Gluten and Dairy Free

So a few weeks ago I did a 3 week detox. In short I had a nasty candida infection and other issues that occurred from my hormones going back to normal from stopping nursing. Details aside I spent almost 3 months in almost constant discomfort and in a last ditch effort I decided to do a detox. This was super super hard for me for a couple of reasons 1. Tho I pride myself in a super strong will power I didn't know how long I would have to do the detox and thus saw no destination of relief 2. I really really love food... no like limitations on my food kind of makes me depressed, you should know that I was raised vegetarian and already live a very healthy lifestyle with many limitations I live with every day, so maybe it's the fact that I couldn't eat things that I knew weren't necessarily bad for me that really got to me and 3. making 2 different meals for 3 weeks with a toddler can really get challenging. But I did it.. and I made through it.. and I felt amazing- despite the hunger pains... and I am better! And best of all... Now I can eat anything I want again- within reason.

A few friends have asked me for some gluten dairy free recipes I might have, and tho you may not be going on a Candida diet (which includes only eating vegetables, some meats, yogurt and gluten free grains) even significantly cutting out these two ingredients will make a noticeable change in your health. Disclosure.. I am an advocate for living a healthy lifestyle but, as I have said before I am not a Natzie about anything, I believe while the majority of your life should be spent eating lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains and nuts that we all need to experience life and a slice of cheesecake or a scoop of ice cream is not going to kill you. I think what we all need to learn is to not be a glutton about our food, take smaller bites, smaller portions, and eat less frequently the foods that aren't necessarily the best for our body. A little background on dairy and gluten, for those who don't know, the main issue with both are that they create mucous in our bodies.. while some people have gluten or lactose intolerance every human body has a negative reaction to too much of anything and today gluten and dairy seem to be in everything! Too much mucous is dangerous because it can hold onto toxins in our bodies, not letting them get flushed out in due time. Mucous likes to linger and stick like glue not only in our sinuses, chest and throat but also in our intestines causing blockages or even breaking down the healthy mucous walls. (I am trying to explain this in lay terms and am no doctor so it is always best to do your own research) If you are looking for ways to cut back on your gluten and or dairy intake then I am here to help.. but if you are looking to cut them both out totally from your diet you may need to do more research beyond here.

So to the point... In general a lot of my recipes are made up and forgotten on the spot LOL I do a lot of digging on the internet and substitute with what I have or take the best out of multiple recipes and smash them together. Sometimes the results should be forgotten and other times they go into the books. In the end you are going to have to experiment and be willing to eat what you made even if you don't love it. Without knowing your dietary needs here are some tips that got/get me through my gluten/dairy free days  that are "beyond raw and stir fry deals."

1. I USE BUTTER... while technically it is dairy, the process of making butter leaves behind most everything that makes it dairy. In addition butter makes everything better... and really when you look at the alternatives, even smart balance- which is supposed to be safe but still worries me.. you are choosing the best option.

2. Yogurt.. while yogurt is dairy, the fermentation process basically kills the lactose an other harmful elements in milk and leaves you with some pretty awesome active cultures. On top of it you can use yogurt in place of sour cream or cheese and it is even a great thickener for sauces/smoothies/???

3. Make from scratch.. I think this is a great tip for any lifestyle.. making from scratch is cheaper, you know everything that is in it, and it's fresh! Making from scratch is key for a gluten/dairy free diet because so many products have both in their ingredients... just start reading labels, you will be surprised!

4. Learn to use brown rice flour ( I say brown because white rice is also a mucous former) I am still learning how to effectively use this. While companies have done their best to make it mimic regular flour their is really none other like wheat flour. I have found that it is much lighter and doesn't hold together the same.. there is a reason why some of the best paper mache paste is just flour and water- think of what it is doing in your body!! - but back to the subject.. So in efforts to get the same consistency I have been using 2/3 rice flour and 1/3 regular flour in some of my recipes. I am actually starting to like the airiness it gives to baked goods.

5. I love almond milk! While again.. it is hard to find a good substitute for the fat in regular milk, when cooking, almond milk keeps a great thickness and doesn't change the flavor too much. When it comes to drinking it or using it in things like cereal, I have no issues, then again I was raised on soy milk.

6. As far as cheese goes, I really can't give much advice. I love love love cheese and really have not found a good substitute for it. So I just try to cut back on the amount or frequency of use when I need to. But I would give up every other dairy product just to have a little bite of cheese a day.

7. Rice/Corn pasta.. I have tried quite a few brands and am very impressed with every single one of them.. they can get a little pricey but you won't be disappointed.

