In gluten-free on
8 June 2010 with 3 comments
Terrible? Too punny? My apologies.
Today marks my 8th day sans-gluten! That’s right. I’m doing it. The girl who loves bread so much that sometimes she makes a loaf and some butter and cheese into an entire meal is living gluten-free and doing ok! Thanks in no small part to the delicious gluten-free options at Earth Fare.
In general, I’ve been eating a lot more foods that come straight from “the wild.” Eggs, fruit, veggies, lean meats…I’m getting into a routine of a fried egg and some gluten-free toast for breakfast, an Itty Bitty Bites meal (wrap on a GF tortilla with fruit and some GF cookies) for lunch, and a salad – sometimes with grilled chicken – for dinner. Of course, I change it up now and then, but these are my fallback meals.
I thought for this blog post I would highlight some of MY favorite gluten-free snacks. My aunt (who also lives with autoimmune complications and who is also interested in treating her condition through diet and lifestyle) emailed me a few days ago to ask how the GF diet was going. Her main concern was that, in her experience, GF foods just didn’t taste good. I’ll share with you the solutions I shared with her:
Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread (their website)
If you’ve been trying GF products for long enough, you’ve probably run into bread that’s not exactly soft and tasty – luckily, a customer suggested we get some Udi’s in stock. It was love at first bite! Udi’s tastes and feels the way bread is supposed to taste – squishy and delicious! It’s OK to freeze – you can even ask the bakers at Earth Fare to get you a frozen loaf if you’re looking to stock up.
Pirate’s Booty (their website)
Funny name. Delicious snack. The aged cheddar has the taste of an old favorite, but I’d definitely recommend the Spinach and Kale Veggie Booty if you’re feeling a little more adventurous. I’d also recommend not underestimating the addictive power of Pirate’s Booty. I’m not too proud to admit that I’ve been known to polish off a whole bag in one sitting.
I’m also a huge fan of the gluten-free snacks from Earth Fare’s bakery…carrot cake, anyone?
There are plenty of gluten-free options available on our shelves (you can always point them out by finding the little “gluten-free” aisle signs pictured at the top of this post). That’s lucky, since many of the restaurants in town are a little late to the gluten-free party. I know that Posana runs a gluten-free kitchen, and I was thrilled to see The Hop recently added gluten-free cones to their selection. Are there any other Asheville kitchens making an effort to help out the GF population? Leave them in the comments if I’m missing anyone!
In Vegetarian, gluten-free on
31 May 2010 with no comments
So it’s the 31st and I’m proud to say I made it!
I won’t say I was the most creative or that my diet was the most varied (I ate more of our Soy Delight mock chicken salad than I’d like to admit), but I kept to my promise and I didn’t eat any meat! I’m excited about the coming month – now that my “warm-up” is over, we’re getting in to the REAL lifestyle changes.
I took to twitter today to ask for any advice or tips on a new gluten-free eater. Some of the input was encouraging and helpful:
And some, not so much:
Thanks, mom!
Gross, husband!
Do you have anything to add? I’m working on a list of common and more surprising foods containing gluten. As a bread addict and chronic carb-muncher, I’m a little worried about going through withdrawal. For those of you who have made the switch, how was your adjustment period? Did you notice any side effects? Do you have any advice for me? Leave it in the comments or email me here with your input.
In Guest Post, Vegetarian on
25 May 2010 with no comments
My wonderful friend Jennifer decided to weigh in on the matter of being a responsible carnivore. Here, she tells you why she eats meat, and how she does it the right way.
I grew up with a piece of meat on every plate with every meal. Bacon or sausage links in the morning, thinly sliced ham on my sandwich for lunch and chicken more often for dinner than anyone I knew. Meat was a necessary part of a meal.
There was NEVER any soda in our house. We had to sit at the table until we ate our vegetables. I remember sitting at the dining table in the dark, crickets chirping, and the rest of the family watching reruns of Andy Griffith downstairs while I stared at the huge mound of peas on my plate (Peas are one of my favs now.)
I say this to stress that my parents wanted us to be healthy and eat a well rounded, full food-grouped diet. This being said, the words “organic” or “grass fed” were never uttered. Was it because information about processed foods and factory farming wasn’t available then?
I do remember stories my Dad told about it being a big deal if he and his brother had steak growing up. Meat used to be a treat and much more expensive. Factory farming and corn subsidies from our government made meat more accessible, affordable, and ultimately more dangerous.
Today I’m bombarded with information about what is in the foods I eat and how animals raised for our insatiable appetite for meat are raised. To many, this information points to only one logical moral conclusion – be a vegetarian. After many debates and research, I can commit to being a conscious meat eater.
To my militant veggie hailing friends there is no such thing as a conscious meat eater. I salute you, but I want to eat meat (sometimes) and I want to feel good about it.
How do I feel good about feeding off the flesh?
