My doctor said I needed more vitmains in my system. Our food today is so engineered that it has less nutrients in it than when my gransparents were you. Therefore, I was taking about 40 pills a day initially. I had A LOT of detoxing to do and re-training of my high-carb, high-sugar diet. But vitamins are not cheaps
Therefore I decided to see if there were cheaper places to get the same supplements including the brands my doctor instructed me to take. So online I went. I found http://www.iherb.com/. While they did not have everything that I was supposed to take, they had a lot and for less money especially when you bought in bulk.
Hope this money saving tip helps others!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Banana Bread, Part II
Okay so I tried the recipe from the Gluten Free Goddess blog. And it turned out pretty good. So here it is with my changes. If anyone makes it, let me know what you think is missing. I want to figure out maybe how to add butter or eggs--does this replace the Olive Oil. I'm not sure how ingredients work together . . . anyone?
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil the bottom of a standard bread loaf pan and dust with rice or corn flour.
Combine in a large bowl:
3-4 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup puree)
1/3 cup light olive oil (I just used the expller pressed olive oil from Trader Joe's)
1 cup organic light brown sugar (I acutally used Nutive Palm Sugar)
2 teaspoons bourbon vanilla extract
Whisk together in a separate bowl:
1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour blend ( I used 1/2 cup of coconut flour and 1 cup of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon arrowroot starch
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (you can get this at Henry's)
1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon
Add the dry ingredients into the banana mixture and stir until smooth. If the batter looks too thin and wet, add more gluten-free flour, a tablespoon at a time, to thicken the batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the center of a preheated oven for an hour, until the loaf is firm, a bit crusty, and a wooden pick inserted into the center emerges clean.
Cool the loaf on a wire rack.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil the bottom of a standard bread loaf pan and dust with rice or corn flour.
Combine in a large bowl:
3-4 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup puree)
1/3 cup light olive oil (I just used the expller pressed olive oil from Trader Joe's)
1 cup organic light brown sugar (I acutally used Nutive Palm Sugar)
2 teaspoons bourbon vanilla extract
Whisk together in a separate bowl:
1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour blend ( I used 1/2 cup of coconut flour and 1 cup of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon arrowroot starch
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (you can get this at Henry's)
1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon
Add the dry ingredients into the banana mixture and stir until smooth. If the batter looks too thin and wet, add more gluten-free flour, a tablespoon at a time, to thicken the batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the center of a preheated oven for an hour, until the loaf is firm, a bit crusty, and a wooden pick inserted into the center emerges clean.
Cool the loaf on a wire rack.
Banana Bread, Part I
I'm craving baked goods. This week has been a stressful week and I've wanted to cheat. Whether it be a non-gluten free muffin, cookie or whatever. But God is my strength and my portion, so while I have eaten less veggies than I should I know this is not the time for weakness but rather God's strength . . .So my mom and I are going to make this Banana Bread recipe we found at http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com and I will update you soon on how it goes. And share the recipe with ya'll.
Finally I want to share a quote that God has given me to encourage me:
"Hurricanes are different from tornadoes. There is an element of preparedness you can have for them, yet you can never be truly prepared for the force of impact. What you can prepare for is the ability to have a steadiness of soul when they hit." --author Denise Hildreth.
Finally I want to share a quote that God has given me to encourage me:
"Hurricanes are different from tornadoes. There is an element of preparedness you can have for them, yet you can never be truly prepared for the force of impact. What you can prepare for is the ability to have a steadiness of soul when they hit." --author Denise Hildreth.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
How many times can you say no to temptation?
Last week got super busy in Cayman, but I wrote the below on the plane ride back . . .
How many times can you say no to temptation? Back to my previous
thought on accountability without it we can't make it. You need to have
someone willing to jam you up!
In regards to breakfast, I was about to break and then I discovered
that Cayman grocery stores carry gluten free cereal and almond milk.
Yea! I could keep going
And then came my fall. At the festival I was eating rice n beans for
dinner and the very nice and generous donut lady had hot cinnamon mini
donuts that she kept giving us. Not just one or two times but three times the offer came and I
said no. And then the fourth offer came and my curiousity took over.
And four mini donuts later, the guilt arrived.
I know I should not have given in, but there was no one to keep me accountable. God reaffirmed to me the importance of having someone who is holding you accountable and not just with your food choices but with your walk with God too. I definitely need to talk to my friend Megan when she gets back from vacation. I've learned I need someone who understands and I need someone holding me accountable!
How many times can you say no to temptation? Back to my previous
thought on accountability without it we can't make it. You need to have
someone willing to jam you up!
