Chickpeas!

Sorry friends...it looks like I'm just destined to keep posting about food. I hope no one minds!

I've been dealing with an endo flare up since Mother's Day weekend, and food and stretching have been my saving graces. I can't not share that with you all!

First, the stretching: If you don't have a yoga ball, invest in one. Being able to stretch, on stomach AND on back, over the yoga ball, has helped me more times than I can count. Because I have rectovaginal endometriosis, I get a lot of tailbone pain, and this kind of stretching (when done gently) can do wonders. Anyway, if you haven't tried it, do I suggest it. If the pain is really bad, I find stretching over the ball with a heated up Magic Bag is a wonderful combination.

Now, on to the food!

I have always been a big "lentil/bean" person, so this is really nothing new. I've been putting chickpeas in my garden salads for years, because I love the flavour and colour, and I dig the extra protein. Yay chickpeas!

I happened upon a recipe for another salad, (trying to find the source now so I can credit it back), and I wanted to share it with you all.

CHICKPEA SALAD
1 1/2 cups diced cucumber
2 cups chopped tomato
2 15-oz cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp honey
1 tsp dijon mustard
3 tbsp chopped fresh dill
Dash of freshly-ground pepper

1. Combine cucumber, tomatoes, and rinsed chickpeas in a large bowl.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, and mustartd. Season with pepper, and then stir in dill.

3. Add dressing to salad and toss until well-mixed.

4. Cover, and chill at least 15 minutes before serving.

I made this tonight, and it was gorgeous. I let it chill about an hour, and I noticed a huge difference in the taste. This salad looks like it will serve 5-6 people as a side. (I also threw in some olives right before I ate it, because I have an obsession with olives...)

Chickpeas are a total powerfood, or at least they are for me. I know I've posted about chickpeas before, and I probably will again. They help my digestion, help reduce bloating, and I always feel energized and comfortably full after eating them.

Enjoy!


With peace & joy,
Cher

Gluten-Free Garage, Plus 1 Review

I've been gluten-free for nearly 3 years now, and while I feel like I generally know what's what in the world of GF, I love learning about new products and new companies. This weekend, DF and I went to the Gluten Free Garage, which was a sort of food/product expo for gluten-free companies. I wish I had some pictures to post, but I was so busy talking to people and taking business cards that I forgot all about photos.

The Gluten-Free Garage was a whirlwind of activity. There were restaurants, bakeries, personal product companies, delivery companies...pretty much everything a person could think of, plus a few more.

We spent our time sampling items, talking with business owners, and yes, loading up on delicious products on our way out. We could have easily bought one of everything there - fortunately for our bank accounts, we didn't!

Over the next few days, I'm going to reviewing the products we bought this weekend. (We also bought some new products at a store this weekend, but that's another story for another day. It was quite the GF weekend!) Let's get the reviewing started! Today I will review the burgers we had for dinner last night, from a company called Sol Cuisine.

SOL CUISINE

Sol Cuisine makes vegan burgers and other meat-substitute products. Unfortunately, my attempts to get additional info from their website has failed spectacularly (it won't load at all), so I have to go by what I remember. Their products are free of gluten, and are also vegan - I'm 99% sure all their products are vegan, not just vegetarian, but if that's wrong, please leave a note in the comments! We bought their Chia Seed vegan burgers, and had them for dinner last night. I should note, these burgers are also free of soy, which fits beautifully with the rules of the Endo Diet. Score!

I will admit they looked a little funny - real meat burgers never have the perfect circle look to them, but meatless burgers always seem to. Since there's no meat, they cooked really quickly; we cooked them on the stove for about 4 minutes per side.

I topped my burger with spinach leaves, honey mustard, pickle slices and tomato slices. I wasn't sure what to expect from this fast-cooking, perfect-circle burger...but I was pleasantly, deliciously surprised.

This burger was fantastic! I really enjoyed the texture of the patty, and the chia seeds made me feel comfortably full. (I only ate half of it - the other half is waiting in the fridge for lunch time!)

If you're wondering about the bun - we bought O'Dough's seed buns yesterday too, which we've had before and really enjoyed. Like all GF bread, they can be a bit heavy - however, they  have a nice texture, similar to egg bread.

These made for a really nice dinner; I got to enjoy a burger without suffering afterwards AND it was really, really good. Everyone wins!

Sol Cuisine makes other products, including Black Bean burgers and also Falafels. I will definitely buy these again, if I can find them! (Too bad about their website though....)

