What's In My Grocery Cart?

Crazy Diet - Aisle 100?

I cannot even guess the number of times I have been asked "well then what DO you eat?". When I got hit with all these allergies and diet restrictions in my mid-20s, I literally was shocked and so very confused. I made some bad choices, have accidentally eaten some of my no-foods (and paid the price), but I also learned a lot along the way. Today's post is a sneak peak into my favorite foods and what's in my grocery cart. I don't need a fancy market for my needs - Kroger fits me just fine!

Here's a summary of what I'm dealing with:

• Gluten Intolerance
• Tree Nut Allergy
• Lactose Intolerance
• Sesame Seed Allergy

Along with that, I try to avoid MSG (causes me to have asthma attacks) as well as aspartame (causes severe belly issues). I am careful to read all labels on every single item I pick up and even consider putting in my cart. This is the number one lesson I can teach you - READ THE LABELS! You have to learn about all these hidden ingredients that are in our foods. As you begin to read the labels on your quick and easy frozen dinners for example, you might just be shocked. If I cannot pronounce it, I don't eat it!

Also, I try to shop primarily the parameter of the store. This really helps you to stay focused on the most essential nutrient-dense items. I do wander in occasionally for specific ingredients but the majority of my time is spent outside of the aisles.

Let's break this down by section. The items I have listed are what I keep in stock. Obviously I don't use them up every week so they come and go off my list but they are my go-to items. I also have to vary my items by season and availability, so keep that in mind.

1. Produce - Fruit (depends on what is in season)
1. Organic Apples
2. Bananas
3. Organic Red Grapes
4. Organic Blueberries
5. Organic Strawberries
6. Melon (honeydew or cantaloupe)
7. Mango
2. Produce - Vegetables
1. Organic Baby Carrots
2. Organic Celery Hearts
3. Organic Baby Spinach
4. Cucumber
5. Bell Peppers (organic when available)
3. Produce - Other
1. Sweet Onion
2. Sweet Potato (love the microwavable ones)
3. Acorn Squash
4. Spaghetti Squash
4. Dairy
1. Organic Lactose Free Milk (Horizon or Organic Valley)
2. Organic Large Brown Eggs
3. Lifeway Keifer (plain)
4. Sargento Natural Cheese Snacks (hard cheese is low in lactose)
5. Simply Bliss Coffee Creamer or So Delicious Coffee Creamer
6. Ranch Dressing (Simply Dressed is my favorite)
5. Meat
1. Organic Chicken Breasts (2)
6. Frozen
1. Gluten Free Frozen Waffles (Vans)
2. Gluten Free Frozen Pizza (Udi's)
3. Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread (Udi's)
4. Gluten Free Millet and Chia Bread (Udi's)
5. Frozen Mixed Berries
6. Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia Fro-Yo (1 pint)
7. Frozen Vegetables (any variety - sometimes specific to a recipe)
7. Miscellaneous Items
1. Organic Chicken Broth
2. Popcorn (for air-popper)
3. Sunflower Butter or Earth Balance Peanut Butter and Coconut Spread
4. Organic Jam
5. York Peppermint Patties (snack size)
6. Brown Basmati Rice
7. Ginger Ale
8. Organic Ginger Tea Bags, Organic Peppermint Tea Bags, Yogi Detox Tea Bags
9. K-Cups of Coffee for the Keurig
10. Organic Pasta Sauce

Well there you have it - my grocery cart in a nutshell. Of course sometimes there are sales and specials and so extra items meander their way into my cart but I wanted you to get a sense of the options that are out there (including what I splurge on). And this is without going to specialty stores like Trader Joes or Whole Foods, which offer even more variety and options. I love that with the Kroger Plus Card, they track my most commonly purchased foods (especially store brand) and will send me coupons for these items in the mail! Yes, you really can save money and eat right!