-I buy local whenever possible. This allows me to really know where my meat comes from. I can visit and literally look into my dinner’s eyes.
-I only buy meat that is antibiotic, growth hormone and steroid free. If I’m going to eat meat, I want meat, not chemicals.
-I only buy meat that has been fed what it would naturally eat and lives a happy life.
-I no longer eat meat with every meal, every day. I listen to my body and eat meat when I feel like I need it.
I feel better when I include meat in my diet and believe that the development of our teeth and digestive system were formed to allow us to process meat.
Yes, ultimately an animal must lose its life. To be a conscious meat eater you must remain aware of that loss of life. I cook with the intention of honoring the sacrifice made and choose to purchase from farms that have given this same respect to the animal during its life.
Many thanks to Jennifer for weighing in!
What do you think? By now we all know there’s a wrong way to go about eating meat. Is Jennifer doing things the right way? Is there a right way? And do our bodies need meat to be the healthiest they can be?
In Vegetarian on
24 May 2010 with no comments
I think I expected this month to be far more traumatic than it was – I really didn’t even experience a shock to my system when I cut out meat. Maybe it’s because I’ve gone through vegetarian “phases” before or maybe it’s that I don’t eat much meat to begin with, but I’d say this month was more a warm-up than a real challenge.
Not that I’m complaining!
I do feel healthier – I’ve been finding the energy to get up earlier, get outside more often, work harder…And honestly, I think that has a lot to do with the quality of food I’ve been eating.
One thing I did achieve by taking a clean break from meat was a complete slashing of all those pesky fast food sneak-attacks. I’m ashamed to admit that I fell into that trap, but yes – I was, in the past, guilty of the occasional taco run or burger stop.
Road trips were the worst – I would eat chicken for breakfast, a burger for lunch, pizza for dinner…even eating meat as rarely as I did, I think I was feeling negative effects when I wasn’t careful about the quality of meat I was eating. I know now that there can be huge benefits to being picky about my meat products – just like I know that eating questionable meat can have serious side effects.
I know that when the month began, several of you reading this blog signed a pledge to go vegetarian for the month of May. If you made the switch, how did it go for you? Are you feeling some of the benefits I’m talking about?
Next month is gluten-free, a lifestyle diet I have no experience with and little knowledge of. If you’re living gluten-free or have any advice for me, please email me or leave a comment here. I’m definitely going to need some help with this one.
In the mean time, thanks for reading! And stay tuned for a guest blog post coming soon.
In Vegetarian on
15 May 2010 with no comments
Another week down!
I’ve been feeling a little sluggish this week, and I think it has a lot to do with my LACK of motivation to cook for myself. I’ve been eating well for lunch, since I usually lunch at work, but by the time dinner comes around, I’m defaulting to some really unhealthy choices. Either I’ll just graze without committing to a full meal, or I’ll order something in (case in point: last night I caved and picked up Chinese takeout). I haven’t been eating to sustain energy, I’ve just been eating to fill my belly.
Since I have two weeks to go, I really want to turn over a new leaf for the home stretch. I realize that I’m perpetuating this cycle, and that my only option is to suck it up and cook for myself DESPITE feeling tired in hopes that eventually the food I’m cooking will help keep me from wearing down so quickly.
Since I already have stir fry groceries, I’ll be making that tonight – but tomorrow, it’s going to be our contest winner, Deanna’s recipe! She included instructions for a really yummy – sounding layered enchilada casserole. I’ll be sure to post the recipe and pics Sunday night.
We’ve also had a change in plans!
Instead of starting vegan in June, I’m going gluten free. I decided to change things up for a number of reasons (I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss meat, but that’s not all). I want to do the vegan and raw months at the peak of produce season, and I think I’ll have an easier time starting the raw regime if I’m coming off of a vegan diet.
SO my amended schedule is:
May – Vegetarian
June – Gluten Free
July – Vegan
August – Raw Foods
September – Paleo!
October – Eating for your Blood Type
As always, if you have suggestions, recipes, or other feedback, please leave them in the comments! You can also always email me at avl100demo@earthfare.com.
In Giveaway, Vegetarian on
15 May 2010 with 1 comment
According to the random.org random number generator, we owe congratulations to comment number ONE. Here’s lookin’ at you, Deanna! Email me at avl100demo@earthfare.com and we’ll get your cookbook to you.
Lydia, thanks for entering! Stop in and see me sometime and you’ll get a smoothie on me. Just give me a heads up before you come in so I can make sure to be in-store.
I’m hoping to do a giveaway for each diet, so keep reading for your chance to win!
In Giveaway, Vegetarian on
9 May 2010 with 3 comments
It’s here! The giveaway post!
So I mentioned yesterday that I’m having a little trouble with keeping variety in my diet since I’ve removed meat. Part of it’s a lack of time, and part is a lack of resources – so I’ve decided to expand my resources by turning to YOU, the person reading this blog.
