Diet

10 Tips to be a Smarter Gluten-Free Cook

jen_fugosmallEver get tired of cooking? Or maybe you live alone and don’t enjoy cooking for one?

One of the best lessons I’ve learned while being gluten-free is that in order to eat the best you possibly can, you’ve got to cook it yourself. You know that gluten-free doesn’t necessarily mean healthy, so you can’t count on just purchasing products to meet the nutritional needs of your body. But I think you already know that, right? (If you don’t, consider one of these options for learning more about being gluten-free AND healthy!)

Though you know you need to cook, I’ve heard the full spectrum of why people get into a rut and feel like they just can’t make cooking a priority. Whether you Read More »

Eating Gluten-Free? Are You Eating Enough Protein?

chick fil a nuggets gluten freeAccording to a Wall Street Journal article, The Gluten-Free Craze: Is It Healthy? (6/23/2014) — over 29% of people surveyed said they are cutting back gluten consumption or avoiding it completely.

Whether a gluten-free diet is a “craze” or fad for those not diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten-sensitivity is debatable. Important questions for anyone eating a restrictive diet — for whatever reason, should be, “am I eating a balanced diet? Am I eating optimal amounts of protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for my individual needs?” Read More »

Are You Eating A Low Fiber Gluten-Free Diet?

glutenfreerooseveltlodgebeans[1]Did you know that eating a low fiber diet puts you at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease — including heart attack and stroke, obesity and even colon cancer? Obviously getting enough fiber in our diets is extremely important for our long term health.

Gluten-free diets don’t have to be low fiber diets but if you’re eating a lot of packaged gluten-free foods, especially snack foods made with refined gluten-free ingredients like white rice flour and corn starch, you may not be getting close to the daily recommendations for fiber.

So what kind of fiber is best and how much fiber do we really need to eat every day to support good health?

Types of Dietary Fiber and Health Benefits

Three kinds of dietary fiber have been identified — soluble fiber, insoluble fiber and one you may not have heard about before called resistant starch. Each type of fiber has unique chemical properties and Read More »

Avoid gluten free dietary blunders

veggiesroots

For people with diagnosed celiac disease or autoimmune related gluten intolerance, eating a gluten free diet is not optional. It’s the only medical treatment currently available and requires 100 percent lifelong adherence.

In addition, other conditions frequently occur alongside celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Maintaining health requires attention to lifestyle behaviors and adequate nutrition that will improve quality of life and prevent complications. The following three tips will ensure success eating gluten free. Read More »

Gluten-Free Diet Tip: Top 5 in-season vegetables for September

Jessica_Meyers_Exam_Pic

Who doesn’t love fall weather? The colors changing on the leaves, cooler weather (well, maybe we will be a couple degrees less than 100), the beginning of a new football season, the glorious Austin City Limits Music Festival, the list goes on. Some of the best tasting vegetables are also in season in the fall such as the mushrooms, oranges, lemons, cauliflower and fennel. All of the following vegetables have unique flavors and can be used in a variety of dishes. The top five are:

Mushrooms
Mushrooms are known for their immune boosting benefits in the nutrition world. They have been used for thousands of years in helping prevent cancer, boost the immune system and are also known as a great anti-aging food. There are several different types of mushrooms that are fabulous to cook with. Try grilling some beefy Portobello’s with Italian seasonings for a nice vegetarian meal this fall.

Oranges
The beloved orange; it’s one of the most popular fruits in North America. Known for the immune boosting vitamin C, oranges have many other health benefits. Oranges also have a good amount of Potassium (which helps with muscle contraction), fiber and vitamin A. Oranges are very versatile when it comes to cooking. Try this yummy recipe from celiac.com: Orange Chicken. Read More »

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Morning Glory Muffin Recipe

Gluten Free Works Author Teri Gruss

Gluten-Free Morning Glory Muffins
2010 © Teri Lee Gruss, licensed to About.com, Inc.

The original Morning Glory muffin recipe is said to have originated on Nantucket Island, the creation of Chef Pam McKinstry. I can’t think of a better gluten-free breakfast and snack muffin than Morning Glory muffins with well over a quart of healthy fruits, carrots and nuts added. And these fragrant cinnamon spiced muffins are gluten and dairy free.

This recipe is a gluten-free adaptation of “The Original Morning Glory Muffins” which appears in The Earthbound Farm Organics Cookbook – Food to Live By by Myra Goodman with Linda Holland and Pamela McKinstry.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients: Read More »

The Top 5 Myths of the Gluten Free Diet Debunked

This article debunks the five major myths that seem to persist when it comes to the gluten-free diet.

  1. Gluten-Free Is a Weight Loss Diet

False. Removing gluten from your diet is not a weight loss diet.

Do some people lose weight? Yes. Why?

Many people have reported losing weight when they adopted a gluten-free diet. Losing ten to twenty pounds makes a big difference in how a person looks. People see this and ask, “What did you do?” The person replies, “I went gluten-free.” Other people hear, and since EVERYONE is “trying” to lose weight, the gluten-free diet becomes a weight loss diet…especially once reporters start spreading the word.

The gluten-free diet is not a weight loss diet, but weight loss can be a side effect. It was for me.

How does this weight loss work? Read More »

Tips to Help You Start a Gluten-free Diet

More and more people are on a gluten-free diet these days. Whether you have Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance, an allergy, autism, or an anti-inflammatory disease, your situation is the same. You need to figure out how to tackle this crazy world of gluten-free living.

Our society is so gluten-filled that it can often be overwhelming to think about not eating gluten for the rest of your life. We are told to eat our multi-grain cereal for breakfast, our sandwich on wheat bread for lunch and fancy high-fiber grains with our dinner. But what do you do if you can’t eat any of these things anymore? Read More »