Gluten-Free Holidays: Spring

Holidays are often tricky to navigate when you or someone in your family has to stick to a gluten-free diet.  In my house, two of us eat gluten-free and we're always trying to create some semblance of "normalcy" during holidays.  With Passover and Easter on the horizon, I thought I would pass along a few resources for celebrating, gluten-free style.

At GlutenFreeMatzo.com (pictured left), they provide a host of traditional Passover foods in gluten-free form.  This site was quite a find!  There is a helpful recipe section and they even sell a gluten-free Passover cookbook.  In addition, they offer gluten-free noodles, horseradish, honey and macaroons. All items are Kosher.  I especially like the gluten-free matzo.  Next, I have to try the macaroons (oh wait, I gave those up.  See - The Power of Sugar). If only they sold those little chocolate ring jell candies I adored as a child! I contacted the company for some information and to grab a box of matzo for my son and they were very helpful, courteous, generous and kind.  A great company all around.

Now, on to Easter....oh, Easter.  As a child who grew up in a house with Easter and Passover and now, an adult who is raising a family that celebrates both Easter and Passover, it is always so hard to get that Easter basket during Passover and have to wait until Passover is over to eat any of the goods inside.  Man, did I look forward to the chocolate bunny, Cadbury eggs, jelly beans and the Peeps.  Now that I have a little one, the Easter basket gets even more challenging by trying to make it gluten-free and low in sugar.  This year, since my son and I are also on the GAPS diet, I will be making homemade Easter treats - I'll let you know how that goes.  In the meantime, Indie Candy  is a great site to try if you need to make Easter an allergen free holiday.  Now, if I could only find some organic, gluten-free, low sugar Peeps!

Do you have special dietary needs?  How does it affect your holiday shopping?  Any recipes to share?  Leave a comment below.  Join the discussion!

Sarafina's Story

Over the next few months, I'll be sharing client stories from time to time about their health challenges and experiences working with The Healthy Plate.  My first featured client is actress, model and owner of Art of Pilates, Sarafina King.  Here's her story....

A little about me and WHY in the world I’d want to give up Sugar!!! The reaction from most is: You’re in great shape, you work out, and you eat healthy (really for the average American I do eat SUPER healthy), Why would I want to do this….

Reason number 1 - I do eat healthy, and workout… A LOT.  But I find myself with a little gut. Great arms, great legs, and a little belly. I have no excuses or answers  for my belly, I don’t drink, I’m gluten free, I’ve never had a baby… there’s no reason for the fat around the middle.  I was stumped. 

Reason number 2 – I am an actress and fitness model. Being under the scrutiny of people on a daily basis is all par for the course in what I’m trying to do. I was fine with the rejection and brutal honesty up until a few days ago when someone told me, “You’re face is horrible (acne), if you think you’re going to work in this town what THAT skin, you’ve got another thing coming” And to be honest my skin is not really that bad. I have flare ups like everyone else, but it is something that I have struggled with as an adult.

Reason number 3 – I’ve tried EVERYTHING else, I was Vegan, Vegetarian, I AM gluten free.  I had always been a sweets after I eat person, but it wasn’t until I went gluten free that my addiction to sugar grew. Most gluten free foods are pumped with sugar to make them taste better.  Little did I know that although my stomach felt better without the gluten it grew with the added sugar.

Alas – I was venting one day to a client, (insert Jen), who is an amazing Organic Chef, Holistic Health Coach and most importantly a great friend.  Over the years she’s listened to my ups and downs, my woes, and knew what I ate, where my struggles were etc.  I asked her if she could help me fine tune what is going on with my diet. And that’s where the Sugar Detox began.   