In regards to breakfast, I was about to break and then I discovered
that Cayman grocery stores carry gluten free cereal and almond milk.
Yea! I could keep going
And then came my fall. At the festival I was eating rice n beans for
dinner and the very nice and generous donut lady had hot cinnamon mini
donuts that she kept giving us. Not just one or two times but three times the offer came and I
said no. And then the fourth offer came and my curiousity took over.
And four mini donuts later, the guilt arrived.
I know I should not have given in, but there was no one to keep me accountable. God reaffirmed to me the importance of having someone who is holding you accountable and not just with your food choices but with your walk with God too. I definitely need to talk to my friend Megan when she gets back from vacation. I've learned I need someone who understands and I need someone holding me accountable!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Traveling with a Special Diet Part II: Eggs and potatoes . . .
It has only been 4 mornings in Cayman and I'm tired. Tired of eating eggs (any way you like 'em) and potatoes for breakfast. We have a buffet set out for our team of volunteers. Pancakes, cereal, french toast, bacon while at home it doesn't look good unless you say it's gluten free, sugar free or made of turkey but in Cayman it all looks good.
So I have to believe, you the reader, is there holding me accountable. Well, besides God. Again, God says "Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No." And I'm accountable to Him.
It reminds me why it is important in our Christian walk to have others to hold us accountable to walking with Jesus, to be Jesus' representative on earth. Because, as for the food, I'm still vulnerable. My flesh wants pancakes but I know they are not good for me. Know you are not alone when desire is there to "cheat". But God is there to give you strength.
So I have to believe, you the reader, is there holding me accountable. Well, besides God. Again, God says "Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No." And I'm accountable to Him.
It reminds me why it is important in our Christian walk to have others to hold us accountable to walking with Jesus, to be Jesus' representative on earth. Because, as for the food, I'm still vulnerable. My flesh wants pancakes but I know they are not good for me. Know you are not alone when desire is there to "cheat". But God is there to give you strength.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Traveling with a Special Diet, Part I and Surrender
I’m currently flying over the Gulf of Mexico on my way to Grand Cayman for a Miles Ahead Do Something Festival (www.dosomethingcayman.com) . For the next 11 days I will be working in paradise or close to it—beach front resort with off the beach snorkeling. Oh wait, I will be working. Rumor has it I might not see the beach much! The drawback, I’m away from my husband and child, and I have not been away from either of them for more than 3 days.
But God has already been using this time for me to be closer to Him. This month God has been speaking to me about SURRENDER. I need to surrender all things to Him: family, work, friendships, health and my relationship with Him. It is the source of un-healthy stress in my life which overall is not good for me or for anyone. Why don’t I trust God, why don’t I surrender all to Him. He has proven over and over again that He alone is my Jehovah Jireh, my healer, my portion, my strength. But my sinful nature takes over—I want control! But we cannot possibly control everything and isn’t it comforting to know God has it all in His hands.
This brings me back to what my holistic doctor keeps quoting from Matthew, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” I am not trying to surrender, I AM surrendered. I am choosing not to stress, instead I take care of what I can but give it all to God. (Of course, it’s easier said than done.)
This leads me to my challenge on the gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and so on diet I’m on. I packed what snacks I could but I have had to put aside my worry about staying on the diet. I’m going to eat and eat as healthy as options are available. Hopefully, they don’t bread a lot of their foods.
But God has already been using this time for me to be closer to Him. This month God has been speaking to me about SURRENDER. I need to surrender all things to Him: family, work, friendships, health and my relationship with Him. It is the source of un-healthy stress in my life which overall is not good for me or for anyone. Why don’t I trust God, why don’t I surrender all to Him. He has proven over and over again that He alone is my Jehovah Jireh, my healer, my portion, my strength. But my sinful nature takes over—I want control! But we cannot possibly control everything and isn’t it comforting to know God has it all in His hands.
This brings me back to what my holistic doctor keeps quoting from Matthew, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” I am not trying to surrender, I AM surrendered. I am choosing not to stress, instead I take care of what I can but give it all to God. (Of course, it’s easier said than done.)
This leads me to my challenge on the gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and so on diet I’m on. I packed what snacks I could but I have had to put aside my worry about staying on the diet. I’m going to eat and eat as healthy as options are available. Hopefully, they don’t bread a lot of their foods.
