Grocery shopping the easy gluten free way!!

Many times when we start a new diet it is not as overwhelming as the gluten free diet. So here is a simple way to do this. The first thing is do not get overwhelmed or what I mean is think of what you can have and not what you can't have. This will keep you positive so you will think more clearly. Their is so many thing you can get at any grocery store. The awareness of the gluten free diet is becoming well known. That means that many of  the grocery stores do have gluten free items like, pasta, cookies, cake mixes, breads and many frozen items too. Just look for it! Just last week I was shopping at Smiths grocery store and I always check out there clearance items at the back of the store in odd places I do have to say. But I find many times gluten free items. Last week I got a whole case of the new gluten free Bisquick by Betty Crocker for $ 1.99 a box and it was not expired. Talk about a great deal. Also many time I get Pamela's cookies or cookies from Glutino, Kinnikinnick or even Ener-G products. Also there is all kinds of mixes and so on. I love to get a great deal on gluten free stuff because it is so expensive. So in short think of what you can have and be positive just look around, take your time you will be surprised at what you will find. Have a great night. Pamela
 

Tonight tips on dining out!

When we are new to this diet most people wonder if they can still eat out? The answer to that is yes. Here is what you do.
1. Do not be afraid to speak up and ask for a gluten free menu.
2.Explain your needs fully and if you feel that they do not under stand you ask for the kitchen manager or head chef.
3. Do not be afraid to bring your own salad dressing, bread or rolls, or crackers. No one will care and it takes the pressure off of the restaurant people to make sure that every thing is OK and not cross-contaminated with gluten. Remember they want your money and for you to come back again and have a good experience.
Their is so many places to eat out and most of them have a gluten free menu. Every one is getting on board and  it is becoming big and that is good for you. From fast food restaurants like McDonald's to fine dining restaurants. You will not be alone. Be leave it or not I have found that Italian restaurants have the biggest menu options than any other type of restaurants. So go out enjoy, try some thing new and think positive it will be OK. Remember also that know matter if you eat out or in you always have a chance of getting cross-contamination that is a part of life with this diet. Eat to live, rather than live to eat. Take the chance!! Have a great night. Pamela

How to start a teenager on a gluten free diet!

I know that when you look at the gluten free diet at first you may think that no way I can not do that! Thinking that this diet is the death of me I have to eat to live and I will never enjoy food again. My girl Lexi at the time was 16 and knew she needed to do the gluten free diet but did not want to give up the gluten. Of course she was always sick with tummy pain and acid reflex and had no energy and very grumpy. But to her it looked like she would never be normal and do normal things like going out to eat on a date. I knew that I had to help her to see that she would feel better and be happier if she would just try it. So one day when she was sick and in pain I gave her a challenge to give me one week of a gluten free diet. I told her I would cook all the things that she liked, pizza, brownies ,pasta, and I even made her a marble cheesecake her favorite. It only took three days she could see that it was not so bad and she felt really good and had more energy. She even went out on a date and it was not a problem at all. Most eating places have a gluten free menu and it was no big deal. So just give it a try. Needless to say she never cheats because it is not worth it. I just had to take little steps with her and let her do the rest. I told her that life is to short to feel not good all the time. This is her time to learn and make choices that will affect the rest of her life and this time will go fast! She is now in her second year in collage and lives with room mates doing great and even cooking gluten free. She has even educated her friends on her diet. So she has no problems everyone understands why she has to be gluten free. Just remember little steps and their will be a time that you can go for it to help them get started. Have a good night.
Pamela

Here is some more help for you!

Books are a good way to learn and get started. Here is some of my suggestions.

Why you need protein!!

