I have been gluten free for almost 9 months. I've been DILIGENTLY gluten free for almost 8. I'm not sure if I feel righteous about that or depressed? lol
I'd just like to share on here a couple of really great products that have at one point or another gotten me through the GF haze of missing glutenous foods I consumed in bulk. Let me just be as clear as glass here, I am not and haven't ever been a healthy eater. You couldn't even put me in the same hemisphere as a healthy eater, so not only was I forced to give up gluten, but also somewhat forced to attempt to adapt a healthier lifestyle and eating habits. I ate out or didnt eat at all 3-5 times a week. Just to give you some background. So, if you came looking for healthy foods that got me through gluten withdrawals you've come to the wrong place. Okay moving on....
These are not in any particular order:
1. Bob's Red Mill Pizza Crust Mix. This was the second or third pizza crust mix I'd tried. I have to say that pizza is my absolute favorite food. I like soooo many different varieties and it's one of the things I miss the MOST about being gluten free. I've found that the GF alternatives from popular restaurants just do not cut the mustard. Making my own has been okay. Not the same as getting Harris pizza for sure, but still it's pretty good. Makes decent breadsticks too!! If you want to find more BRM products look here. They have a fantastic line endorsed greatly by Babycakes NYC in their cookbooks. Can't get much higher praise than that.
2. Domata Living Flour Pizza Crust Mix. While I love Bob's Red Mill PCM, the one thing I got spoiled on with Domata, was that I didnt have to add anything but water. I mean...it was soooo enticing to not have to add eggs, yeast and wait and all that stuff. I used it to make little chedar garlic biscuits and it was YUMMY!!! I really really like all the Domata products. All gluten free. The packages don't look like this picture exactly, but I couldnt find an example of the bags I buy online. Might snap a picture and post it later. If you want more information on Domata Living Flour click here.
3. This one is a semi-new discovery but when I really just want a mindless snack it seems to work and who knew? It's kind of nostalgic too!! Mike and Ikes!!! Yep, you read that right. FANTASTIC and sometimes it even makes me feel NOT so weird. :)
4. Corn Tortillas. Yes, I know you can get them in any brand, but as everyone seems to be able to point out I'm brand loyal, and so I use Mission White corn. They cook up very nice and taste fantastic!! I will admit that I'm a bit sick of tacos at this point in my gluten free journey, but I'll still eat them if someone puts them in front of me.
5. Corn and Rice Chex. Now let me tell you something. I was NOT a breakfast eater before GF and I was also NOT a cereal eater. However, I think sometimes being GF makes me crave sweets. I never really did before. So, perhaps its the lack of all that sugar in breads? I dunno, maybe I should look into it, but anyhow that's beside the point. I've found that the naturally Gluten Free cereals Corn and Rice chex with Cold milk and two teaspoon of sugar goes down very smooth when I just feel hungry. I mean starving. (another side effect I've noticed of GF I'm hungry ALL THE DAMN TIME) You can find ALL General Mills products here, or just go to your local grocer and I bet they have it as well.
6. Ruffles Original. Oh Ruffles how I love thee. I am a champion snacker, I always have been hence the extra 75lbs, but let me tell you about the moment I realized Ruffles Original were gluten free. I was in Sam's with my sister reading the label and found that brilliant flashing sign on the bag that said "GLUTEN FREE!!" Okay, it didnt really but it sure felt like it. These chips are salty and chippy and yummy and they don't cost any more than NORMAL people food. It made my day. Cheers to Frito-Lay company. You can read more about all their products here, there are actually quite a few snacky type foods that are good to go. Perhaps NOT for Celiacs as their restrictions are more stringent, but for a typical Gluten intolerant person there don't seem to be any adverse effects.
7. Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Believe what you want about her. Think what you will about her publicity and her opinions on The View, but I am so thankful and grateful to her for going public with her condition and bringing so much information and knowledge to my life. I LOVE her GF cookbook and couldn't be happier with all the recipes I've made from it. This cookbook really is great. She has great ideas, anecdotes and just seems really really genuine in her crusade to help people with this problem. It's also because of her that my Gramma hopped on board and really has tried to make sure I'm ok. So, I guess Thanks Elisabeth for helping to help me change my life.
8. Smoothies. I don't really have a picture or a specific brand. I've just developed a taste and a need for Fruit smoothies. I use OJ, strawberries, bananas, blueberries etc etc. I throw them in the blender add some ice and away I go. I've noticed it really seemed to add to my diet and in my quest to give up MT DEW I needed something. It really worked.
