Gluten Free Ladies

DianaNM

Are you trying to make the desserts gluten free and low in sugar? That's kind of tough, we eat a lot of berries with real cream. But if some sugar is ok, there are many options. Ice cream, chocolate mousse come to mind. My favorite cake even before going gluten free was flourless chocolate cake with some whipped cream and berries on top.

I got my daughter a gluten free, sugar free chocolate cake for her 21st birthday and it was AWFUL. Local bakery specialized in GF, and it looked really pretty. But it sure did taste bad. 

Kaara

When I was out in Az this spring I had a pizza with gluten free crust and it was delicious...I liked it better than the regular crust.  It was thin and crispy...not soggy like some.

Ginger48

Apple- I make a gluten free trifle. It is delicious and no one can even tell. Make a gluten free chocolate cake ( Betty crocker makes one) make some instant chocolate pudding. I make it with skim mIlk. Buy a large tub of cool whip. I use the lite one. And get some mini chocolate chips. Get a glass bowl and layer cake chunks then pudding then cool whip. Repeat and top with the mini chips. It looks good and is delicious.

apple

my sister's visit worries me just a bit.  She is just nuts about nutrition.  She feeds her kids packets of food.  She never cooks for them.. i am just stumped because i think she would be so into cooking with her special needs.  I spent a week with her and all she did was shop and shop and shop for nutritional things.. no fresh veggies.. just things in packages.  crackers, nuts, chewy things.   i wish i could help her.

anyway.. i guess it doesn't matter if she doesn't partake.  I guess she has a bit of a special eating disorder.. celiacistist..    poor thing.. she has 4 kids.

Blessings2011

I was thrilled that a new Gluten-Free bakery opened up near us....until I asked what ingredients were in their baked goods.

Many of them contained white sugar!!!

Since I'll be trying to eliminate that from my diet as well as other things, I probably won't be doing much shopping at their bakery.

MariannaLaFrance

DianaNM- I don't necessarily have a Paleo diet, but my diet's probably very similar to Paleo just because of my focus on no sugar, lots of veggies, and protein.  I have recently been traveling a lot for work, and have imbibed in some desserts that had wheat flour and suffered tremendously about 4 days later. It takes a few days for wheat to work its magic on me. I got so sick to my tummy that I have lost about 5 lbs without trying- which is not really a good thing for me, as I now look stick thin and a bit harsh.

Apple- I know a lot of people with celiac tend to fall into the packaged foods trap, but really if she could just focus on meats and vegetables, she'd be a lot better off. You have to imagine that with Celiac that you are nutrient deprived from the condition, so if you eat junk food with wheat substitutes, you aren't feeding your system with the nutrients it needs to heal from autoimmune disorders such as Celiac. It's a real pain, because I work and have small kids. I hate to cook these days mainly because I don't have a lot of time, but I force myself to cook so we have healthy options around the house.

The worst for me? The plane rides. If I forget to pack 3-4 Udi's bread sandwiches (they are so small that I usually pack 3-4 almond butter sandwiches for a flight), I am literally starving by the time I reach my destination. I forgot on my last flight to San Francisco, and I was so hungry when I arrived!! It was AWFUL. 

apple

I wish I could help my sis.  I spent a week with her this last October.  All we did was strap the kids in the car, drive them places, shop for food in little packets.. go to some other health store for ONE PACKAGE of special frozen peas, strap them in again and go somewhere else.  She'd them strap them in their chairs and feed them the packages.

I make her sound like a total nincompoop but feeding kids can be so fun.    Even if they don't get a dish.. a recipe, pieces of fruit, cheese, cheerios, crackers, and frozen peas could fill them up.  My kids loved frozen peas.  (which really surprised me because i do not like peas at all unless they are young and raw).. just off the vine.

anyhoo.. i don't meant to criticize my sis... i just wish she had inherited some of cooking prowess.  The funniest thing is when her husband came home and said "Honey - is this dinner or snack?"

He makes a ton of money and they could afford to have the best dinner catered every nite, but  opt for almond crackers with fake cheese.

I actually need to think about this for a while.. her children are little.. (as in they need to growing a bit faster)... they need a bit more food i think, or at least some fats.

I compare her to my friend Jane.. who has all the adopted kids.  who has taken them from malnutrition and starvation to vibrant health.  She pretty much only cooks natural foods but will include meats.

just rambling.

Ginger.. that trifle sounds awesome.

