$0 Copay Epipen

If you or someone you love requires an Epi Pen for allergies then it may be worth a few moments of your time to check out Marketing Mama's blog. She gives instructions on how to obtain a $0 copay discount card for Epi Pen. I have not gone through the process as I do not use an Epi Pen, so I don't know for sure if it works, but if you need one it can't hurt to try!

http://marketingmama.com/freeepipen

FRIENDLY FRIDAY: Texas Roadhouse & Logan's Roadhouse

  

I'll admit I'm a fan of the occasional steak dinner, but since the discovery of my food sensitivities, finding a steakhouse that can accommodate my needs isn't easy. Tonight I did a little research into Logan's and the Texas Roadhouse. My first hurdle is that both establishments offer ridiculously yummy-smelling rolls. It's hard to say no when the smell makes your mouth water. So, for me it's either stay away and resist temptation, shove my mouth full of peanuts while I wait for my meal, or give in and pay the consequences. Not fun, but I have found that I do much better when I have done my research before hand and go in with a plan. I was a bit disappointed by my findings this time.

Texas Roadhouse does not offer a gluten free menu or nutritional information for any of their food (according to their own statements on their website). They claim that it is too difficult to give accurate information like some other outfits because other places use prepackaged food and they make their food from scratch. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure there are other "from scratch" restaurants that are doing a decent job of informing customers about allergen and nutritional information. Sounds like a cop out to me. So while I'm fairly certain there are items on their menu that I can eat, the choice is simple for me. At least I know one place to leave off my list.

Logan's does at least offer a gluten free menu. Although it is not available online, you can request a copy from your host. Of course, since Logan's uses a common cooking area they can't guarantee that cross-contamination won't occur, and they do make a statement to that effect. I was unable, however, to find any other allergy information. According to discussion boards, it's hit or miss as to whether the staff is knowledgeable about allergies or even willing to accommodate a diner's needs. Personally, I have been able to eat there without incidence, and the staff have been very accommodating, but when in doubt I follow 2 rules of thumb... ask or avoid!

Falling off the Wagon

This school year has taken hold of me and run me through the ringer! I have done a decent job most of the year eating as I should, but lately I have really fallen off the wagon... and I've been paying for it! In the midst of my aches, pains, and nausea I have come to realize that I did much better when I was blogging. Reading research and seeking out new information kept everything fresh on my mind. So, I am making a promise to myself now to blog as often as I am able and to not ignore the wonderful information sent to me through my email... I admit I am guilty of not even reading most of the mail I subscribe to. I delete it almost immediately. OK, shame on me. I'm turning over a new leaf. Time to get back on track!

Udi's Gluten Free Pizza Crust

Visit Udi's to purchase this product.

I've been a fan of Udi's products for a while now, but this weekend I picked up their pizza crust for the first time. I'm always a little hesitant when trying new gluten free products. There's such a wide variety of textures... not good for someone with food texture issues to begin with. As with most gluten free products, the serving size was a bit small (think personal pizza size), but it has a smooth texture and tastes good. I've tried Domingo's GF crust & it has a sweetnesss to it that makes it taste a little weird. Udi's doesn't have that issue. It's a thin crust & bakes up crispy. All in all I was pleased with this product & would definitely buy it again!

Go Picnic - Gluten Free Snack Packs

GoPicnic

I'm really excited about these little gems. I have not yet tried them, but they look promising. GoPicnic have a few different combinations (they also offer non-gluten free products, or "fully leaded" as I like to call them). When eating gluten/allergy free takes so much planning it's nice to know there are products out there for those "grab-and-go" moments. The price ranges between $3 and $5, which isn't much different than the cost for Lunchables. From what I've found on their website, they are mostly carried in Target stores. I'm hoping to find some soon so I can give my opinion on their taste! Please comment if you have tried these!

Immaculate Baking Co. Gluten Free Cookies

All I have to say is, oh my word these are good cookies! This is the first time I have had gluten free cookies that actually made me forget they were gluten free! I'm in love! They are break and bake cookies so there aren't any mixes to mess with. At around $4 a package they're a bit more than the fully leaded type, but worth it!

http://www.immaculatebaking.com/product/gluten-free-chocolate-chunk-cookie-dough/

Green Pozole Recipe

Made Pozole tonight... for the first time. For those of you who have never heard of it (which was me until about a week ago) it's a Mexican soup made with hominy. I had never had hominy aside from grits, but I was pleasantly surprised by this soup. I found a big drawn out recipe that included cooking and grinding pumpkin seeds, but I simplified it with great success!

