gluten-free

What 5 Favorite Foods Would You Bring To The Moon?

June 22, 2012 By karenkent 2 Comments

I came across this question the other day, and it got me thinking.

If you were indeed to take a trip to the moon – or were stranded on a deserted isle – which 5 foods would be on your list of ‘must haves’?

Of course, there’s no cheating allowed, not even on the moon.

Meaning whichever 5 foods you choose, they must also be gluten-free as well as free of any other allergens you normally avoid.

So, here’s my list:

Quinoa
Blueberries
Hummus
Avocados
Salmon

Yes, I know.

That almost sounds a bit too healthy.

But that’s how I live my life. No matter where I travel, I like to be well-fed in a healthy sort of way.

However, if push came to shove, I would also include a supply of Beanitos Chips (gotta have something fun, right?)

Oh wait, that makes 6 items.

Oh well, I can’t think of a single item I would leave out.

Blueberries are full of antioxidants.

Salmon provides Omega-3’s.

Quinoa is an excellent source of protein. The cooked grain is wonderful for breakfast – topped with nuts or fruit – but also fills in as the perfect side dish along with Salmon, or even a vegetarian entrée.

A lot of people have a love-hate relationship with Quinoa.

For starters, they’re not even sure of the correct pronunciation. (Try “keen-wa”)

And avocados?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT, RECIPES Tagged With: allergens, avocado, blueberries, garbanzo flour, gluten-free, Hummus, multi-purpose, quinoa, socca, versatile

Do You Eat Mindfully?

June 8, 2012 By karenkent 2 Comments

I once tried to explain the concept of eating mindfully to my son, as I watched him devour a plate of spaghetti.

He looked at me like I’d really lost my marbles and with a voice full of disdain said “Mom, I think I know what I’m eating.”

However, eating mindfully goes beyond knowing what’s on your plate.

It’s about recognizing when you feel satisfied, rather than eating to the point of feeling ill.

It’s the difference between acknowledging that you’re indeed holding a plus-size bag of potato chips and realizing before you’ve eaten the entire bag, that you:

A) Don’t care all that much for the flavor

B) Aren’t particularly hungry

C) Could have stopped after the first handful

That’s what we call being aware, as well as mindful of what we’re putting in our mouths.

A frequently cited example of mindful eating, asks that you focus on a single raisin.

The idea is to really taste it.

To notice it’s sweetness, the chewy texture – even the wrinkly brown color, before you pop it into your mouth.

You might even realize – after years of eating raisins – that you don’t even like them that much, or that they’re much too sweet for your taste buds.

Moments like that create a huge aha!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT Tagged With: allergen friendly, awareness, eating mindfully, engaging all 5 senses, gluten-free

The Amazing Benefits of Coconut Milk

May 25, 2012 By karenkent Leave a Comment

Are you Dairy free?

Many of us who are Celiac or gluten intolerant are also allergic to Dairy.

Lucky for us, there are a number of dairy-free alternatives on the market for our morning cereal, including almond or rice milk, soy or even hemp milk.

But when I want something rich and creamy to replace the cream in a recipe, nothing satisfies quite like coconut milk.

I’ve been craving some of this amazing Avocado Pudding recently.

The other day, as I grabbed an avocado from the fridge, I spotted a jar of leftover Coconut Cream – and suddenly had an epiphany.

What if I added some coconut cream to the original recipe?

I imagined something even more decadent, rich and creamy, a sort of chocolate mousse with a twist.

Coconut cream, by the way, refers to the thick layer of solids you find at the top of a can of coconut milk.

For this particular recipe, the full fat variety is best – especially since it yields a generous amount of coconut cream.

In other words, when you open a can of Lite Coconut Milk, there will be some cream on top, but not nearly as much.

Of course, once you’ve scooped out the cream, the remaining liquid in the can will be thinned out and less flavorful – but still perfect for smoothies.

Coconut milk is also ideal for cream-based soups.

Welcome To National Celiac Awareness Month

May 18, 2012 By karenkent Leave a Comment

Here we are halfway into May and I have yet to mention that it is National Celiac Awareness Month.

So today, I’m making a point of spreading the word.

The fact that it is National Celiac Awareness Month is a big deal for anyone in the Celiac and gluten-free community.

The reason why is simple – the intense focus helps to bring awareness to a good Cause.

The folks at the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness have come up with theme for this years’ campaign: Keep It Simple and Safe – or K.I.S.S.

