EAT

How To Have A Healthy Halloween

October 25, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

Are you ready for Halloween?

While I’m not inclined to don a costume, or deck the house out with carved pumpkins and Halloween décor, I do like to prepare a festive sweet or two for the occasion.

(A gal needs to indulge once in a while).

Even so, I try to find healthier alternatives whenever possible – relying mostly on homemade goodies so I can explore different sweeteners and switch out ingredients as needed.

Of course, one could just as easily focus on savory treats the fit the Halloween theme.

How about a “Black and Orange” Salad – using Forbidden Rice and sweet potatoes?

Or, a nourishing bowl of soup served inside a hollowed out pumpkin?

While that’s all well and good, you’ll probably still want a little something sweet for dessert.

I know I would.

With that in mind, here are my suggestions for a healthy Halloween – so you can have your cake and eat it too!

Cut Back On Sugar

Sounds like an impossibility, doesn’t it?

And yet, for the unlucky few among us who have tested allergic to sugar (or, are super sensitive), this is an everyday reality – not just during Halloween, but all year long.

As it happens, there are many alternatives to refined sugar – things like honey, agave, coconut sugar, maple syrup, stevia and more.

(Agave, once real popular, has more recently fallen out of favor; you can check out this article to learn more).

Coffee, Tea or Chocolate?

October 18, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

There’s definitely a nip in the air lately.

With the weather getting cooler, and Halloween just around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot these days about things like chocolate – and hot drinks, in general.

Depending on my mood, I might opt for a mug of hot chocolate – dairy-free, of course – or a steaming cup of tea.

And while I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker, I do like a good, bracing cup of tea first thing in the morning, preferably a robust variety of green tea such as Hojicha or Gunpowder.

The names alone are part of the experience!

Regardless of whether you’re a tea or coffee drinker, chances are you’ve visited a local Starbuck’s on at least one occasion.

Perhaps it’s a regular part of your daily routine?

Of course, you could just as easily get your tea or coffee fix in the aisles of your local grocery store, which usually offer such a wide assortment of brands and flavors, it can be really hard to decide.

And – if you’re not careful – this is where being gluten-free presents just one more challenge, since any of these flavored brews just might be suspect.

Yes, you read that correctly – tea and coffee may not be gluten-free.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT Tagged With: chocolate, coffee, dairy-free, elixir, Food Babe, gluten-free, Replenish PDX, tea

3 Fun Facts About Your Brain

October 11, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

If you’re wondering what your brain has to do with your health, the answer is everything.

That’s because what you eat has a profound impact on your brain.

Period.

There’s no getting around it, and the outcome isn’t always positive. But’s that’s just how it is.

For example, a common complaint among people with Celiac Disease or food sensitivities is something we refer to as “Brain Fog”.

Brain Fog is when your mind feels sluggish and you can’t think clearly.

You literally feel like you’re in a fog, with a heavy cloud hanging over your head – just waiting for the skies to lift.

(This is a great example of what happens when you eat foods you are sensitive to, especially when your body can’t handle it).

Those who’ve never experienced Brain Fog sometimes have a hard time understanding what it feels like, but trust me – it’s very real.

The obvious solution is of, course, to stay away from those foods you are sensitive, or allergic to.

And by all means – stay away from gluten!

Here’s the funny thing, though. There’s a bit of a “catch-22” going on with your brain.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT Tagged With: autonomy, brain, certainty, empowerment, gluten-free, post-diagnosis

Are You Shooting Yourself In The Foot?

October 4, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

Have you ever accompanied a friend, or family member to a doctor’s appointment?

Last week, I did just that, in the role of official note taker.

As luck would have it, the discussion eventually came around to the subject of gluten; by reviewing some of the lab work and test results, the doctor made some key observations and suddenly announced that my friend was likely highly sensitive to gluten.

When I heard the word “gluten” my ears instantly perked up.

I couldn’t help it.

I suddenly found myself glued to every word the doctor was saying, and incredibly grateful for what proved to be a unique opportunity to hear his opinion.

I particularly loved the following analogy.

The doctor was comparing the human body to a used vehicle, traveling along the Road of Life.

Along the way, he said, we encounter many potholes – especially once we’ve reached a certain point in our lives.

And having an autoimmune disease like Celiac Disease, or gluten sensitivity, is one them.

The solution is simple, though.

Just like a car, our bodies need to be properly maintained and require the occasional tune-ups for dealing with those potholes – so that’s what we’re talking about here:

The occasional tune-up!

Understandably, the doctor was quite insistent about eliminating gluten from the diet – completely.

“Otherwise,” he said, “You are shooting yourself in the foot.”

5 Ways to Fine Tune Your Ingredients

September 20, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

Whether or not you are new to the gluten-free lifestyle, it’s easy to fall prey to less than wise food choices.

Perhaps even more surprising, you can follow a gluten-free diet religiously and still be eating poorly.

How is that possible?

Well, just because your diet is gluten-free – or vegan, vegetarian or something else entirely – it doesn’t mean your diet is healthy.

After all, temptation is everywhere.

And regardless of which diet you follow, processed, sugary foods are often pervasive.

However, fear not.

Below are some easy tips that could easily get you back on the right track.

Embrace Whole Foods

There is joy to be found in eating low on the food chain.

That means embracing the foods that come directly from the earth, with little to no processing.

In fact, that is the very definition of a whole food.

The fewer ingredients, the better off you will be.

Plus, you can be sure that none of these products contain gluten or any other suspect ingredients.

A Simple Summer Tomato Salad

September 6, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

I was lucky enough to spend a few relaxing days at our cabin this past weekend, enjoying the gorgeous weather and some much-needed time away from our usual routine.

We read, took long walks, and played Sudoku – and also enjoyed plenty of delicious food.

For many of us, the holiday weekend marks the end of summer as we slowly segue into Fall.

But, according to my calendar, summer isn’t officially over for several weeks.

While fresh produce is still abundant at the Farmer’s Market, tomatoes are something I like to take full advantage of this time of year.

As it happened, I had a surplus of tomatoes on hand this past weekend.

I wasn’t sure what to do with them, but the rustic country setting inspired me to keep things simple.

And that’s when – seemingly out of nowhere – I was suddenly reminded of my mother’s Tomato Salad.

Not only did I grow up with this salad as a summertime staple, but it was also a personal favorite.

And yet – I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten it!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT Tagged With: gluten-free, healthy, lemon, memories, mother, olive oil, summer, tomato salad

My Top 3 Rules For Dining Out

August 30, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

A 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:

A Totally Awesome, Dairy-Free “Yogurt”

August 23, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

Some 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.

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

August 19, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

Last 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.

The ABC’s of Gluten-Free Bread

August 9, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

Bread 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?

How To Have A Healthy Halloween

Coffee, Tea or Chocolate?

3 Fun Facts About Your Brain

Are You Shooting Yourself In The Foot?

5 Ways to Fine Tune Your Ingredients

A Simple Summer Tomato Salad

My Top 3 Rules For Dining Out

A Totally Awesome, Dairy-Free “Yogurt”

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

The ABC’s of Gluten-Free Bread

If You Are New, Start Here:

Search

Categories

Recent Pins!