbohydrates – or carbs – are converted to sugars in our body, which for many of us leads to weight gain and all kinds of health issues.

But the truth is, we live in a carb based society.

If you think about the typical foods you eat on any given day, chances are the list includes bread, crackers, and any manner of baked goods along with whole grains and sugar.

However, if you’re just starting out with the gluten-free lifestyle, this may not be where you want to begin.

In fact, you might be wondering  – where does it all end?

Isn’t it enough that you’ve had to give up gluten, or dairy, or eggs?

What’s a person to do?

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George Vanderbilt’s #1 Decorating Tip

Biltmore HouseThis week, I’m digressing a bit into one of my other passions – interior design and the environment.

(For anyone who doesn’t know this about me, I’m not only a Health and Wellness coach – but also an Interior Designer, which explains my profound interest in how our environments impact us on a day to day basis!)

So, during this week’s trip to Asheville, NC , I was truly delighted to re-visit the Biltmore Estate, after roughly a 4 year absence.

Biltmore House, in case you didn’t know, is the famous mansion built in 1895 by George Vanderbilt – one of the wealthiest families in our nation at the turn of the 20th century.

(The American equivalent to Downton Abbey, if you will).

For George Vanderbilt, building his mansion was an opportunity to celebrate his passion for Art, Literature & Horticulture.

Even so, his guide to decorating the mansion was quite simple.

He did not have a decorator.

Nor did he have the equivalent of today’s interior designer.

So, what was his secret?

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