8. Grab some rice puffs or other gluten free snacks.. I even love a rice cake with peanut butter and honey on top. I found in my detox that I really missed being able to snack here or there. I couldn't even have fruit! which would often be my go to snack. But what about those pretzels or gold fish I would nibble throughout the day. You don't realize how much you nibble until you can't :) I found that investing the $4!!! for a tiny bag of treats was totally worth it. Because it was all mine it would last me over a week and it was a great reprieve for feeling depressed cause "I couldn't eat anything!!!"

9. Ice cream.. I am not a big ice cream eater, so I am mostly writing this because I know a lot of people are. Don't get me wrong I love ice cream but for years now I have only been able to eat a small small amount without sitting in agony for the next 8 hours. It's something to do with the dairy and sugar I think. So I have found other joys.. like cookies!! But when I need my occasional fix I have found a few good choices. Tofutti Almond Bark, unfortunately it is loaded with sugar but there is no dairy!! I don't personally care for their other flavors but you may! So Delicious has also come out with a variety of coconut milk based ice cream and yogurt.. they are a little sweet for my taste buds but have a great flavor and texture. and then there is Rice Dream who makes a great ice cream sandwich! Again your going to have to pay $4 for a little container but if you learn to nibble like me it could last you a good 3 weeks!

10. Bread.. oh yes bread!! I sure do love me some bread, I did mention that I love food right!? anyways it is really hard to find a substitute for some good old bread but I have recently tried one brand that hit the mark pretty good. udi's.. I've heard some of the other brands are pretty good too. (with the number of gluten allergies arising there has been a surge of good products that have made the market)

Basically look around you will be amazed at what you find.. Chex cereal has a whole gluten free line, and Red Mill has a great line of baking goods that I can find at my local Publix. There is also this awesome gluten free pancake mix  Gluten Free Pantry's Brown Rice Pancake Mix they also have a whole line of baked goods in a box that I have not tried. And if you can make it to Whole Foods you will find even more variety of both gluten and dairy free products that you can use to make your regular meals.

Another place I get a lot of great inspiration is another blog. ohsheglows.com. The recipes are vegan but substitute where you like. She has some amazing recipes for every meal and even desserts!! If you get overwhelmed by the amount of recipes she has try doing a search with something you have in your cupboard.

There is so much information and creativity out there all you really have to do is spend a little time searching for it...

Here is an example of some things I ate/eat when sticking to gluten/dairy free:

Breakfast:
-Smoothie- banana, strawberries, cranberries (any fruit really) a splash of juice ( I like orange juice) a splash of almond milk, a few spoonfuls of plain yogurt, and I often through in a few pieces of broccoli or spinach.. (but I'd rather eat them cooked by themselves then in my smoothie)
-Pancakes- gluten free pancake mix or my own mix with rice flour, I throw in some shredded apple or carrots or zucchini a little cinnamon and top it with butter and honey/maple syrup
-omelette.. I like a scrambled omelette but to each his own. You can throw in a bunch of vegetables and eat with a slice of gluten free toast

Snack:
- homemade cookie- with rice flour, some oats (I know they aren't gluten free but just a little goes a long way to make the texture that much better) add some cranberries and zucchini and the regular cookie ingredients
- rice cake with peanut butter
-nuts
-fruit
-vegetables dipped in hummus or ranch dressing made with mayo, plain yogurt and spices
-store bought gluten free snacks
-yogurt with nuts and fruit

Lunch:
- I almost always eat leftovers from the night before but...
- veggie sandwich with gluten free bread
-salad with potato salad on top

Dinner:
-gluten free pasta, brown rice, potatoes
- roast/saute vegetables.. I solely use an iron skillet to cook. I throw in varying combinations of onion, garlic, and whatever other vegetable I have in the fridge with a little butter and olive oil and some simple spices.
-experiment with other vegetables.. there is a lot of vegetables out there and you need to experiment with them and you will be amazed at how much variety they will add to your meals.
- squash: if you haven't discovered the wonders of squash it is time to start experimenting. Delicious, nutritious and can be eaten roasted or smashed or added to dishes as a sauce or thickener . oh so much to do with this wonderful org..
-beans beans beans.. mix them in with  your veggies or serve them on the side hot or cold
-sauces: I make almost all of my own sauces. A little butter and flour (your choice) and make a roue and then add some flavor either with vegetables or spices. I almost always through mine into the blender at the end to get the flavor well distributed. (if your interested in a more exact recipe just let me know!)

Dessert:
- we don't really eat dessert and if we do we would probably go for the good stuff. I do however often grab one of my homemade muffin cookies and a glass of almond milk before I go to bed.

I hope this little insight on my experiences helps you to find new ways to add variety to your diet! Happy Cooking!