Jen has been amazing from the meal plan she’s given me, the knowledge, the patience (I’m not a great cook) and I don’t efficiently know my way around a grocery store either.  I’m on day 2, technically 1.5. I’ve already sent numerous emails with questions, cravings, overall support and she promptly responds and has the BEST suggestions for ME. Not some generic “eat these snacks” kind of response.   Something that I realistically LIKE to eat.  I feel fantastic, the food tastes AMAZING, so far so good… yes I know it’s day 2… Let’s see how I like it day 5 :)

 

Keep you posted,

Sarafina 

***As Sarafina mentioned, I have actually been a client of hers for years.  She helped me get in shape for my wedding, during my pregnancy and now post-baby.  If you're in the Los Angeles area and are looking for a Pilates trainer who customizes workouts to your needs, send her an email.  For more information on her services, check out the links below.

www.sarafinaking.com

www.artofpilatesinc.com

What are your reasons for quitting sugar?  Did you kick the habit or are you still facing challenges?  Share with us!

Yogurt: Rich, Creamy Goodness With A Probiotic Kick

A few weeks ago, I purchased a yogurt maker.  Ever since I read, "French Women Don't Get Fat," I've wanted to make my own yogurt.  The author describes a method for making yogurt in a warm oven all night but I liked the idea of getting a yogurt maker that holds the temperature consistently.  So, I purchased the Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker, 42 oz. of Raw Milk and a packet of yogurt starter.  You can also make homemade yogurt with organic, pasteurized milk.  All I had to do was heat the milk up to the correct temperature, add the packet of yogurt starter, pour the warm milk into the jars and let the yogurt maker do its job for the next few hours.  It only took 15 minutes to make the milk mixture. Easy peasy!

Fresh, homemade yogurt is unparalleled in taste and health benefits.  This rich, creamy concoction is a probiotic powerhouse to soothe your gut.  Many commercial yogurts have loads of sugar and additives to extend shelf life.  Yogurt made at home, where you control the ingredients is delicious and pure and it doesn't take much work at all.  Why don't you give it a try? 

*A note on raw milk - I never imagined I'd ever drink raw milk.  Many years ago, for a short period of time, I moved to an area surrounded by farms and became active in the Slow Food movement.  At one of our meetings at a dairy farm, the farmer brought out raw milk for us to try.  I was hesitant but to be polite, I tried it.  Wow!  It blew me away.  It was like no milk I had ever tasted.  As I drank it, I felt my body being nourished and I didn't have any of the tummy troubles I've often had with commercial dairy.  For that reason, when I do have dairy, I try to get raw milk cheeses and yogurts.  In California, we are lucky to be able to purchase raw milk at several groceries.  I prefer Claravale Farms Raw Milk but there are many other delicious brands.  There is even a Raw Milk Challenge going on at The Healthy Home Economist.  Give raw milk a try....you might be surprised. 

Who out there has made homemade yogurt?  Which type of milk do you prefer?  Join the discussion!

Welcome to The Healthy Plate!

It's nice to have you here.  The Healthy Plate brings energy, balance and joy into your life by sharing my experiences and what I've learned through my own quest for health and balance. In our busy world, our plates tend to be too full.  Too much work, not enough time for play and rest, and poor eating habits lead us feeling unbalanced and unfulfilled. The Healthy Plate is about adding nourishment to your plate whether it be with food, fun or fitness.

I believe deeply in the body's ability to heal itself given the right combination of food, exercise and personal nourishment.  As a mom and a trained chef, I enjoy creating healthy, fast and easy menu plans to keep your family going throughout the week.  I also love to share quick recipes and fitness plans for on-the-go people and families.

I also have experienced physical and health challenges.  After a traumatic auto accident, I had to learn how to use and strengthen my body again as well as how to manage pain effectively.  In addition, I have been healing myself of an autoimmune thyroid disease for the past few years.  Because of these experiences, I have learned wonderful healing techniques to address physical pain, weight management, stress, thyroid challenges and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, IBS, and obesity.

As a busy parent, I am always trying to find ways to find balance and stay healthy.  We all know what a feat that can be to accomplish when so many "to-dos" are on the list that it is difficult to actually do it all - prepare healthy meals, sit down to eat, make time for friends, family, fun, and ourselves and find time to exercise.  This blog will provide ideas, tricks and tips for putting balance back into your.  I will share information from my own experiences with health issues and from my training as a health counselor and chef.  I will also share blog posts and articles from other websites that are valuable to us all.

I hope you enjoy and please feel free to post comments and questions.  We're all in this together!  Now, what's on your plate?