Gift Ideas for the Gluten-Free Foodie

Christmas gift and baubles on defocused lights backgroundEvery time I turn around lately, it seems that someone else is promoting the “ultimate Holiday Gift List.”

And being part of a this special group of “gluten-free, allergen-free” folks – it occurred to me that we could benefit from a Gift List specifically tailored to our needs.

With that in mind, here are some of my absolutely best Gift Ideas for the gluten-free foodie, that also have your health in mind.

 

Small Kitchen Appliances

We’ll start here – and even though this represents the priciest category, the items I’ve included here are absolutely worth the investment.

But then, my rule of thumb has always been “It’s better to buy well than often.”

In other words, if you’re going to splurge – then go for it!

Simply because, when you choose the one thing that is most important to you (and you choose well) – you won’t be disappointed.

That’s why a Vitamix blender is always at the top of my list is. (If you’re lucky enough to already own one, you know what I mean).

Yes, it is expensive, but it also out-performs every other blender on the market.

And it’s the perfect gift for that special someone (maybe you?) – who enjoys making homemade soups and smoothies, and grinding their own flour.

Speaking of smoothies, freshly made juice is also extremely popular these days.

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How To Be Your Best Advocate

Donuts and CoffeeDoes this ever happen to you?

You’re at the home of a friend, or well meaning relative, and as you sit down to enjoy a cup of tea – you’re presented with some cookies, or other savory treats – that have been purchased especially for you.

(I love it when people are so thoughtful!)

Unfortunately, when you’re on a special diet, such thoughtfulness can turn into a stressful situation you’re not prepared for.

Because, suddenly, you’re having to read through a list of ingredients to see if the product is actually safe for you to eat, while at the same time not appearing impolite.

And this is when you might notice that:

  • The product is not gluten-free, OR
  • While it’s gluten-free, there may be one or two other ingredients that are not in compliance with your special diet.

 

This is one of those tricky moments when you want to honor yourself and how you choose to nourish your body – yet, at the same time, you don’t want to offend anyone.

Well, here’s the deal.

Regardless of our individual food allergies, dietary preferences or concerns – we are always going to come up against this sort of thing.

It’s simply part of life and can’t be avoided.

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How to Survive A Holiday Feast

PieAre you breathing a sigh of relief?

Now that you’ve survived the Thanksgiving holiday, you know there are only a few more weeks until Christmas.

But that’s the challenge, isn’t it?

By the time you read this, the Thanksgiving feast will be over.

And, if you’re like most of us, you likely have a bounty of leftovers to enjoy during the next few days.

Are you wondering what to do with those leftovers?

Well, if you’ve signed up for my FREE Holiday Gift 38 Ways to be Gloriously Gluten-Free Thru the Holidays & Beyond you’re already well on your way.

(And if you haven’t signed up yet – no worries. This FREE Holiday Gift is available to you anytime during the holidays. Yes, there’s still time, even if you’ve missed out on the beginning!)

In my own home, Thanksgiving was a bit different this year.

Instead of hosting the annual feast, I was delighted to be an invited guest at someone else’s home.

Although, the prospect of a traditional holiday feast prepared by strangers did give me pause.

What would be safe for me to eat?

If you’re receiving the FREE Holiday Gift this week, you’ve been reading about some of these concerns in your daily tips.

Trust me, it can be an on-going journey learning to navigate the pitfalls!

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Let’s Talk Turkey

Christmas turkey on holiday tableHave you checked your calendar?

Thanksgiving is just a few days away!

If you happen to be new to the gluten-free lifestyle, you might be tearing your hair out right about now.

Perhaps you’ve even decided that the holidays are too much of a challenge and more than you can handle.

How will you ever get through it?

Well, this is true.

It might very well be a challenge.

That’s why my first suggestion is that you sign up for my FREE Holiday Gift – 38 Ways to be Gloriously Gluten-Free – Through the Holidays and Beyond.”

This Free holiday guide will arrive in your in-box daily, beginning November 25.

It’s full of tips, savvy suggestions and delicious gluten-free recipes designed to help you survive the holiday onslaught of tempting treats.