Hence their slogan “Whether you fear the kitchen or avoid dining out, prepare to KISS those concerns good-bye”.

I love that!

For the entire month of May, a total of 16 bloggers are offering advice on living gluten-free – with the goal of helping others on the journey.

Whether you are new to the Gluten-free lifestyle or an acknowledged veteran, there is something here for everyone.

In other news, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bread has a “Spread the Bread” awareness campaign.

By clicking on this link, you can receive a $1 coupon, good toward a loaf of gluten-free bread. All they ask in return is that you support other partners in the gluten free community.

That’s a win-win solution!

How To Get The Support You Need

May 11, 2012 By karenkent Leave a Comment

Last weekend, I attended a cooking class titled “Eating Around the Top 8 Allergens”.

In case you’re not familiar, the usual list typically includes the following:

Wheat Dairy

Eggs Peanuts

Soy Tree Nuts

Fish Shellfish

Sometimes – depending on the source – you will see foods like Corn on the list, as well.

Notice how every single one of these foods – with the exception perhaps of Fish & Shellfish – is pervasive in our diets.

We’re not always aware of this, until the day we are told to no longer eat Gluten or Dairy.

Then we find out that ingredient is seemingly in everything!

So, the goal of this class – according to the description – was to “demystify food allergies and introduce us to a world of delicious, non-allergenic foods.”

It didn’t matter whether you were recently diagnosed, or living with allergies for awhile.

I fell into the latter category, of course, and was struck by two things during the two and a half hours I spent in the classroom.

There are Always Fabulous New Ideas and Solutions.

Yes, even when you’re feeling down in the dumps, and possibly deprived as a result of your food restrictions – there are always new possibilities just around the corner.

As long as you are open-minded, you will not only glean new ideas, but most likely discover new foods that you may or may not have know existed.

You might even find that certain foods you disdained in the past can be quite delicious when properly prepared.

All this is to say:

There Is Strength in the Classroom

Misery loves company, as the saying goes.

But when you surround yourself with people who are in the same boat you are, you will be a lot less miserable.

That is why I encourage you to seek out local support groups, and even attend a class or two that is focused on dealing with food allergies.

Our local co-op even holds store tours for those on the Gluten-Free diet – so you never know what resources might be available to you in your area.

Personally, I love the synergy from being among a like-minded group of people who have similar needs.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT, HEALTH & WELLNESS Tagged With: Brunch, dairy, eggs, fish, gluten-free, Mother's Day, peanuts, shellfish, soy, top 8 allergens, tree nuts, wheat

Dreams vs. Reality

May 4, 2012 By karenkent Leave a Comment

For the Celiac and food allergic among us, a luscious buffet such as the one pictured at left, is enough to give us a panic attack.

We are suddenly on high alert, as we try to determine what harmful ingredients might be hiding in any given dish.

Is an item breaded?

If so, what kind of flour was used for the breading?

What is in the sauce? Are those rice crackers or something else?

Is anything seasoned with soy sauce?

Was the food prepared with butter or eggs?

The accidental ingestion of a forbidden food is one of our worst nightmares.

Who would have thought that everything could look so tempting, yet be off-limits at the same time?

And so it came to pass that I allowed myself to dream lately.

A few weeks ago, I subjected myself to another food allergy test.

The reason was in part experimental – really just to see if my body was in fact healing, due to some of the mindful practices I’ve engaged in over the past six months.

It took about three weeks for the test results to come back, and during that time I allowed myself to dream.

“What if?” I asked myself.

What if I could eat eggs again, and a few other foods I’d been craving? At first, I envisioned things like fluffy omelets, and soufflés.

Then I allowed myself to dream of baking with the addition of eggs, and suddenly it was like a whole new world opened up to me.

Visions of healthy breads and muffins, and light-as-air meringue literally made my mouth water.

So, you can imagine how thrilled I was when the test results came back and clearly showed absolutely no reaction to eggs, whatsoever.

I saw the same amazing results with dairy and some other allergens, as well.

Did this mean I was cured?!

Breaking the Fast

April 27, 2012 By karenkent Leave a Comment

Not sure where to begin?

Why not start at the beginning?

After all, doesn’t every design project begin that way?

This is commonly referred to as the foundation – or blueprint – for what is to follow, typically a Floor Plan, or my clients’ Wish List.

