Fad diet?

Congratulations to Miss Chelsea Clinton who is getting married. Why would I say that?  She had a gluten allergy and for her wedding reception the food and wedding cake will be entirely gluten free. I'm so thankful that word is getting out about being on a gluten diet. More and more companies are making gluten free food, so taste of these foods are getting better. And gluten free foods are getting CHEAPER!!! yay!

Now bare with me for a moment people, I'm getting on my soap box.  Yes, granted society is getting better about offering more and more options as far as eating gluten free food, but hear this: THIS NOT A FAD, I REPEAT NOT A FAD DIET!!!! ah, that feels better.  I'm am getting sick and tired of hearing people say "it's the hottest trend." or "so when you lose your weight are you going back to eating regular food?"

The other day I was in a store, nursing my son Gordon, and I overheard some people talking about this "new fad diet and how it's so ridiculous, to cut out all this food. It won't last long." Yeah - I LOVE having mudslides, I LOVE missing out an opportunities with my kids because I'm in the bathroom sick or we need to leave to get home because I'm going to be sick. I LOVE being in such pain, that I curl up into a ball, crying because I want someone to just put me out of my misery. I LOVE not being able to have hugs from my husband or kids because I'm in such pain. I LOVE being embarrassed when someone asks me when I'm due, even though I'm not pregnant. I LOVE cutting out foods, or telling my kids, "No, mommy can't eat that really neat pie you made in cooking class." I love having to pay the really expensive prices on food just because I want to be on this fad diet. But I didn't. I just shook my head and thought if they only knew the truth.

For 98-99% of the people that are eating gluten free (GF) this is NOT a diet, it's not a weight loss plan, it's a lifeline to being healthy.  It's for parents who's children that are austic, ADHD and etc do better when they take the gluten out. It's people like me that are gluten intolerant (Non-Celiac Disease Intolerance) or are indeed Celiac Disease who NEED to cut out gluten for our health. Remember people that have a nut allergy or various other food allergies that if they have a wee bit of crumb it can cause them to be knocking on death's door? It's the same thing for us.  I mean, I don't know about you, but I really don't want to spend hours, or days stuck between my bed and the bathroom, because I'm too sick to move.

There were times that my stomach was so swollen I looked at least 6 months pregnant (when I wasn't pregnant), it hurt to move.  Others have mainly skin issues like eczema ( I have that too.), have mood swings and etc.  It can even affect a woman's ability to have a child.  The list of signs and symptoms goes on and on. I've been told that there are over 300 different signs. That's why it's so hard sometimes to diagnose, so forgive me but fad diet? Nope - don't wanna go back to those experiences.

Okay. Enough said. Stepping off my soap box.
Carlena

Chicken...

Tonight, I broke one of my main rules.  Do not make two different meals. But I did. Jessie was coming home for the weekend, and I wasn't sure if he was in the mood for the meal I planned with the kids.  Being gluten free, I'm discovering over this past year is so much healthier for everyone. It was very simple what I made for dinner. It's a meal I think we will use for lunches too.

I just cooked up a couple of chicken breasts in a frying pan. I seasoned with Tone's garlic, sea salt, and pepper. I put some water instead of oil, just because I ran out of our gf oil and wasn't sure if the other oils where okay. We are slowly converting out household to being completely or as close to 100% GF as possible.  My daughter Dawn is proving to be gluten sensitive, and it would be much better for Spencer with his TBI's if he was as well.  Which for anyone on a budget - which I think is everyone these days is the easiest way to do it.

I wasn't in the mood to bake potatoes for dinner, so I threw in some tater tots in the oven.  We use Ore-Ida tater tots and then canned peaches.  For the longest time, we would sometimes use the generics of canned fruits, veggies, and etc.  But recently when we went to the super Walmart and purchased some items. We discovered that a ot of them say traces of wheat.  So those are now out of the question.

Always, always check the labels.  Just because they may at one time say gluten free, it can always change.
Note: Schwan's GF turkey meatball dinner is no longer gluten free. :(  So sad I love those frozen dinners.

Carlena

Crockpot Meatballs...

Last night for dinner, I needed something nice and quick, we were going with some friends to a local splash pad. I had daycare kids, so I knew that I wouldn't have anything  ready that was quick. So I went online and tried this recipe, it got mixed reviews from my family. Dawn loved them, Nana & I thought they were okay,  and the boys didn't like them at all.  The support group that I got the recipe is a WONDERFUL support group for anyone that has food allergies, and I mean any food allergies.  From the traditional top 8 food allergies to the more unusual like bananas.  I have learned more from these people about eating healthy and on a budget then I have from anywhere else.  The nice thing about a lot of these recipes are that they are made from things that you usually have in your pantry...yes you will start using your pantry or cupboards a lot when you start cooking to be gluten free or casein free. And this is speaking from someone considered cooking from a box, cooking.  lol.  My husband cringed when I told him I knew how to cook...from a box.

Here's the recipe. Enjoy

Crockpot Meatballs


Source of Recipe
Marcie Dingerson


List of Ingredients
2 lbs. ground beef
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. rice milk
1 sm. onion, chopped
1 c. gf cracker crumbs
1 egg

Mix ingredients together and form into balls. Place in crockpot.

SAUCE FOR MEATBALLS:
1/4 c. mayonnaise
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. catsup
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/2 c. vinegar
1/4 c. beef broth
1/4 c. water
1/4 tsp. garlic salt

Mix together in a bowl. Pour over meat balls in crockpot to simmer.
In the crockpot on low for about 4 hours.

Beginning?

I thought it would be a lot easier on my friends, my family and myself to create a blog that is all about going gluten free.  I'll also add in casein free, since that's what I've needed to add into my diet because of baby Gordon.

I didn't want to bog down my family blog, about being gluten free, the tips, and recipes I've discovered along the way and etc.  I want to help people manage this new way of life, without hearing the whines of how hard it is. :)Also this blog will remain public, where as my family blog for the time being will remain private and invitation only due to safety concerns.

Hope you'll all enjoy this blog.
God Bless
Carlena