Going Gluten-Free Part Three: Your GF Grocery List

Your first trip to the grocery store as a gluten-free person might seem a little daunting. So many items are labeled “gluten-free” these days; do you need them all? Do you need any of them?

One thing people complain about is the price of gluten-free food. Granola bars, for example, are (in my opinion) ridiculously priced. Bread and cereal also tend to cost a lot. Don’t bankrupt yourself to buy products that you really don’t necessarily need.

The other thing to consider is that gluten-free baked goods tend to be higher in fat, sugar, salt, and other bad stuff. This is because the companies still want their food to taste good, and most of us are used to things tasting a “certain way.” Because the flavour changes when the grain changes, they make up for it by slathering it in a bunch of bad-for-you ingredients.

So what do you buy? It depends on your eating habits, and it depends also on your budget. Here are some of my favourite grocery items. Yes, I will also be posting some of my favourite recipes. Cooking from scratch is the best, safest way to eat gluten-free. It’s also kinder to your wallet!  

Fresh fruit and vegetable produce is already good to go. Don’t get sucked into buying “gluten free apples” or “celiac-friendly potatoes.” (This is actually an illegal process, but I’ve seen it happen.) Grab all the fresh stuff you want, from avacados to zucchinis. Have at it.

Rice is safe, as long as it’s “regular” rice. Specialty side-kick products that come with flavourings/seasonings are probably not safe for you. White, brown, black, jasmine, basmati, etc – these are safe, and allow you to be creative.

Quinoa! I can’t say enough good things about quinoa. It’s easy to cook, it’s versatile, and though it’s a bit pricey, a little goes a LONG way. **Important** Not all quinoa is gluten-free. Quinoa itself does not contain gluten, but it can be cross-contaminated through processing and packaging. Not everyone bothers to buy the specifically gluten-free quinoa, but I do.

Raw, butchered meat is safe as long as it is plain – not seasoned, not processed. Because I’m currently not eating red meat and my fiance is cutting back on pork, my meat purchases are basically chicken and turkey, in many forms. (I LOVE to make shepherd’s pie with ground turkey. OMG!) Some deli meat companies have gluten-free products available, so if this appeals to you, check out both Piller’s and Maple Leaf Naturals. Piller’s dinner hams are also gluten-free.

There are lots of safe condiments you can buy; just read the labels first. Kraft salad dressings have everything labeled clearly, so you have a lot of options there. Kraft peanut butter is also safe. Billy Bee honey and honey mustard are safe. Regular yellow mustard is also usually safe, unless you’re buying a gourmet style. Bick’s relish and pickle products are safe, as are Unico olives.

Cooking oils (canola, vegetable, coconut, olive, balsamic, etc) are safe. Vinegar is safe EXCEPT FOR MALT VINEGAR. Pam cooking spray is safe if you stick to the regular; there are some flavoured ones that aren’t safe. Check the label first.

Que Pasa is my favourite brand of nacho chips. Regular ones are available at Metro, and Costco carries ones by the same company that are a bit thinner, lighter, and have even less salt. I like the Costco ones the best, but the regular ones are good too.

SummerFresh is a company that makes hummus and other types of dips. They will state on the lid if a product is gluten-free. They will also state if it’s vegetarian and/or lactose-free. (And they are super-delicious!)

Some of Chapman’s ice cream is gluten-free. Check the container for the label. A lot of their products are also peanut-free, if that’s a concern for you.

Udi’s gluten-free bread products are a nice treat. I don’t buy them all the time, because they’re not cheap. However, if you’re not ready to start baking your own bread, try some Udi’s. I heartily endorse their cinnamon raisin bread!

Canned fish can be a good option, as long as you’re careful about what you buy. Regular tuna and salmon is typically safe; however, some companies also offer flavour versions, which are sometimes not gluten-free.

Speaking of canned goods, I’m particularly fond of lentil/bean mixes. The 6-bean mix is my favourite, though red kidney beans come in a close second. Drain them and get creative! I like to add them salad, but they’re also great in soup, stews, or as a side dish on their own.

Going to the grocery store should be fun, not scary. You have a lot of homework to do, but try to find the fun instead of the stress. I will continue to post about gluten-free eating, so if you’d like me to address something specific, either email me (myendowellness@yahoo.ca) or post a comment below.

NEXT: Why you should make friends with your local bulk store!


With peace & joy,
Cher <3