What does a gluten-free breakfast look like???

Hi everyone! I have had a lot of questions lately about what does eating gluten-free look like? I thought I would tackle one meal at a time.  Because breakfast is the first meal of the day, that's where I have decided to begin.  Now, to begin, make a list of what you normally eat for breakfast.  If it's cereal or oatmeal, the good news is, there are plenty of gluten-free cereals out there and a few gluten-free oatmeal brands to choose from.  In the cereal isle of just about every grocery store is Chex cereal.  http://chex.com/Recipes/GlutenFree.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=chex+gluten+free&utm_term=gluten%20free%20chex%20cereal  And not to be left out in the gluten-free product race, Post cereals are joining along, too! http://postfoods.com/our-brands/pebbles/?gclid=CPrL9sug0rcCFSVk7AodCjgARg.  
And one of our favorite brands of cereals, that can usually be found in the organic section of regular grocery stores, is Nature's Path http://shop.naturespath.com/Gluten-Free/c/NaturesPath@GlutenFree.
And another brand found in the organic section is http://www.glutino.com/products/cereals/apple-cinnamon-cereal/ .  Their products are AMAZING! And so many to choose from!

Now, what about oatmeal? There are some brands that say "gluten-free" that are only gluten-free because of their ingredients, NOT because of anything else.  Meaning, there may be cross-contamination.  For those of you that have Celiac or allergies, this could be a serious problem.  Bob's Red Mill gluten-free products have been known to be a problem for those with these diseases.  Here are two articles that address this issue: http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/glutenfreegrains/f/Is-Oatmeal-Gluten-Free.htm  and http://www.celiac.com/categories/Celiac-Disease-and-Oats%3A-Are-They-Gluten%252dFree%3F/.  Being oatmeal loving people, we have look at the facts and decided to find those products that are certified gluten-free. This next product is one we LOVE!! It's one I have found at Kroger, Whole Foods and honestly, I've ordered in online when I can.  https://www.bakeryonmain.com/Products/Store/tabid/135/categoryid/8/instantoatmeal/Default.aspx?categoryid=8.  There are a lot of flavors and they are delicious!! 
The next brand is one found at Kroger, Whole Foods and online, also.  It's one I have sent with my son while he's hiking the Appalachian Trail.  He loves them, too!  http://www.glutenfreedafoods.com/oatmeal.html. 

Please take the few minutes to check out the links and see for yourself! Take a deep breath and remember, you're not going to have to go through this alone.  I am here.  And if it helps, fruits are gluten-free and a great way to start the day! And if you're concerned about fiber or getting the vitamins and protein you need (or your child needs), try making a smoothie with bananas, spinach (I promise you won't taste it!), a non-dairy milk of your choice, some kind of peanut butter (and if you're allergic use sunflower butter), a splash of cinnamon, a TBSP of honey or agave nectar, some blue berries, strawberries and maybe even a little bit of pineapple, some ice, and waa-laa, you'll have one healthy breakfast!!! And just to add to your benefit, 1 cup of spinach has 0.9grams of protein. A banana has 1.3 grams of protein.  One strawberry, just 1, has 0.1grams of protein (and no one eats just one!). Blue berries, well 1 cup has 1.1grams of protein.  And hold on to your hats, because a pineapple, well it has 4.9grams of protein!!!

So, there you go! You're set for a yummy gluten-free breakfast that will not only fill your belly, but feed your body the nutrients it needs to keep moving!!

Have a great gluten-free day!!  And as always, thanks for joining me!!

Caroline

There's an app for that!!

Oh boy! I realized that the website I just shared with you, the emeals one, has an app!!! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/emeals-meal-planning-grocery/id575756462?mt=8.
I have just downloaded it and will be trying the 7 day free trial.  If you have a smart phone, or even an itunes account, check it out! What do you have to loose??

Carry on and have a great gluten-free day!!

Caroline

No time to menu plan??? Here's a solution!!

Hello again everyone! Today must be my day to share helpful information because I found another website for those of you that are so super busy (like myself!) that while the idea of menu planning is great and all, you don't have time for it.  There's a website http://emeals.com/meal-plans/gluten-free/ that does it all for you! And, it has other menu options available, too! They have 3 meal options: 3 month subscription for $21, 6 month for $35, and the best deal is 12 months subscription for $58.  They also offer a Weekday Lunches menu for $4 a month that gives your 5 packable weekday lunches and a Healthy Breakfast menu that serves 4 people for $3 a month.  The other cool thing about this website is you get a detailed, and I do mean detailed, shopping list for the actual store you will shop at with detailed recipes for the items on the menu! That is super cool!!  I actually said, "Cool beans!" out loud at my desk when I saw this!! 

Well, I believe my job here is done for now.  Carry on and have a great gluten-free day!!!

Caroline

This website may become your best resource EVER!!!

While looking around Facebook today, I noticed one of those annoying ads on the side.  Except this time, instead of ignoring it, I clicked on it.  And was I ever so glad that I did!!  This website is so very helpful.  I wish there had been something like this 8 years ago!! If you're wondering how to go gluten-free, this website is a MUST!!!  http://glutenfreeresourcedirectory.com/uid/84202409-2cd1-44b8-9d08-b706028ae12d

Blogs, blogs, and more blogs!

One of the things I love to do, is to find other blogs to point you to. (The rhyming is completely accidental by the way!)  Anywho, I'm going to post a few links to other blogs that I visit on a regular basis.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! https://www.getmealplans.com/blog/2013/04/16/how-build-salad-jar/.

This next one has 25 top gluten-free blogs! WOOHOO! I've hit the jackpot!! http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/SkinnyScoop_Staff/top-25-gluten-free-blogs-of-2012.

Here's another: http://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/
And one more before I go for the day: http://blog.julesglutenfree.com/

Have a great gluten-free day!!!

Caroline

Gluten-free sub sandwich?!?! WHAaatt! YES please!

Hey everyone! I wanted to share something with you that my son recently created.  Now I know that some of you are well aware of how Udi's bread isn't always free of, well, holes.  For those of you that don't know, their bread can have an entire piece with half of the piece of bread missing, just gone.  And yes, it is in the slices next to it.  Very frustrating, especially considering the cost of a loaf of their bread.  Anywhere from $5-$7.  But, while at a local health food store, The Health Nut Nutrition in Wyndhurst in Lynchburg, VA, I happened upon a loaf of Udi's gluten-free bread, but not just any bread, a baguette! I also found gluten-free chicken meatballs.  The look on David's face was priceless! After he baked the bread, he cut the loaf in half then cut each half long ways, as to make a sub sandwich.  He placed some shredded cheese and the meatballs he had warmed up on the sub and what do you know, but he had himself a sub! Because the bag of baguettes came with 2 baguettes, he made the same thing to take to lunch the next day.  He wrapped it in cling wrap and then warmed it up in the cling wrap the next day for lunch and sad it was AWESOME!! So glad to hear this!

So see, eating gluten-free can be done! It is possible to re-create some of your favorite foods.  And, as always, I'm here to help.  Feel free to send your questions and concerns my way!! 

Have a great gluten-free day!!

Caroline

Another cool website!

http://mykitchenshrink.com/baking-guide/


Hope you like the information as much as I did!!