1-1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken
2 32oz containers of chicken broth
8-10 tomatillos (peeled)
1 small white onion (quartered)
1-2 Serrano peppers
2 tsp minced garlic
2 bay leaves
Salt to taste
2 cans hominy
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

(A jar of salsa verde can be substituted for tomatillos & peppers)

Combine all ingredients except hominy and cilantro in a large pot. Heat until chicken is cooked through and tomatillos are dark. Remove onion, pepper, and tomatillos & purée in a blender with 1-2 cups broth from the pot (add garlic and salt to taste). Remove chicken shred once it's cool enough to handle. Return tomatillo purée (salsa verde) and chicken to the pot with broth. Add hominy and cilantro. Heat until hominy is warmed through.

Garnish with cheese, avocado, or lime.

I added sweet corn to mine and it worked well.

Keeping the Holiday Splurge Urge in Check

If you're anything like me, and I'm sure you are... the Thanksgiving bounty has left you feeling as bloated as the Macy's parade balloons. Too much of a good thing can sometimes be... well... too much! As good as I tried to behave I indulged in treats and dishes we don't normally eat, and like a fool I paid little or no attention to the fact that the foods I was eating were NOT allergy free. I'm thankful that my allergies do not cause anaphylactic symptoms or hives... they cause digestive upset and inflammation. I suppose I've just lived with it for so long that sometimes I just don't care what the consequences are... until later that night or the next day when I'm miserable.

So, now enough of the complaining. What am I going to do to make sure this doesn't happen again at Christmas, or New Years, or any other food-centric event? I could kid myself and say I'm just going to eat carrot sticks and lettuce leaves... no allergens there, but that's just not realistic. Not to mention it will most likely lead me to binge later. It's obvious I made some typical mistakes, so here are some tips to help keep the splurge urge in check.

First of all, if you're hosting the event then there is no reason to not have foods available that you can eat, but  if you're like most people, you'll be heading over to someone else's house for the holiday festivities. My major mistake this Thanksgiving was not taking control of some aspect of my meal. Don't do what I did. Have a conversation with your host, and be honest with your dietary needs. I don't believe in making it their responsibility to provide acceptable foods for you, but offer to bring a dish or two that you can eat. That way you'll at least have something there that's OK for you. If there's a traditional dish that you just know you're going to have trouble avoiding... research some alternatives. Rework the recipe with ingredients that are acceptable for you. Take control.

I realize that sometime the host is someone we don't know, and there will be situations where you can't control the food being served. My advice in those situations are to find out as much as you can about the foods being served, be smart about the foods you do choose to eat, and if nothing else... eat before you go.

The bottom line is we're all going to come across some irresistible food this holiday season, whether it's mom's special dish that she only makes once a year or a killer recipe someone is just dying for you to try. Don't sabotage yourself, be honest about your needs, and go with a plan.

Frustration!

It's been a while since I've posted. Being back in the full swing at work is a big part of why I haven't been around, but another reason... and quite possibly the biggest driving force for my avoidance of the site is all the SPAM comments I've been getting. It's frustrating, but I just had to remind myself that while I'm happy to share information with everyone, my ultimate purpose here is to chronicle my journey to health. I guess I just needed some perspective.

Fruit Pouches

I am in love with these little guys! My husband and I found Buddy Fruits this summer while preparing snacks for vacation. I wanted to have healthy options available that were hassle free. Since then we've tried a few different brands, and I have to say, they're all really good! The most surprising flavor favorite was Mashups' Orange, Carrot, Mango. The beautiful thing about all of these products is they're not only easy & hassle free, but more importantly, they're made with a conscience! They are all 100% real fruit... no added sugars, colors, flavors, or fillers. Each of these companies believe in providing healthy alternatives without the added "yuck" that some other products use. They're obviously marketed towards kids, but my husband and I keep them on hand to throw in our lunch. They travel well and do not require any utensils. Oh yeah... and they're allergy free (provided you do not have a specific fruit allergy). These little gems are a keeper!

Buddy Fruit

GoGo Squeez

Mashups