Of course, the foundation of your day – and your gluten-free lifestyle – is your first meal of the day – Breakfast.

Maybe you’ve always eaten breakfast, or maybe this concept is new to you.

Perhaps you’re one of those people who never eats first thing in the morning, or before noon.

I recently heard a nutritionist talk about the value of starting one’s day off right, by eating a regular meal. She addressed the common dilemma of “But I don’t eat breakfast” – suggesting that you start small, that it’s really just a matter of changing your mindset.

Mindsets are powerful.

This is why, for most of us eating a Western diet – consisting of cereal, or eggs and bacon with a side of toast – might question what choices we have when eating gluten-free.

The answer is there’s still plenty to choose from – beginning with a great selection of gluten-free cereals.

That’s fine if your preferred first meal of the day is cold cereal with milk, or hot cereal such as gluten-free oatmeal or buckwheat.

Beyond that, I’m going to challenge you to think outside the box.

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.

Introducing ‘Arbonne’!

April 13, 2012 By karenkent Leave a Comment

On the heels of recommending several ways you can fine-tune your ingredients, I came across a list of foods & additives to avoid when eating gluten-free – a list that extends to beauty products and toiletries.

I thought this was rather fortuitous.

I picked this particular flyer up some time ago at Whole Foods – another very helpful resource, by the way, for a variety of special diets.

Here are some of the items on the list:

Binders
Caramel Coloring
Coatings (i.e. anything breaded)
Dextrins
Dispersing Agents
Emulsifiers
Fillers
Flavorings
Grain Alcohol (beer, ale, rye, scotch, etc.)
Homeopathic Remedies
Hydrolyzed Protein
Malt or Malt Flavoring
Modified Food Starch
Mono & Di-Glycerides
Preservatives
Soy Sauce
Spices (if anti-caking agents are used)
Vegetable Gum (when made from oats)

Pretty daunting, huh?

As if this list isn’t long enough, it’s equally smart to consider your toiletries and beauty products.

That’s right – along with over the counter and prescription medications, everything from toothpaste and other non- ingested products also need to be taken into consideration.

Which is why I’m excited to share with you a product line you may not be familiar with – Arbonne!

While I’m not in the business of selling beauty products, per se, I believe this particular company is another fabulous resource for anyone on a gluten-free or vegan diet.

Arbone products use botanically based formulas that are formulated WITHOUT gluten or animal products.

In fact, they are certified vegan, which means they also don’t use animals for testing.

Coffee, Tea & Chocolate!

April 6, 2012 By karenkent Leave a Comment

This trio of warming drinks has been on my mind lately.

And while I’ve never been a coffee drinker myself, I do like a good, bracing cup of tea.

In fact, my morning meal doesn’t seem complete without a big mug of this steaming brew, preferably a robust variety of green tea such as Hojicha or Gunpowder.

The names alone are part of the experience!

Whether a tea or coffee drinker, who among us hasn’t visited their local Starbuck’s on occasion, or made this a regular part of their daily routine?

Not only are there coffee shops on just about every corner, but the coffee and tea aisles in the local grocery store are nearly filled to overflowing with a wide assortment of brands and flavors.

And here is where the gluten-free among us can definitely run into some challenges, since these flavored brews may not be gluten-free.

As always, you need to be diligent about reading labels, and look for words like “natural flavors” listed in the ingredients – which indicates that particular beverage may or may not be suitable.

It isn’t always clear.

If anything sounds the least bit suspect – and the words gluten-free do not appear on the label – my advice to you is to keep looking!

As for chocolate – whether hot chocolate or chocolate candy – the same advice applies, especially if you are looking for suitable Easter candy.

In honor of the Easter holiday – and this trio of beverages – I’m sharing 3 recipes that feature chocolate in one form or another.

This way, you can indulge both your sweet tooth and your chocolate cravings while knowing these treats are absolutely safe for your special diet.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT, RECIPES Tagged With: chocolate, coffee, dairy-free, gluten-free, green tea, Replenish PDX, Starbucks, tea

What 5 Favorite Foods Would You Bring To The Moon?

Do You Eat Mindfully?

The Amazing Benefits of Coconut Milk

Welcome To National Celiac Awareness Month

How To Get The Support You Need

Dreams vs. Reality

Breaking the Fast

Shooting Yourself In The Foot

Introducing ‘Arbonne’!

Coffee, Tea & Chocolate!

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