Kaara

Apple:  I know where you're coming from.  It pains me to see my DD and how she eats and feeds her kids.  We went skiing one year, and my DGS had his little roll on bag.  I asked him what was in it...games?  He said no..snacks.  Well, when he opened it up there was all kinds of packaged snacks like cookies, crackers, chips, candy and so on.  When we got to Breckenridge, which has the highest altitude in the country practically, DD couldn't figure out why they got altitude sickness!  I wanted to scream, but it doesn't do any good to try and coach because she doesn't listen.  She is always complaining of how tired she is, but continues to eat sugar snacks for energy.  She makes fun of what we eat, but she also wants to know how I manage to feel so good and have so much energy for my age...even after battling bc.  It's very frustrating, but all you can do is lead the  horse to water so to speak.

DianaNM

Apple, is your sister a vegan? That's not a good diet choice for kids at all. I know, you can't very well tell her that. Too bad she doesn't follow the lead of your other friend.

Trying to get my daughter indocrinated now, before she has kids. She does very well with gluten, but loves GF stuff a bit too much. Lately, so do I. Some of it's not any better than the processed food it replaced. I have noticed that she is finally checking the sugar grams on the labels, though!

My stepson and family visited last October for Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. I was pleased that DD was shocked at how they ate. I think they tried every sugary treat at the park. Not pleased that they are feeding their kids that way, but that one is so not my business. And we used to do a bit of that too when we visited WDW! 

Momine

Apple, I agree that even with picky kids, you can feed them real food. Most kids go through periods of being picky about something or other. The trick is not to get too impressed and just keep feeding them. 

During dd's super picky periods, I always had bread, cheese and olives on the dinner table. Those were things she always ate. That way, she was not getting a separate meal, we all ate from what was served. She also always liked fruit, which most kids do. So after dinner her father would bring some fruits andplates, then clean and cut fruits and hand them around the table. This habit has stayed. She is 20 now, but he still feeds her fruit. Bread, cheese, olives and fruit may not be a perfect diet, but it will sustain a kid decently until she starts eating normal food again. 

allurbaddayswillend

I had my first AC chemo on Friday. Chebe is now ruined for me because I ate it that day. blurg! I also have a fever and got a DH breakout from the Neulasta. anyone else?

Momine

Blech, sorry for your troubles. I escaped any problems with the neulasta, but I know it bothers some people. What is DH?

allurbaddayswillend

DH is dermatitis herpetiformis, the skin form of celiac disease that only about 10% of celiacs get. I have a topical med for it now finally so it's definitely not as uncomfortable as it could be.

Momine

Glad to hear there are meds for it. Hope you feel better soon.

allurbaddayswillend

Thanks Momine, I love your avatar. Clean ALL the THings!

luv_gardening

I'm finally back on gluten free having used up those foods in my cupboard that might tempt me.  I'm doing low carb two days a week and sensible eating the other five days and I'm surprised my weight has dropped by a couple of lbs already.  If this is a diet then it's the easiest I've ever done.  I'm within the normal weight range for my height but my hip to waist ratio is still bad thanks to my fat tummy. I don't need the estrogen producing fat or the contrast with my concave chest.

I can't wait to see if giving up gluten helps my psoriasis again as it did last time.  I've had it constantly for nearly 40 years, only easing during each pregnancy and when I gave up gluten before.  It might be weeks or months before it settles, if it does, and I'll let you all know if it helps.

DianaNM

My facial eczema flared up last week, and I haven't had it in years. It's not calming down either. Attributing it to the Bactrim I was taking for a surgery infection. Allyourbaddays, I hope your rash clears up fast!

Joylieswithin, bet you will see results quicker than that. The really amazing one to me is that my elbows got softer!

Kaara

I'm about 90% gluten free and I have noticed that my skin is a lot clearer...particularly my face where I had a tendency toward Rosacea across my nose and cheeks.  I no longer have any redness, so it works with the inflammation in the body.  Yea!

apple

let's just say i hope my sister isn't a total vegan.  I made her take me out for a cheeseburger after a few days.. i was sick of lentils and sweet potatoes and silly crakers.    The kids would not eat the little dollar burger i ordered for them.. they looked at it and looked at it... took a little bite and wrapped it up.  . 

maybe they eat meat.. i hope so.. they don't drink milk or eat cheese and are all quite small.

i hate to give her advice.. but sure want to.

DianaNM

Hi ladies, have a story for you. We have a big five year old cat, looks just like the B&W cat on the Wiki Norwegian Forest cat page. He eats weird things and then throws up, or sometimes just throws up for no reason. Yes, he eats flowers, bubble wrap, plastic bags, tulle from my vintage dresses, and those are the things I know about. 