Cause let’s face it – in the weeks to come, your senses will be assaulted with treats of every kind, beginning with the Thanksgiving turkey and all the traditional side dishes.

Here’s what else you need to know before the big day:

  • The Thanksgiving turkey may contain gluten – so beware!
  • While gluten isn’t naturally present in turkey (or any meat) consider the basting solutions and seasonings – that’s where gluten can sneak in.
  • Generally speaking, brands like Butterball, Jennie-O and Diestel are gluten-free. (Diestel turkeys are also organic and sustainably raised).

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Your F.R.E.E. Holiday Gift– “38 Ways to be Gloriously Gluten-Free”

Jelly cookiesIt seems a bit early to be thinking of the holidays, doesn’t it?

Yet, beginning next week, many of us will be sitting down to a Thanksgiving table laden with scrumptious food.

This wonderful feast will likely include many foods you grew up with that are part of your family tradition.

Chances are, you can’t even imagine a holiday meal without them.

I know what that feels like.

I’ve been there.

And I get it.

Yet, for anyone new to the Gluten-Free diet and lifestyle this can feel particularly daunting.

How will you survive all the holiday temptations and treats?

Not to mention endless parties, family gatherings and seemingly non-stop celebration  –  all without a spec of gluten?

Can it even be done?

Well, I’m here to assure you that it can!

As it happens, the elves have been quite busy at this end putting together a special Holiday FREE GIFT – just for you!

You’ve heard of the 12 Days of Christmas, right?

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What Are You Craving?

Sugar“Sugar is a food fraught with layers of emotional meaning, inextricably linked with your sense of comfort and well-being”.  Andrea Nakayama

 

Do you sometimes crave a certain food?

Or is “often” a more accurate description?

Whether ‘sometimes”, or  “often”, cravings are usually a sign that something is out of balance in your body.

It could be due to hormones, a nutritional imbalance, low blood sugar or even stress.

Of course, any food can become a substitute for what we’re really craving in the moment.

However, for many of us, our go-to comfort food is sugar.

If your downfall seems to be Sugar, you’re not alone.

Yet, as we head into the holiday season, this becomes even more of a challenge, with temptations around every corner.

In a twist of irony, though – the more you crave a certain food, that’s often your Body’s way of telling you in an oh-so-subtle-way to cut back.

And while you may not be able to ditch those sugar cravings completely – after all, we’re biologically programmed to love anything sweet – it is possible to get your sugar cravings under control by ditching soda and processed foods.

In lieu of refined sugar, consider alternate ways to satisfy your sweet tooth.

At the same time, keep in mind that alternate sweeteners such as agave, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar and sucanat – to name a few – are still Sugar.

They may seem to be easier on your blood sugar levels – but the bottom line is still this:

Sugar is Sugar.

That’s a tough one to swallow, I know.

Consider too, that the very foods we often crave are often the very foods we’re highly sensitive, or allergic to!

(Yet another reason to avoid them).

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Is A Raw Foods Diet For You?

AvocadoThe Raw Foods diet seems to be all the rage lately, and while it’s a seemingly healthy way of eating, I’m by no means an expert.

Which is why, when an acquaintance asked me:  “Are Raw Foods always Gluten-Free?” – I almost caught myself saying ‘yes’ before realizing that wasn’t necessarily true.

Eating Raw Foods involves sprouting grains – and those grains can be just about anything!

Which means, if you are sprouting wheat, or barley – then no, this is not a viable solution for your gluten-free diet.

It comes down to knowing which grains, or foods in general, are gluten-free in their natural state, and which are not.

I have a few cookbooks that are based on raw food and I’ve even dabbled with a few recipes.

(Really, you need a cookbook to prepare foods that don’t require cooking?)

Ultimately, though, I like plenty of variety in my meals.

While I eat a fair amount of salads, and other foods in their raw state, I still prefer cold foods when the weather is warmer, and warming foods on colder days.

Also, if you’re going to go all out with the Raw Foods diet, it really pays to have a dehydrator.

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How To Have A Healthy Halloween

Halloween cupcakesAre 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).

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Coffee, Tea or Chocolate?

teaThere’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.

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3 Fun Facts About Your Brain

Fortune CookiesIf 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.

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