Protein is very important and your body will tell you when you need it. Before you were on the gluten free diet your body was starving and you just did not know it. You were lacking protein and fiber because you could not feed your body cell through the normal way. That is your intestines for what ever reason that you have to be eating gluten free. When you do the diet right your body needs to get back to a healthy state meaning it starts with your blood since that is how your body feeds the cells throughout your body. So you will crave protein so listen to your body!! Eat more eggs, peanut butter,or any thing that you like that has high protein. My husband has on him always protein bars so when he needs it he has it. How he can tell when he needs it is he gets light headed, shaky, and not feel good at all and it comes on quick! It takes 20 minutes after he eats his protein bar to feel good again. So remember protein every day will do your body good. Have a great night.
Pamela

Something to think about

This is the time of year that we start to think about what we want to accomplish in the up coming year. One thing that many think about is 72 hour kits and food storage. I would say that this is number one from what I here. I can help you with that. I have a great program I just don't have enough space or time to put it in my blog. So if you are interested in this please contact me. Leave me a comment on my blog along with your contact number and I will get back to you. I will not give out or post any of your information it will be just between you and me. I am a consultant on gluten free and I have been doing this for years. I am also a co-founder of the support group GIG at St. Marks hospital in Salt Lake City Utah.We have a very large group and our numbers go up every month. I also teach gluten free cooking classes and have been  for seven years. I have been their! When I started doing the gluten free thing it was in the dark ages I call it. There was nothing out there and that was in January 2002. I think I did every thing the hard way and I would not want any one to go through what I went through. That is why I do what I do. So let me help you!
Pamela

A quick review

I think it is good to review this subject on Carmel color, vinegar, and modified food starch. I get this question asked many times. So here it is. Carmel color is OK in less after it on the label it says from wheat. Most of the time it comes from corn. Vinegar, all vinegar is OK except for malt vinegar it is processed different and it is the only one processed that way. Modified food starch is OK in less behind it says from wheat. Wheat is one of the top food that people are intolerant of and it has to be stated on the label if it is in it. On the other hand barley they do not have to state. Their is only one other name that barley is under and that is malt. So any thing that has malt with it and it is two words is not OK . What I mean is it has to be also two words not one. For example malt flavoring, malt extract, malt vinegar, malt syrup, malted milk. If it is one word with malt in it it is some thing different like maltodextrin. This is OK it comes from corn, potato, and rice. So just remember one word OK, two words, no way! Simple to remember. If you have any questions please let me know. Have a great day.
Pamela

Tonight a recipe Hello Dollys

 1/2 cup ( 1 stick ) margarine
1 cup crushed GF cereal or cookies or even pie crust cooked
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
6 oz ( 1/2 package ) chocolate chips
6 oz ( 1/2 package ) butterscotch chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 325
 In a 9" x 13" pan, melt the margarine. Add in cereal, cookie, or what you want to use and press in bottom to form crust or bottom layer. Add in layers the rest of the ingredients in the order listed. Bake for 30 minutes. When cool, cut in 1- to 11/2- inch squares. Makes 41/2 to 5 dozen cookies.

This is a very simple and good. This is for you Cindy good luck!!
Pamela

What is xanthan gum?

 I know that every one wonders why do we have to use xantan gum in all our baking. Here is the reason. Xantan gum is your binder in simple form. What it is made from? When the tiny microorganism called Xanthomonas Campestris is allowed to grow under the right conditions, it builds a protective covering around itself, a cell coat that possesses very special properties. If the organism is grown in a laboratory, large amounts of this cell coat can be removed by a chemical process ,dried, and milled to form a powder called Xanthan gum. The cell coat of the organism is somewhat similar to the protective shell surrounding a peanut. Both are polysaccharides, which means that they are long chains of simple sugars linked together. But they are joined by links that the human intestine cannot split apart. This means that they are not readily absorbed and that very few of the sugar units can be used by our cells for energy. Thus, the caloric value of xanthan gum is very low. It provides only 0.5 kcal per gram, one eighth of the amount provided by sugars that our bodies can fully utilize. Each tablespoon contains about eight calories. OK that is allot to say in big words so if you look at the ingredients on what you have all ready  precooked ready to eat. You will see that xantan gum is in it. It is commonly used in cakes, breads, baked goods, sauces,and even soups. Amazing what this expensive powder can do. I hope that this will help you see why we have to use xantan gum. have a great night.
Pamela