Wednesday

Gluten Doesn't Like Me...

I recently put two and two together and came up with...I can't tolerate gluten. I know...it SUCKS! All my life I have had trouble but have never been able to pin point  the problem until just recently. My system just does not like wheat, rye, barley or oats, all the grains I grew up on and loved but never knew they didn't love me back. 


It wasn't until last fall when my daughter put me on a Paleo eating plan that takes those things out of the diet that I started feeling better and started loosing weight. My skin on my legs was itching like a mad woman, so much so that I was actually clawing it raw, never knew why.  Now I do. Such a relief.  

I also found out that corn, any kind of corn, which I love, causes my arthritis in my hands to flair up. Who knew it was an inflammatory food and with it being a GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) now, it is not a pure food. Could it be that because it is a GMO, that being so has made it an inflammatory food.

It wasn't until I recently had some New York dogs, you know hot dogs with sauerkraut and spicy mustard and a bun, oh my it tasted sooo good but I had a horrible attack that left me debilitated for about 4 hours.   A week later I had lunch with a friend and ordered a homemade Chicken Pot Pie from a local eatery and before I could get home, had to find a restroom and once home, for the next four hours suffered. 

I can take medicine, but the best course is for me just to not eat/avoid those items that will harm me.
The tough thing is the FDA does not require food companies to put on their labels fillers and binders that contain wheat, rye, barley or oat products whereas Europe does, interesting...                         

The only thing I can think of to do, is to eat fresh food every day. That I can do. I already eat meat that is grass fed and antibiotic free, free range chickens and shop the farmers market. Where the problem lies is with packaged/processed foods. 

I will be developing recipes with my Tastefully Simple products that I sell to see what will fit my lifestyle. I know we carry Gluten Free products. I know that this is not going to be easy but I will find a way to be able to enjoy foods I love. 

I know there are a lot of good websites already out there such as The Paleo Mom. I have already found a bread recipe that looks good and if her kids will eat it, I might too. 

There is so much to learn, but learn I will. I will start posting recipes to my miafoodies site once I perfect them or share recipes that I try from other sites that are awesome and know you will like. 

I will also be reviewing new kitchen gadgets from time to time and letting you know what I think. Is it worth it or not to have in my kitchen at the miafoodies site. 

Oh but I wish to have a nice juicy hamburger with a bun...I will just have to wait until I can figure out how to make a gluten free one that tastes good and not like cardboard!

Happy trails...


Tuesday

Colorado Rocky Mountain High...

I just love John Denver...his music is never far from my heart. Matter of fact I'm suppose to be in Colorado right now basking in the glorious crisp, cool mountain air, painting beautiful vistas upon my canvases, eating good food with friends...NOT! What happened to this beautiful scene? 
Big Meadow


Mount Blanca
"You fill up my senses, like a walk in the forest"...oops there I go again thinking I am there gazing upon Mount Blanca, or at least wishing I was.


Mountain Moss


I was injured in a car accident in mid July and am recovering slowly. At least I can drive now. Before I couldn't, had a headache that wouldn't quit and pain in my back that was...well let me put it this way...it was/is the pits.  This is apparently going to be a long recovery.  
I am in the grey car. Thank the good Lord the lady in the red
car had insurance.

I am determined that this is not going to keep me from getting out and enjoying my motorhome and meeting and making new friends. I have places to go, things to do/see, people to meet. Life to live. 

I have to calculate every move I make now, think things through and write down everything because I can't remember squat. The doctor told me this would happen and said it could/would take months to recover. Prime example: A friend came by this past Saturday to pick me up to go to a meeting in another city. I was suppose to be ready to walk out the door at 7:30 a.m. I woke up at 8:10 to my dogs barking and my neighbor trying to break into my home to see if I was okay. I totally forgot to set my alarm, even though we had discussed it two days before, even then it didn't dawn on me why they were trying to get into my house until I saw her.  Scary huh...! If I do remember something I have to do it right then no matter what else I am doing.  It's a pain for right now, but the doctor says it will get better with time. Such a way to live a life.

Stay well my friends and remember to BREATH..."Rocky Mountain High...Colorado...Rocky Mountain High...Colorado..." Just can't get that tune out of my head. 

Happy Trails...