Majestic Garlic and Budgeting
I promised my friend, Erika, that I would write about this product-- http://www.majesticgarlic.com/index.php . On one of my shopping trips to Whole Foods I discovered this dip. I have a rule to buy two “experimental” products when I go to Whole Foods. It keeps me from buying up the store and keeps me within budget. Of the two products, this was the find (I will not recommend the other: it was a gluten free, candida free bread recipe that ended up being hard as a rock!.) Back to Majestic Garlic. It only has a few ingredients—garlic, cold-pressed safflower oil, flax seed oil (Omega-3s) and lemon juice (non-concentrate). So besides being really good for you—it was really yummy. I used it as a dip for raw veggies, a spread over steamed veggies and potatoes and over salad. It was good every time. If you get a chance, pick it up—I think you will be surprised that it is a great alternative to ranch dip.
I mentioned budgeting above. I can not say how important that is when you begin to eat healthier. For some reason eating healthy, organic is just more expensive. Therefore, it is important to create a budget and stick to it. One of the things I had to implement was the cash envelope system. Each week I take the food money for the week out of the ATM and keep it in an envelope. I then use it when I go to the store. Knowing what I have keeps me from buying frivolous items are too many “experimental” items that I may not like and therefore will end up wasting if it is really bad.
I mentioned budgeting above. I can not say how important that is when you begin to eat healthier. For some reason eating healthy, organic is just more expensive. Therefore, it is important to create a budget and stick to it. One of the things I had to implement was the cash envelope system. Each week I take the food money for the week out of the ATM and keep it in an envelope. I then use it when I go to the store. Knowing what I have keeps me from buying frivolous items are too many “experimental” items that I may not like and therefore will end up wasting if it is really bad.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Yes, I'm a foodie: Pizza & Arnold Palmer
God gave us food and the ability to make some amazing dishes. Right? Well I think one staple in many of us's diets is, you guessed it: Pizza!!
And last night I used the coupon that I got in the mail for www.zpizza.com .We have eaten there a few times pre-allergen day since its walking distance from our home. My husband called it "healthy pizza" since they use organic products. I just thought it was just expensive and Costco Pizza was typically my choice. He likes his pizza all greasy with lots of pepperoni. And Z Pizza definitely does not do greasy.
Back to last night . . . I ordered a large half and half for my husband and my mom. Half Pepperoni and half California. Both were very happy with theirs (my husbands taste buds have been evolving since I have changed the way we eat at home. One day he will come fully around, I think.) And then with the coupon I got a free small pizza. And that is where I tried their new Berkeley Vegan on a gluten free crust (note: their gluten free crust only comes in the small pizza).
The Berkeley Vegan comes with marinara sauce, vegan cheese, veggie burger crumbles, mushrooms, tomatoes and I replace the onions, bell peppers, zucchini with pine nuts, avocado and artichoke hearts. It was soooooo good!! And surprise, surprise-- the cheese did not have soy in it. (Which is something I can't eat). So I thought to share the info on the cheese because it was very tasty. The brand is called Daiya and their website is www.daiyafoods.com. It has a search for locations to buy it too. Daiya is free of all the common allergens.
Onto my other suggestion for Arnold Palmer. Elana's Pantry has a recipe for lemonade made with stevia. But yesterday I made a version of an Arnold Palmer but instead of black tea, I used Tzao's Passion. My son got a hold of it and took a sip and wanted more. Enough said.
And last night I used the coupon that I got in the mail for www.zpizza.com .We have eaten there a few times pre-allergen day since its walking distance from our home. My husband called it "healthy pizza" since they use organic products. I just thought it was just expensive and Costco Pizza was typically my choice. He likes his pizza all greasy with lots of pepperoni. And Z Pizza definitely does not do greasy.
Back to last night . . . I ordered a large half and half for my husband and my mom. Half Pepperoni and half California. Both were very happy with theirs (my husbands taste buds have been evolving since I have changed the way we eat at home. One day he will come fully around, I think.) And then with the coupon I got a free small pizza. And that is where I tried their new Berkeley Vegan on a gluten free crust (note: their gluten free crust only comes in the small pizza).
The Berkeley Vegan comes with marinara sauce, vegan cheese, veggie burger crumbles, mushrooms, tomatoes and I replace the onions, bell peppers, zucchini with pine nuts, avocado and artichoke hearts. It was soooooo good!! And surprise, surprise-- the cheese did not have soy in it. (Which is something I can't eat). So I thought to share the info on the cheese because it was very tasty. The brand is called Daiya and their website is www.daiyafoods.com. It has a search for locations to buy it too. Daiya is free of all the common allergens.
Onto my other suggestion for Arnold Palmer. Elana's Pantry has a recipe for lemonade made with stevia. But yesterday I made a version of an Arnold Palmer but instead of black tea, I used Tzao's Passion. My son got a hold of it and took a sip and wanted more. Enough said.
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