“Where Do I Begin GF, CF, SF, Allergy Free?"

"Where Do I Begin?"

This is most likely the question you are asking yourself if you are contemplating making changes in your diet and cutting out everything you have ever known to be a part of your every day routine. How does a person cut out gluten, dairy, soy, and corn to name a few?

My advice is, “One step at a time”. Making a change for life doesn’t happen overnight. Here are a few steps I have taken in changing over to a new allergy-free diet. This has helped me a lot. Maybe it will help you:

1. First, I make myself a list of different things I need to address by category.

2. “Food Therapy”--I have written down what I need to heal my body, and have researched what food will restore it back to health.

3. “Cleansing”-I have recorded what supplements and herbs I need to detoxify my body so I can restore what has been damaged and excel the healing process.

4. “Organic List”--I have made a list of produce I should buy organic. Pineapples and avocados have a thick, protective shell on them, so I can buy them at the general store or purchase them at a local farm or market. However, apples and strawberries are exposed and vulnerable to pesticides. It would be best for me to purchase organically anything that is entirely edible such as green leafy foods, berries, peaches and pears. If you make orange zest buy oranges organic! By dividing my items this way I ensure better health as well as save money. It would be nice to buy everything organic, but it more expensive so I choose to be savvy wherever possible!

5. “My Replacement List”—What items am I going to use to replace those foods I am allergic to? I can’t have dairy or soy so I will be using Almond and Hazelnut milk, almond butter, olive oil, coconut oil, and other. What about flour? I will pre-mix my own all-purpose flour with recipes I found using Almond flour, Brown rice flower, Tapioca flour and other flours.

6. “General Produce Inventory”—These are the foods I can get at my local grocery store or get at a local farmer’s market.

7. “Local Farms and Markets” –Where can I shop to strategically get what I need and also save myself money, yet make this a fun experience instead of a stressful one? I truthfully have never been to a farmer’s market or organic farm, but I can’t wait to go. I’ve read so many reviews on our local farms and markets. What an adventure this is going to be for me! I can’t wait to take the kids! Also, I can save myself time by shopping for some of my items online! There are also allergy-free bakeries!

8. “Cooking and Baking” –Time saver recipes! How can I cook and bake allergy free food simply without it feeling like a bunch of extra work, and how can I prepare meals that will taste so yummy that my family and friends will never know they just ate GF, CF, SF, allergy free food? I can grill outdoors, slow-cook, use my griddle (a favorite), bake, broil, or pre-cook on a designated day and freeze meals ahead of time for my busy days. I do love my Turbo-Cooker. No frying for me.

9. “Recipe resources with no food allergens”—I found great blogs and websites by people who are going through the same thing as I. Generously they share tips, tricks, flubs, victories, and their journey, while lifting the burden of newcombers who feel overwhelmed and don't know where to begin. It is a great comfort to find someone who understands what you are going through, and also shares something that not only comforts you but helps you succeed!

10. “Time for my own recipe book”--- Got a blank binder, slipped in a favorite photo of mine in the front cover, labled it 'Gluten-Free', and begun recording all the recipes that can replace my old favorites.

11. “Make a Menu Plan and Shopping List” –It is my theory that if I plan enough meals to cover for several weeks cycles I can rotate them. When it is time to shop I’ll have my grocery list for each week’s menu in place for grocery shopping day!

12. “Pantry Inventory”—what will I always need on hand for my baking and cooking so I can prepare my meals with ease and low stress? Keep your pantry stocked with spices, flours, and the new essentials you will need to replace the old ones so meals preparation is stress free.

13. “Snacks” ---Have healthy a snack plan in place where snack’s are prepared ahead of time so when you get the munchies you don’t grab a tempting food that you can’t have. “Those homemade frozen strawberry pops are looking good to me.”

14. “Plan the Budget”—How much can I save, spend, and designate for my new life change? Make a plan by doing all the above. Time and money will be saved and stress will be minimized.

15. “Continue to Educate”---keep digging to get answers and know your research will pay off.

Coming up, I will be sharing about new and exciting discoveries that I have been uncovering, which heal the body. There are so many foods and herbs that will restore us back to health. I have found a wonderful superfood that removes heavy metals and toxins from the body while restoring your body back to health! But for now,here are some great resources for your allergy-free shopping and meals!


Blogs with allergy-free recipes and tips:

www.glutenfreecookingschool.com

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com

http://glutenfree.wordpress.com

http://www.glutenfreeliving.com/your-plate.php

http://www.elanaspantry.com

http://angelaskitchen.wordpress.com/recipes/

http://glutenagogo.blogspot.com/

http://cookinguncooking-m-elle.blogspot.com/

http://gluten-dairy-sugarfree.com/?page_id=114

http://gluten-dairy-sugarfree.com/?page_id=114



Shopping Resources Online:

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

www.wegmans.com

http://www.anniesnaturals.com/natural_dressings

www.traderjoes.com

http://www.nutsonline.com/nuts/almonds/flour.html?sid=GaKZBCUbA0JiUM6D

http://www.glutenfreerestaurants.org/


I hope this will help you get a head start in creating a plan for your new lifestyle change. I look forward to sharing more with you!

Have a great week!

Natalie