9. Gluten Free Pretzels. Any brand will do, but I'm in LOVE. Gluten free pretzels dipped in cream cheese is sooooooooooooooooo yummy and Kraft is so fantastic about labeling all their allergens on their packaging. LOVE Kraft!!! ( Brand loyalty once again, but for a really great reason)
10. Brown Minute Rice. Let me just tell you something. I think I've gone through about 35 boxes of this stuff in the past 9 months. I wont use the white rice because I"ve convince myself that the brown rice is so much better. Anyhow, it's sooooo versatile. I've learned how to make this chicken and rice dish served at a local Mexican Restaraurant, my own version of Spanish Rice, Tomato-cream rice. Chicken and Rice, Hamburger and rice you name it and it can go with rice. Stir-fry and rice. The possibilities are endless and when you are starving it's handy that Minute helps out us lazy people with their products. Please for the love of God and all that's holy go out and buy a million boxes and enjoy enjoy enjoy. Go here for more information. You can buy it at almost every grocer.
So, there's 10 items that have gotten me through the beginning of this journey and through to the middle. My only hope was to show that, if it helps even ONE new GF person then my work here is done.
Love you all and hope you're on your way to get some Minute Rice at the very least.
Cheers,
Kristi
I'd just like to share on here a couple of really great products that have at one point or another gotten me through the GF haze of missing glutenous foods I consumed in bulk. Let me just be as clear as glass here, I am not and haven't ever been a healthy eater. You couldn't even put me in the same hemisphere as a healthy eater, so not only was I forced to give up gluten, but also somewhat forced to attempt to adapt a healthier lifestyle and eating habits. I ate out or didnt eat at all 3-5 times a week. Just to give you some background. So, if you came looking for healthy foods that got me through gluten withdrawals you've come to the wrong place. Okay moving on....
These are not in any particular order:
1. Bob's Red Mill Pizza Crust Mix. This was the second or third pizza crust mix I'd tried. I have to say that pizza is my absolute favorite food. I like soooo many different varieties and it's one of the things I miss the MOST about being gluten free. I've found that the GF alternatives from popular restaurants just do not cut the mustard. Making my own has been okay. Not the same as getting Harris pizza for sure, but still it's pretty good. Makes decent breadsticks too!! If you want to find more BRM products look here. They have a fantastic line endorsed greatly by Babycakes NYC in their cookbooks. Can't get much higher praise than that.
2. Domata Living Flour Pizza Crust Mix. While I love Bob's Red Mill PCM, the one thing I got spoiled on with Domata, was that I didnt have to add anything but water. I mean...it was soooo enticing to not have to add eggs, yeast and wait and all that stuff. I used it to make little chedar garlic biscuits and it was YUMMY!!! I really really like all the Domata products. All gluten free. The packages don't look like this picture exactly, but I couldnt find an example of the bags I buy online. Might snap a picture and post it later. If you want more information on Domata Living Flour click here.
3. This one is a semi-new discovery but when I really just want a mindless snack it seems to work and who knew? It's kind of nostalgic too!! Mike and Ikes!!! Yep, you read that right. FANTASTIC and sometimes it even makes me feel NOT so weird. :)
7. Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Believe what you want about her. Think what you will about her publicity and her opinions on The View, but I am so thankful and grateful to her for going public with her condition and bringing so much information and knowledge to my life. I LOVE her GF cookbook and couldn't be happier with all the recipes I've made from it. This cookbook really is great. She has great ideas, anecdotes and just seems really really genuine in her crusade to help people with this problem. It's also because of her that my Gramma hopped on board and really has tried to make sure I'm ok. So, I guess Thanks Elisabeth for helping to help me change my life.8. Smoothies. I don't really have a picture or a specific brand. I've just developed a taste and a need for Fruit smoothies. I use OJ, strawberries, bananas, blueberries etc etc. I throw them in the blender add some ice and away I go. I've noticed it really seemed to add to my diet and in my quest to give up MT DEW I needed something. It really worked.
9. Gluten Free Pretzels. Any brand will do, but I'm in LOVE. Gluten free pretzels dipped in cream cheese is sooooooooooooooooo yummy and Kraft is so fantastic about labeling all their allergens on their packaging. LOVE Kraft!!! ( Brand loyalty once again, but for a really great reason)
So, there's 10 items that have gotten me through the beginning of this journey and through to the middle. My only hope was to show that, if it helps even ONE new GF person then my work here is done.
Love you all and hope you're on your way to get some Minute Rice at the very least.
Cheers,
Kristi
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