About a month ago, we started feeding him the wet food from Whole foods. He loves it, and seemed perkier and it helped the gacking problem. Yay!

Then it occured to me that maybe our adopted baby has the same food sensitivities we have. Lol  So I stopped into PetsMart and they have a ton of grain free cat food now. Bought a small bag of CORE dry food since he is super picky and I never know what he will like.

He got really excited when I opened the bag and he could smell it. He loves it too, and has been acting even perkier! DD says he even seems more affectionate and easy going. Will report back on the gacking.

So GF ladies, remember your furry friends. Their biology is even more carnivore than ours. 

glostagirl

DianaNM......my cat, a 5 year old Bengal vomits often as well.  He is recovering from a UTI with special medicated, grain free food from the vet, both wet and dry versions, he hasn't thrown up at all on this food.  He's a very picky eater as well, I'll check out the CORE foods when he finishes with the vet food.

baddays....gosh, never heard of DH being a SE from Neulasta.  I've had facial outbreaks from gluten, I also had Neulasta and didn't breakout from it.   Also, ask your Dr. to check the gluten content of all your medications.  Steroids can cause facial rashes as well.  

As for me, I've just returned from DIEP reconstruction surgery in NOLA and have to report that it was pretty difficult getting GF food. The hospital pretty much relied on salads.  The local food, Gumbo's, Jambalaya and such is all started with a roux.  Although I really didn't go out once I was released from the hospital, it was just too hot, the food at the hotel left much to be desired.  My caregiver, went out for dinner a few times without me to satisfy her seafood cravings.  She had amazing oysters (for 50 cent ea.), red fish, crab and seafood gumbo, sounds yummy now, but at the time I was so nauseated from all the drugs I could care less!

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm sick of salads....

DianaNM

We are cat gack free for a week now, a new record! And he LOVES this food. I just have to get back there and buy some more.

At least you got salads! All I got in the hospital was skinless grilled chicken breast. 

apple

my gluten free days was actually pretty stressful.. my sis had to go to the store and the she bought Hawaiian dinner rolls for her kids.  my other sis had bought guac. mix with flour in it and the dessert my brother made had flour.

i love her, even tho she is high maintenance.

that's nice about those cats.

DianaNM

Guacamole with flour mix? Sounds gross.

gardengumby

I've never heard of such a thing - why would anyone even need a mix for guacomole???

I wasn't very gluten free this weekend - had key lime pie on Friday (graham cracker crust - which I ate 'cause it was delicious) and 1/2 of a hamburger bun on Saturday.  Friday night I was in major pain, but Saturday I knew I was going to cheat, so took some boswellia before we left the house.  Had a much easier day (and night).  But I'm back to gluten free now. 

DianaNM

Well if you're going to have gluten, have something delicious! We have a place here with the most wonderful green chile cheeseburgers, and they have gluten free buns available. We hit that place about once a week. Bonus, they have sweet potatoe fries.

 

I did something outrageous yesterday, bought a single serve bag of some kind of natural malt vinegar potato chips. They don't have gluten, but I haven't had chips in years. Don't know what got into me, but they sure tasted good. 

gardengumby

Gluten free buns would be GREAT.  I think maybe I'll call the burger place we go to on occasion and make that suggestion - then I could go more often.... 

DianaNM

Or, take your own. If it's in a package sometimes restaurants will do that for you. Our former pizza place will do that, but we haven't tried it yet. Mainly because I haven't found a GF pizza crust that isn't awful.

Also, ask. I was surprised at a couple of breakfast places we like. It wasn't mentioned on the menu, but they had GF toast available.

MariannaLaFrance

We have a great place here called Elevation Burger. They have 100% grass fed beef, and they have a burger served in a lettuce wrap, which is delicious! They also use olive oil to cook the french fries. As far as burger joints go, that's pretty good.  It's a chain. We frequently go there with the kids after baseball games.

exbrnxgrl

Apple,

My younger dd has Celiac's too. Careful with rolled oats as they are often rolled in wheat flour. I've gotten quite adept at reading food package labels to suss out hidden wheat. Who would have imagined it would be in oats? I am having a family BBQ on the 4th and will be making a gluten free cheesecake topped with raspberry jam and fresh raspberries. The original recipe calls for a small amount of flour but I substitute Bob's Red Mill gluten free all purpose baking flour. It works very well and the cheese cake is crust less , very much like the NY style cheesecakes that I grew up with. This can be made a few days ahead of time . Let me know if you want the recipe or any GF cooking tips ( even most brands of soy and Worchestershire sauce have wheat ). Caryn