Don't let the skeptics get you down.

There's been a LOT of information about gluten-free living in the last year. Some of it is awesome: different manufacturers are making gf products, more restaurants have gf menus. Then it hit me:

A lot of people are doing this like it was the Atkins diet. Remember when everyone jumped on that bandwagon?

Nobody really thought it was a good idea, but restaurants and producers aren't idiots. If they can make something that's going to sell, they'll do it.

Most people that haven't been gluten-free think it's a total waste of money. Those of us that have an intolerance understand that we're really doing better for not having gluten in our lives. Why, then, do so many posts just undermine what we already know?

Because people will do anything for weight loss, and they'll follow whatever fad yells the loudest. Are people that dumb? No. But they are that desperate. About a year ago, I had a friend who "was interested in the gluten-free thing for weight loss." That person proceeded to order cheese tortellini covered in alfredo sauce.

Gluten-free isn't a weight loss diet. Brown rice, tapioca, and millet flours are actually more calorically dense than crappy white bread flours. Granted, nutritionally they are very dense, so you need less of them, but I digress. I've lost a total of maybe 6 pounds in the last year on a gf diet. Yeah.

Moral of this story, don't let the media tell you it's hype if you know you're doing/feeling better. Not everyone reacts the same way, but it doesn't mean that you're wrong.

Grocery List

Well, we made it.

We made it through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Past the crazy family, crazy schedules, and food that we thought was trying to kill us. Now is the time to make changes.

Did I say "Resolutions"? No. Eff that. I said CHANGES. Because, let's face it. You're not going to go to the gym every day. You're probably not going to lose all the weight that you'd like to lose in the next six months.

But you can make yourself healthier. That sounds easy.

Until you hit the grocery store.

Grocery shopping in general is enough to make even the most hardened of Green Berets cower in a corner holding a doll and crying. There's a reason I think kids cry for things in stores: they hate going. They hate going almost as much as the grown-ups forcing them to go. They just get to whine about it a tad more because they're kids. Having a baby and going grocery shopping is like planning for the D-Day invasion and Tete Offensive at the same time. So, when you go, do yourself a favor and make a list.

If you are just starting out, these are a few things you can put on your list.

* Gluten-Free pasta. I use the Heartland brand found at Walmart. It's pretty good, fairly inexpensive, and works the exact same way as regular pasta. My husband can't even tell a difference.

* Gluten-Free bread. This is usually found in the freezer section, as gf bread goes bad much faster than regular bread. On a side note, it goes bad faster BECAUSE THERE IS LESS CRAP IN IT. Ahem... anyway.

* Gluten-Free pizza crusts. Again, also in the freezer section. They are a lifesaver: bake with some garlic and olive oil and use as a dipper for hummus. Top with spinach, artichokes, and tomatoes, and you've got a quick pizza. I also shake some nitrate-free bacon pieces on there.

* Corn tortillas and/or taco shells. Most of the time, these are naturally gluten free. I usually just get corn tortillas since I can make them into tostadas, chips, etc. and they're more versatile. But I love taco shells, so on occasion, they're pretty awesome.

* Eggplant. Sounds crazy, but if you trim the skin off an eggplant (and, provided you don't also have a dairy allergy) you can use these as lasagna noodles, and they're ahhhmazing. Gf lasagna noodles do exist, but they can be hard to find, and quite expensive.

* Olive oil. If you don't normally buy this stuff, give it a whirl. It can replace butter in just about every recipe, and combine very well with the above mentioned pasta. Add some basil, tomatoes, and grilled chicken (even those pre-sliced grilled strips work in a pinch) and you have a great meal in about 12 minutes.

* Spinach. If you replace your regular lettuce with baby spinach, you will double your calcium intake for that day. Not kidding. Use it everywhere you'd normally use lettuce, and jolt your immune system as well as your mineral intake.

* Bag of grilled chicken strips. I like the John Soules version, and you can get them in bulk at Sam's. They're terrific for super fast meals. Heat them up, put them on the spinach with some cranberries and raw cheese or feta for a super quick salad that's amazing. Heat with olive oil, basil, tomato, and garlic and toss over fresh pasta for a chicken pomodoro in about 12-15 minutes. Put on a pizza crust with spinach, artichoke, and garlic (Shut up. I love garlic.) for a great pizza in about 15 minutes.

* Natural peanut butter. Go ahead and compare the ingredient list between a natural peanut butter and the regular brand, and then ask me why it's on here. It's a great source of protein. Couple it with gf toast or an apple, and it's a great snack with lots of energy potential.

* Eggs. Do I really have to explain this? Cheap, fast, protein.


Bottom line. Look at the ingredient list, but most of your products shouldn't have one. There's no ingredients in the produce section. Few in the meat section, and maybe a handful in the dairy section. If you're having to do dairy-free as well, then go towards eggs, spinach, broccoli, and almond milk for calcium sources. If you're breastfeeding, make sure your calorie content is high enough not to stress your body, and consequently reduce your milk supply. Good fats: advocado, olive oil, peanut butter, and flaxseed are necessary! This is about fueling your body, not stripping it down. Give your body the energy to make it through the day, and it will thank you.