food intolerance

I’m Leaving..

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Over the next several days I will be away at a blogging conference. As I prepare mentally and physically for this trip. I’m faced with the challenge of seeing that my family’s diet needs back home are still met. I have been preparing meals, snacks, and fun activities in order to make my time away as smooth as possible for all of those who are with my kids. This trip has truly been a team effort from the start and would not even be happening without all of the support I’ve received.

Today I thought I would share some of my tips to keeping things safe for my food sensitive children. 
I printed a gluten ingredient safe list and will give a copy to everyone who is watching my children.
 I have also prepackaged some snacks in portion snack size bags (nuts, granola, and raisins). 
The lunch bin is filled with some of their favorites (Boars head lunch meat, peanut butter and jelly (sun butter for my little man), gluten free bread, crackers, and pretzels. 
I have been blessed beyond words and didn’t need to plan a single dinner (I know amazing, right?!) Our grand-neighbors and grandparents have dinner time covered in order to further assist daddy with our usual crazy evenings. If this was not the case I do keep some staples in the freezer (gluten free meatballs, meatloaf, and gf pizza) just to name a few. 
These are some of the things I have been doing to make life run smoothly back home; it is never easy to be the one left behind holding down the fort and with so many food issues at times it can be down right stressful. My husband travels periodically and I do know from my own “fort holding” experiences. It helps to have a good frame of mind, a well thought out plan, and with a little prep work things work much better while part of your “team” is away. 
Now, that said; since this time I’m the one leaving I can also now see how it’s really not any easier being on the other side of the fence. The guilt of leaving your loved ones behind and the anxiety (oh’ boy). I know this trip will be a growing experience for all of us. I’m so unbelievably grateful for the experience and all of those who are helping to make it happen; especially my wonderful husband! 

A Day at a Time

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When we decided to go gluten and dairy free for K.bear we saw results almost instantly. Therefore, keeping up with the life changes we implemented were quite simple to accept. However, not all people can or will see results that quickly making a commitment to change ones former way of eating may at times seem like an impossible task. If you and your doctor feel that making a complete diet make over is necessary and a good option then; I encourage you to stick it out through the long haul. I know it is hard and can be expensive. However, if food is your enemy then food is also part of your solution.

Our bodies did not become overloaded  over night. Years of build up in our systems are just now being passed onto our future generations. I’m afraid we are just at beginning of discovering how severe the many years of convenience and overly processed foods have been on our bodies. When combined with increased pesticide and environmental pollution the havoc our bodies have endured is now showing its face. With the increased cancer statistics, autism rates, tumors, mental health disorders, celiac disease, childhood allergies, diabetes, and blood pressure it is paramount that we go back to our roots. You might need to dig deep to find your perfect solution but going back to the way our great ancestors once did I think is a great place to start. The deterioration didn’t happen in a day so it is unreasonable to expect to see results in a day. It may take time and patience, but if you are having problems and searching for answers then  it is a good assumption that a commitment is going to be needed. The key to healing is time; the healing is your health and your future. (Tweet That)

Brands We Love

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Nearly two years ago as I cleared out our pantry shelves, emptied the freezers, dumped, and donated 75% of our food; surely I thought; “I’ve I lost my marbles” occurred more than a few times. What were we going to eat? What would I feed my family of five {soon to be six}? 


Thankfully several friends served as a guiding light in many ways; they shared stories of baking triumphs and failures. They led me to brands their families enjoy and the stores that carry them. It quickly became clear that I was out of my normal shopping zone and I hope if you are making a switch that this can in some small way serve as your light. Those days of purging food were dark and having hands to hold got me through it.

 A typical shopping trip for me once included mostly organic foods (crackers, snacks, pastas, sauces, etc.) fruit and veggies were ordered from Door2Door Organics or the local farmers market, and all meat was ordered from an area farm. How was I to know that just because it’s “organic” the first ingredients were still wheat flour? If the flour used was wheat regardless of the non-chemically altered state it was no longer going to work in our home. I needed wheat, barley, rye, and oat free. Organic or not my list was vastly different.

In fact did you know you know that shopping the outskirts of your grocery store is actually the only part you really need? The inner stocked shelves are mostly processed foods that our bodies have become overloaded with. Now, that said; balance is vital in a gluten free diet or any “diet” per say. Remember just because it’s a gluten free packaged item in no way does it make it healthier. Gluten free foods are typically not fortified with the added vitamins as it’s “normal” counterparts. Eating gluten free is not a weight loss diet either as many of the foods carry a higher sugar or fat content in order to compensate for the texture “loss” that gluten provides.  

Some products we use/enjoy;
Udi brand most anything (bread, bagels, cookies, and cinnamon rolls) 
Bobs Red Mill or Trader Joes GF oats
Trader Joe wheat less waffles
Glutino Pretzels

*I will continue to compile a list of products we use. Affiliate links are included for your convenience if a purchase should be made directly through these links a portion of the sale will help support my family.