Food allergies (including Celiac) may be considered a disability under the ADA.

A friend shared this with me, so I thought I would post it on the blog:

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/December/12-crt-1538.html

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Recipes That Caught My Eye!

Happy Monday Friends!

I hope that all of my readers have an amazing week!

Since Monday is a good day to make grocery lists, I thought I would share some links to some recipes I want to try!

• http://realsustenance.com/pumpkin-cheesecake-or-pie-free-of-glutendairysoycorneggsnutssugar-and-grains-paleo-vegan/

• http://www.thewholegang.org/2011/10/whole-grain-penne-rigate-pasta-with-chicken-and-pancetta-tomato-sauce-recipe/

• http://www.thesensitivepantry.com/the-sensitive-pantry/2011/5/22/deep-dark-chocolate-muffins.html

• http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2007/12/get-your-hummus-onits-party-time.html

( I have been wanting to make my own hummus for a while now, so I added this to my  "to-try" list!)

What recipes have you been meaning to try? Do you have a "go-to" recipe site?

With the holidays around the corner, lots of moms are getting there aprons out and ovens ready! Are you armed with some tasty recipes for holiday treats?


❤
Lolli

A Few of My Favorite GF Snacks!

These are just a few of my favorite gluten free snacks:

RiceWorks Chips! All are gluten free, most are dairy free with except of the cinnamon & the parmesan flavors (according to the RiceWorks FAQ).

Enjoy Life Snacks are gluten free, dairy free, nut free! I like several of their snacks.

The chocolate chip cookies & their snack bars are great too!

I love that these Glutino pretzels are gluten free/ casein free!

These are great with hummus~!

My favorite hummus!

These are great to throw in the purse for a gluten free protein snack!

What are some of your favorite "on-the-go" snacks?




❤

Lolli

What Gluten-Free Is To Me.

My journey toward gluten-free started years ago when I was in high-school. Through most of my life, I remember being sick. Things got worse in high-school when I could barely walk up the stairs, and even fell down the stairs on occasions because I was so weak. I would fall asleep in classes that took place after lunch, not because I was lazy, but because I was sick. Needless to say, it resulted in poor grades. 

I went to several Dr.'s and no one could figure out what was wrong with me. 

Fast forward to when I was 21. I found myself in a constant state of inflammation, I always had hot flashes, weakness, tiredness, stomach upset, and the worlds worst heartburn! I ate Tums like candy. Still Dr.'s dismissed me. Things continued to get worse over the next couple of years. Even worse when I got "healthy", I started eating whole foods, among those was ....whole wheat products.

This is where everything took a turn for the worse.
I could not make it through the day on less than 14 hours of sleep, dizzyness, insomnia ( sounds weird for someone who slept so much), major stomach pain & other issues ( we'll skip the gory details), and a pesky rash that kept spreading up my back...and itched like a mosquito bite....I dealt with this and more every day.

The final breaking point was when I would go to bed at night, and feel like my ribs were breaking underneath me when I laid down. I was too weak to lift a laundry basket of clothes ( even though I worked out 5 days a week!). I kept losing weight (down to 89 lbs.) and was losing hair. Not to mention, every time I ate I thought I was going to hurl. I couldn't finish a meal, but I was constantly famished.

Thanksgiving 2009, I went gluten free. My life has changed dramatically. All the symptoms above...GONE. My body has healed itself & continues to get stronger all the time. I now have energy for my daily tasks and my workouts, 3-5 times a week!

I eat whole foods, but without the wheat, barley, rye, and oats! I have never felt better!

Only thing is, I also have to be dairy free, casein (a protein which is found in milk) reacts in my body the same way as gluten. In addition to that, I cannot touch anything with gluten or casein in it, or use any body products with it. Otherwise I get that pesky rash which takes months to go away...and I dare not use shampoo with these ingredients or my hair will fall out again.

People say they cannot believe what I go through.....to me, it's no big deal. I like my new life without allergens- I am healthy! And there are so many amazing gluten free products to choose from!

Are you gluten free? What's your story? Do you know someone who is gluten free?

♥

Lolli