Gluten free is going great!
Happy Monday! For those of you wondering, the gluten free diet is still going strong. Actually, we had an IGG test on the two older boys a few months ago in order to determine any specific food sensitivities that were present. Some doctors don’t feel these tests are necessary and other doctors feel they can be helpful in controlling GI issues, behavior issues, and/or other specific symptoms that can’t otherwise be explained. Anyway, the test showed a significant gluten sensitivity for both boys (probably genetic with our luck) so as a family we have been doing nearly everything gluten free (yes, my husband and I…on occasion…put the kids to bed and scour the house for anything containing that pesky gluten protein). I will tell you, hands down, we can spot a contamination from a mile away with both boys so we know we made the right decision there.
Gluten free dining and shopping has become so much easier in the past year since I have written to you. There are many more gluten free options in the grocery stores and there are many more restaurants offering a gluten free menu. For us, gluten seems to only cause behavior and focus/attention issues so we don’t have to worry quite so much about a little contamination here and there, but even for those of you who do have to worry, things are much easier these days.
Some of our favorite gluten free items include; Udi’s pizza crust and baked good (muffins, cinnamon rolls, and brownies), Katz gluten free items (pretty much everything), and Rudi’s gluten free tortillas. Our boys have also been enjoying the Applegate Farms gluten free corndogs, Annie’s Organic gluten free macaroni and cheese, Bella and Evans chicken nuggets/strips, and Koch’s Turkey strips.
Right at this moment you are probably thinking “wow, you sure feed your children a lot of pre-packaged meals full of preservatives” but in all actuality, we have a homemade meals most mornings for breakfast except the occasional donut or muffin when we are running out the door late. Lunch, however does normally include something quick combined with left over fresh veggies, fruit, and a tall glass of water. I will say, that our pre-packaged meals are purchased at Whole Foods or the organic section of the grocery store. In our family, we have found that the less ingredients in something the better our boys digest, behave, and focus…just our opinion/experience. I realize that not everyone can or wants to be organic, GMO-free, dye free, etc. but it is a choice you are free to make.
Dinner, is always homemade (unless we go out to dinner, which doesn’t happen too often as most of you with a toddler can understand). I have not had a hard time making normal recipes gluten free but on the off chance that my husband and I want to indulge on something the boys wouldn’t appreciate anyway, I always have frozen homemade spaghetti sauce and homemade meatballs proportioned in the freezer. Visit my Good Eats blog for more recipe ideas, I will try to add to them in the near future.
And with that, I am off to finish dinner! It is summertime…and that means fresh veggies, grilled meat, and happy supper time!! Enjoy!
Jill
IGG LINK
Happy Monday! For those of you wondering, the gluten free diet is still going strong. Actually, we had an IGG test on the two older boys a few months ago in order to determine any specific food sensitivities that were present. Some doctors don’t feel these tests are necessary and other doctors feel they can be helpful in controlling GI issues, behavior issues, and/or other specific symptoms that can’t otherwise be explained. Anyway, the test showed a significant gluten sensitivity for both boys (probably genetic with our luck) so as a family we have been doing nearly everything gluten free (yes, my husband and I…on occasion…put the kids to bed and scour the house for anything containing that pesky gluten protein). I will tell you, hands down, we can spot a contamination from a mile away with both boys so we know we made the right decision there.
Gluten free dining and shopping has become so much easier in the past year since I have written to you. There are many more gluten free options in the grocery stores and there are many more restaurants offering a gluten free menu. For us, gluten seems to only cause behavior and focus/attention issues so we don’t have to worry quite so much about a little contamination here and there, but even for those of you who do have to worry, things are much easier these days.
Some of our favorite gluten free items include; Udi’s pizza crust and baked good (muffins, cinnamon rolls, and brownies), Katz gluten free items (pretty much everything), and Rudi’s gluten free tortillas. Our boys have also been enjoying the Applegate Farms gluten free corndogs, Annie’s Organic gluten free macaroni and cheese, Bella and Evans chicken nuggets/strips, and Koch’s Turkey strips.
Right at this moment you are probably thinking “wow, you sure feed your children a lot of pre-packaged meals full of preservatives” but in all actuality, we have a homemade meals most mornings for breakfast except the occasional donut or muffin when we are running out the door late. Lunch, however does normally include something quick combined with left over fresh veggies, fruit, and a tall glass of water. I will say, that our pre-packaged meals are purchased at Whole Foods or the organic section of the grocery store. In our family, we have found that the less ingredients in something the better our boys digest, behave, and focus…just our opinion/experience. I realize that not everyone can or wants to be organic, GMO-free, dye free, etc. but it is a choice you are free to make.
Dinner, is always homemade (unless we go out to dinner, which doesn’t happen too often as most of you with a toddler can understand). I have not had a hard time making normal recipes gluten free but on the off chance that my husband and I want to indulge on something the boys wouldn’t appreciate anyway, I always have frozen homemade spaghetti sauce and homemade meatballs proportioned in the freezer. Visit my Good Eats blog for more recipe ideas, I will try to add to them in the near future.
And with that, I am off to finish dinner! It is summertime…and that means fresh veggies, grilled meat, and happy supper time!! Enjoy!
Jill
IGG LINK