food sensitivities

How To Make Your Own Vanilla Extract

June 7, 2013 By Karen Leave a Comment

Okay, 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).

How to Travel Gluten-Free

May 31, 2013 By Karen 1 Comment

18th Cent French Travel Kit

Back in the day, a gentleman or lady of means typically travelled with something like this.

Perfectly appointed with a travel size knife, fork and spoon and a pair of scissors – for what, I’m not exactly sure.

Fast forward to modern day travel.

Yes, travel in this day and age is a bit more challenging as we navigate airports and busy schedules.

Add a gluten-free diet and lifestyle to the mix, and your travel woes will likely be compounded by the constant worry of “what to eat?”

As we move into the summer travel season, I thought I’d take a moment to review some of my go-to tricks that I rely on whenever I travel.

Making sure, of course, that there’s always something on hand to eat!

(Most of the time, anyway).

For anyone with additional allergies – for example, dairy and eggs, along with gluten – travel becomes even more of a challenge.

5 Life Lessons From Downton Abbey

February 22, 2013 By karenkent Leave a Comment

Did you catch the last episode of Downton Abbey?

There have been a lot of comments circulating this week, as another of our favorite characters met his demise.

(Some of us are still hoping for a miracle – an extend hospital stay, perhaps, or waking up to realize it was all a dream).

Others have dubbed the show “Downer Abbey”.

Which side are you on?

Recently, I mentioned to my husband that it would be a great thing indeed, if Highclere Castle – the British mansion made famous on this hit television series – had public tours for viewing the premises.

So, imagine my surprise to read in our local paper, that the mansion IS in fact open for tours – for 70 days each year!

Yup – time to plan our next trip

All kidding aside, here’s what I really enjoy about the show:

I love seeing history unfold in the moment & learning what life was like “back then”.
I love the interior décor of this mansion – what this family calls home – studded as it is with antiques and old master paintings gracing the walls.
And, of course, I’m immersed in the characters themselves, and their privileged, fictitious lives.

So, what can the average person like you or I glean from a TV series like Downton Abbey – as it relates to our own lives?

Quite a lot, as it turns out!

Keep reading, as I share how you can bring a bit of Downton Abbey into your own home.

CELEBRATE YOUR KITCHEN

At Downton Abbey, the kitchen is the hub of the home.

In fact, most of the ‘downstairs’ scenes take place in the kitchen – not too surprising since Mrs. Pattmore and Daisy are hard at work from the crack of dawn preparing meals for the entire household.

You may have a similar responsibility in your own home – with the added bonus of many modern conveniences!

Yet, how much time do you spend in your kitchen?

If you’ve just learned you suffer from food sensitivities – the kitchen is even more important – it’s truly the foundation for a healthy lifestyle and the key to making smart, informed decisions for designing a life you can embrace and love!

Why not make your kitchen the star of your home?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT, LIVE Tagged With: Downton Abbey, food sensitivities, gluten-free, health, history, hub of the home, i nterior decor, kitchen

How to Stay Gluten-Free & Still Be the Most Popular Person at the Potluck

September 7, 2012 By karenkent Leave a Comment

This week, I’m excited to announce another Guest Blogger and friend of mine – Janelle Holden, President & Founder of The Gluten Free Life Coach. You can read more about her by scrolling to the bottom of this post – but be sure to read the article first, as Janelle shares some excellent advice on How to Be the Most Popular Person at the Potluck!

Last month my mother’s best friend spoke the six words I dread hearing the most at a potluck.

“I made this special for you!”

With a deep smile she delivered into my hands a “special” bowl of creamed corn bread casserole that had been made without dairy. I looked at the pretty concoction and noted it contained at least three other ingredients that I do not eat: Corn, wheat flour, and sugar.

I looked up and smiled.

“Thank you!” I said. “That’s really kind of you.”

And it was. Clearly, she had made an effort on my behalf because I have food sensitivities. She wanted to make me feel included in the gathering.

But, there was no way in hell I was going to eat that corn bread casserole. I would be sick for days if I ate even a small bite, and as much as I loved her, I wasn’t about to get sick to please her.

The tricky part was telling her that.

What Happened Next

At first I thought I could simply admire the dish from my place setting and not say a word. After all, I had given her thanks, hadn’t I? I didn’t really need to tell her that I wouldn’t be eating it. Maybe she wouldn’t notice I wasn’t eating it.

Shooting Yourself In The Foot

April 20, 2012 By karenkent Leave a Comment

Last week, I accompanied a friend to a doctor’s appointment.

My role was official note taker.

As luck would have it, the discussion came around to the subject of gluten – even though this was far removed from the initial purpose of our visit.

In 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 felt incredibly grateful for this unique opportunity to hear his take on managing food allergies.

I particularly loved the following analogy.

The doctor compared 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. Having an autoimmune disease like Celiac Disease, or gluten sensitivity, is one of those potholes.

Which is why our bodies need to be properly maintained and require the occasional tune-ups – just like a car.

Understandably, the doctor was quite insistent that my friend completely eliminate gluten from her diet.

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

Those words really stayed with me. It was a much-needed reminder that it was time to revisit any bad habits I might have picked up along the way.

Let’s take a closer look at how this works.

For anyone who has ever dealt with a medical issue or two, on this so-called Road of Life, how many of us have gone into denial after the initial diagnosis?

How many of us have been told not to eat certain foods, yet we eat them anyway, telling ourselves that one little bite can’t hurt?

Well, the sad truth is, you’ve just ‘shot yourself in the foot’.

When we consume a food that our body is sensitive to, our autoimmune and nervous systems are suddenly placed on high alert.

The immune system, in particular, goes into full fight mode, trying to rid itself of the intruder.

How To Make Your Own Vanilla Extract

How to Travel Gluten-Free

5 Life Lessons From Downton Abbey

Shooting Yourself In The Foot

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