When you make a decision, or are forced, to eliminate a food from your diet, it is NOT the end of the world. It will be hard but you will learn you are not condemned to a life of salads with no dressing, I promise! I encourage you to get on Pinterest and start searching for recipes. Look on Amazon for allergy free cook books and resources. There is so much information and options out there just waiting for you! And trust me, with a little patience, you'll be eating yummy food that doesn't cause you grief in no time!

Please feel free to comment with more great items you've found in your store!

Gluten Intolerance

Living a Gluten Free Life - Gluten Intolerance

Food allergies and intolerance issues are blowing up on social media! I'd like to deviate away from essential oils and tackle this topic today. 

Everyone seems to understand and accept food allergies. People are allergic to peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, and a little of everything else. The general public accepts this and acknowledges the potential danger that occurs if the item is ingested or sometimes even inhaled or touched. But what about food intolerance? Ah, this is where the debate begins!

Gluten free diets have gotten a bad reputation. People who deal with Celiac disease have been living gluten free lives for many many years, long before gluten free was cool! They have extreme illness and intestinal damage when gluten is consumed so they must live a gluten free life to stay healthy. But what about everyone else? Yes, most people will lose weight if they go gluten free. You are basically going on a lower carb diet and watching what you eat - therefore there is weight loss. But with so many commercial gluten free options out there - it is no guaranteed healthy change! Then there are those of us who are gluten free because we are intolerant. Now you will read a lot of information that this is a hoax. Well I'm here to tell my story and you can make the decision for yourself!

Gluten intolerance can present itself with so many symptoms, it's impossible to create a complete list. Basically anything that could stem from inflammation COULD be a gluten intolerance symptom. Well in my mid-20s I was so bogged down with hormone imbalance, devastating asthma, allergies, migraines, and general illness - I knew I had to do something! I went to a physician who specialized in both Western and Holistic Medicine. She was the first to recommend a gluten free diet. Then my PA at my OBGYN office recommended it. So they had to be onto something. I tried it at first - well kind of. Every buy a cheap loaf of gluten free bread? Ha! It's like eating cardboard or possibly worse! I went back and forth and never really read nutrition labels. That's not enough. If you are going gluten free - it's all the way or not at all! 

So before we go any further, what exactly is gluten? Well gluten is a protein found in many grains and commercial products. It helps foods hold their shape and acts like glue.

I don't know what was my tipping point but one day I decided, that's it, I'm done feeling like crap, let's see if this gluten free thing might work. Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you, one of the BEST decision of my life! Now everyone needs to understand, the gluten in your system can take a few months to really be cleansed out. And you will accidentally gluten yourself with things like soy sauce until you learn where gluten hides. But once you do and your body heals, it is amazing.

Weekly migraines - completely gone and off all medicines

Asthma requiring injections every 2 weeks just to keep me out of the hospital - almost completely gone and able to come off the injections and inhalers

Environmental allergies - much improved

Stomach issues including gallbladder pain and acid reflux - almost completely gone

I did NOTHING else in my life during this time except eliminate gluten. Now, when I do get 'glutened', I look about 7 months pregnant within 24-48 hours. I have miserable headaches, stomach cramps, fatigue, and all-around feel like junk. Now that I see what this does to my body, I know I'm better off without it! You tell me - fad diet or true intolerance?

Now, does everyone need a gluten free life? Absolutely not! Just like everyone isn't lactose intolerant - everyone is not gluten intolerant. But if you suffer from chronic daily complaints, I would highly recommend investing some time and giving it a go! Your body just may thank you for it! The best way to start is an elimination diet. This gets rid of all the top inflammatory foods that could be affecting your body. This is a huge commitment. I chose to simply get rid of gluten and had amazing results with that alone. 

I will do a future post that is more specific to gluten free diets and I'll discuss the elimination diet plan. I'll talk about my favorite GF products, where gluten is hiding, and the most common questions and concerns.... stay tuned!

If you are looking for more information, here's a great place to start: http://celiac.org/celiac-disease/non-celiac-gluten-sensitivity/