I’ve got my own copy of The New Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen (available at your local Earth Fare!) and I plan to try it out (starting with my dinner tonight!), but I’d love to hear which veggie recipes are YOUR favorites. Creative, quick, or classic – I’m interested in them all.
So if you would, leave your favorite recipe (or a link to your favorite recipe) in the comments. For two additional chances to win, you can become our fan on Facebook (here) or follow us on twitter (here) and leave separate comments telling me you did either of those things. If you’re a new twitter follower, be sure to tell me your @handle so I know who to look for! Each comment will get you an entry to win the cookbook, so you’re looking at three separate chances to win – but for the facebook and twitter entries to count, you have to leave a recipe comment first. Them’s the rules.
You have until Friday the 14th to enter, so hop to it! I can’t wait to see your ideas.
In Vegetarian on
8 May 2010 with no comments
One week down!
So far, it hasn’t been too shocking to my system, although I have been tempted a few times.
I’ve found that, when I want to eat meat (especially fast food), it helps me to stop and consider where the meat came from, how it was treated, what it was injected with, how quickly it grew to full size (I’m especially creeped out by the growth hormones), and how I’ll feel after I eat it. Usually the cravings go away pretty fast.
The toughest test actually came yesterday. Part of my job at Earth Fare is cooking up DELICIOUS food every weekend – this weekend was Piedmontese Filet Mignon. From Montana Ranch, the cows are “Authentically Natural” – so no antibiotics, no GROWTH HORMONES, vegetarian feed, family ranched…essentially, all the things I would have used to guilt myself out of caving were moot. I managed to stay strong, though, because I really want to learn something from the Try It Diet.
I am having trouble being creative and cooking good veggie meals for myself. I’m ashamed to tell you guys that I actually ate bread and butter for dinner the other night (when I told my boss, she laughed at me and told me how sad that was. Whatever. It was tasty, too!). So I picked up a copy of The New Moosewood Cookbook…well, actually, I picked up TWO copies. Keep watching the blog for an announcement on how you (yes, you!) could win my 2nd copy.
Did any of you reading sign the Veg Pledge for May? How’s it going for you?
In Vegetarian on
4 May 2010 with no comments
So far, so good!
Saturday was wedding day for some of my dear friends – my hubby and I were both in the wedding. I didn’t MISS meat right away, but I did catch myself about to absent-mindedly eat meat a couple of times – once in the morning, getting ready in the bridal suite (turkey roll up) and once after the wedding when the bridal party went back out for drinks and snacks (raw oysters). Both times I caught myself, though, so no harm done! I did get to snack on lots of fruits and veggies, and the wedding food included more veggies, rice, cheese, and crackers, so I wasn’t lacking for options by any means!
Sunday, we drove back to Asheville. I started the day with more fruit and a whole wheat bagel and then loaded up on what I like to call “road trip food,” which usually consists of really healthy stuff like Skittles and Chex Mix. By the time we got back to Asheville, I was exhausted and full of junk food.
By Monday, I was back at work and surrounded by yummy, healthy options – Salad for lunch with mashed potatoes (OH yum!), yummy burrito for dinner. I feel like I’m getting the swing of things. I don’t feel like I’m missing out nutritionally OR taste-wise (tastily?). So far, meat has shown itself to be something I can definitely live without.
Do you think it’s going to get tougher as I go?
In Vegetarian on
28 April 2010 with no comments
As I embark on this dietary adventure, I’m trying to gather as much advice as I can from my colleagues and friends. I was initally hesitant to get my family’s opinion for fear that they would think I was reverting back to my high school ways – you know, being a “vegetarian” for all the wrong reasons. But as it turns out, I’m not alone in thinking that maybe we’re eating too much meat for our own good.
My grandfather was telling us about his childhood recently, and remarked that he used to eat meat once a week at most – for a special occasion or on Sunday after church. Leftovers didn’t last long (he was one of 9), so his meat-eating was truly confined to one day a week. The rest of the week, he was certainly well-nourished with vegetables, bread, plenty of starch. He grew up to be healthy and strapping – as a matter of fact, he seems to have been no worse for the wear considering the rarity of meat in his diet.
So when did we starting eating a meat with every meal? My mom mentioned that although she thinks she could give up meat with ease, she doubted that my dad would even consider it – he is a man who insists on eating meat with every meal, and I know he’s got plenty of company in that.
But why? Is it generational? Is it that the people who, as children, weren’t given the opportunity to eat meat at every meal are now “making up” for it by having it twice (or thrice) daily? When did we decide that a meal isn’t complete if we aren’t serving meat? (I know that rhymes, and I agree that it would make a clever catchphrase for the meat at every meal masses. So masses, if you’re reading this, tell me why you prefer meat at every meal, and the slogan’s yours!)
